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Rating: 
Summary: IMAX Space Film, Version 1.0
Review: Although "Hail Columbia" is a fine movie, it does suffer in comparison to later IMAX productions in that it has a lot less actual IMAX footage than following films, like "The Dream Is Alive".
I think they were just starting the concept when this film was made, as IMAX cameras weren't actually taken into space until later missions. As a result, much of the in-space and pre-flight training footage sourced here comes from 16mm film and T.V. The negative upshot of this is that on some TV screens, the footage will look a bit small and boxy.
But like I said: This film was the prelude before the "main event" IMAX space movies to come later. And it's worth the price alone to see Astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen confidently dismiss the nervous-nellies asking nagging questions about the Shuttle's troublesome heatshield tiles!
Rating: 
Summary: I will buy this DVD
Review: I have always been a fan of the Space Shuttle IMAX films. And after the events of Feb 2003, now is a great time to pick up this collector's DVD to appreciate the power that Columbia brought to the world.
Rating:
Summary: I will buy this DVD
Review: I have always been a fan of the Space Shuttle IMAX films. And after the events of Feb 2003, now is a great time to pick up this collector's DVD to appreciate the power that Columbia brought to the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Early IMAX, but Thrilling
Review: I watched this movie about 50 times when I was a counselor at Space Camp years ago and it was always my favorite of the IMAX films. While The Dream Is Alive, Blue Planet, etc. have much more IMAX footage, none of them compare with the adrenaline rush of Hail Columbia. The other space-oriented IMAX films that I have seen are much more documentary, while Hail Columbia is telling the exciting story of the first Space Shuttle launch. That storytelling aspect alone makes the difference for me and keeps me on the edge of my seat each time I watch it.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good IMAX
Review: I would have enjoyed a little more close-up footage of the Columbia orbiter ..... and additional images of Earth as seen from the shuttle would also have been a plus .... but overall I enjoyed viewing this IMAX DVD program. The few pictures we do get from this Columbia flight are indeed spectacular! Freeze-frame comes in handy for these few short scenes. Crystal-clear as well!A unique angle is shown of Columbia's maiden liftoff on April 12, 1981 [a glorious day for America]! This is one chapter on the DVD I've been running over and over! Nice picture & sound! You'll also experience the very first landing of a space shuttle (sonic booms and all)! If you're fascinated with the U.S. space program, then you'll like this well-produced DVD presentation of this country's very first shuttle mission. The program is all too short, but still well worth the price!
Rating:
Summary: IMAX factor = 2 stars ... Goosebump factor = 5 stars!
Review: This DVD won't make you stare in wonder at beautiful IMAX space vista's, as the later IMAX/space shuttle films do. Only a minority of the film is in actual IMAX 70 mm. That aside, the later offerings don't get my goosebumps going quite like this DVD! Don't buy this DVD for the IMAX "wow" factor, but instead buy it for the incredible story of America's first shuttle launch and landing. The ending has some very interesting film of the shuttle being transported on the back of a modified 747 as they take off from the runway. Also at the end is a very inspiring segment of shuttle lift-off's. The screen is divided into three vertical slices, while footage of different launches cycle simultaneously. Quite moving. Audio quality of the main launch are not quite up to the standards set by the later IMAX/shuttle offerings, with noticeable distortion in the recording.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT UPLIFTING STORY BUT IT'S NO IMAX MOVIE
Review: This is a great DVD and is certainly worth the money just for the story alone. However, I think calling this an IMAX movie is really stretching the truth. The first IMAX movie I saw and subsequntly purchased, was 'The Dream is Alive'. Although 'Hail Columbia' is no compairison in film and sound quality, the story it tells more than makes up for this and therefore it is a must have for anybody who loves the space shuttle program. Now if only the IMAX theaters would wake up and start showing the space series movies again!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT UPLIFTING STORY BUT IT'S NO IMAX MOVIE
Review: This is a great DVD and is certainly worth the money just for the story alone. However, I think calling this an IMAX movie is really stretching the truth. The first IMAX movie I saw and subsequntly purchased, was 'The Dream is Alive'. Although 'Hail Columbia' is no compairison in film and sound quality, the story it tells more than makes up for this and therefore it is a must have for anybody who loves the space shuttle program. Now if only the IMAX theaters would wake up and start showing the space series movies again!
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