Rating: 
Summary: A Legend in our own Space/Time
Review: If you have any inkling of intelligence, and crave pondering the mechanisms of the Universe, then this is a must see vid for you. One day, the human species will catch up in our evolutionary process and be able to reach the itch that Hawkings scratches.
Rating:
Summary: Stephen Hawking has make my head explode.
Review: In just shy of 200 pages Stephen Hawking has
blown my mind to pieces. _A Brief History_ is a
trip as fast and disorienting as any rollercoster
I have ever been on. Pure physics hits you full
in the face, boggling your mind with fourth dimensions,
singularities, and charmed quarks. But it extends
beyond the science. Philosophy abounds in its pages.
Zen koans lurk just beneath the surface of scientific
reasoning.
And in between the words, you catch a glimpse of
the inner workings of one of the greatest minds of
our time. END
Rating: 
Summary: Smart Stuff Made Stupid
Review: Remember Captain Pike on classic Trek? He was the burnt, mute guy in the futuristic electric wheelchair. Dr. Stephen Hawking, the star of "ABHOT," is in much the same situation, except that he's also a f-ing genius with the incredible ability to distill complicated quantum physics concepts into simple, understandable stuff for the rest of us morons. And he even makes it sound cool and (...gulp) interesting. Yikes!
Rating:
Summary: Smart Stuff Made Stupid
Review: Remember Captain Pike on classic Trek? He was the burnt, mute guy in the futuristic electric wheelchair. Dr. Stephen Hawking, the star of "ABHOT," is in much the same situation, except that he's also a f-ing genius with the incredible ability to distill complicated quantum physics concepts into simple, understandable stuff for the rest of us morons. And he even makes it sound cool and (...gulp) interesting. Yikes!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting developments in science
Review: Rob Lightner's review says it all. This is a beautifully crafted glimpse at the very frontiers of scientific research. Hawking's quest for the ultimate theory is not only scientifically compelling but spiritually uplifting as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Brief History of Time
Review: Rob Lightner's review says it all. This is a beautifully crafted glimpse at the very frontiers of scientific research. Hawking's quest for the ultimate theory is not only scientifically compelling but spiritually uplifting as well.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and thought provoking
Review: This delightful documentary gives a keen look at the intimate parts of Stephen Hawking's remarkable life. Interviews of friends, family members, and colleagues are artfully weaved with pictures of Hawking, computer graphic illustrations, and the commentary of Hawking himself. Along with the overview of Hawking's life we get fascinating bits of physics and philosophy that challenges his mind and everyone else's. If you have an interest in popular physics, then this would be a worthy purchase. This isn't a spectacular documentary, it stays true to the accepted style that is both entertaining and at times predictable and plodding. It is humorous though, the opening scene involves a chicken and some stars, and much of Hawking's narration is filled with wry wit. The First portion of the film is almost solely devoted to the early years of Professor Hawking's life. He wasn't good at school we learn surprisingly. He was never as attentive as he later wished he should have been. However, his genius was enough, and he got his degrees. However, it was being diagnosed with ALS that forced him to focus on what really interested him, the aftermath of which has been the cosmologist we know today. Further into the movie there is a discussion of black holes, which is the subject of Hawking's first successes in physics. This segment alone I consider worth the price of admission, however an even stronger segment comes next; a discussion of the origin and outcome of the universe in which we live. It's all concluded by some whimsical observations by Hawking. This isn't a classic, but for those that don't have the time to jump into many works of cosmology and physics and philosophy, this provides entertainment and a fair dose of where physics stands today.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and thought provoking
Review: This delightful documentary gives a keen look at the intimate parts of Stephen Hawking's remarkable life. Interviews of friends, family members, and colleagues are artfully weaved with pictures of Hawking, computer graphic illustrations, and the commentary of Hawking himself. Along with the overview of Hawking's life we get fascinating bits of physics and philosophy that challenges his mind and everyone else's. If you have an interest in popular physics, then this would be a worthy purchase. This isn't a spectacular documentary, it stays true to the accepted style that is both entertaining and at times predictable and plodding. It is humorous though, the opening scene involves a chicken and some stars, and much of Hawking's narration is filled with wry wit. The First portion of the film is almost solely devoted to the early years of Professor Hawking's life. He wasn't good at school we learn surprisingly. He was never as attentive as he later wished he should have been. However, his genius was enough, and he got his degrees. However, it was being diagnosed with ALS that forced him to focus on what really interested him, the aftermath of which has been the cosmologist we know today. Further into the movie there is a discussion of black holes, which is the subject of Hawking's first successes in physics. This segment alone I consider worth the price of admission, however an even stronger segment comes next; a discussion of the origin and outcome of the universe in which we live. It's all concluded by some whimsical observations by Hawking. This isn't a classic, but for those that don't have the time to jump into many works of cosmology and physics and philosophy, this provides entertainment and a fair dose of where physics stands today.
Rating:
Summary: Redundant and Mindbending
Review: This film mixes both the story of Stephen Hawking's life and his theories on quantum physics. At times, it goes through unnecessary stories about Hawking's life; for example, they showed how much he loved Monopoly when he was young. Is this really needed? How many people in the western civilization didn't or haven't played monoply? Nonethless, the movie is mindbending at times, espicially when discussing black holes and the theories of time. Beautiful Philip Glass score, and an inspirational ending.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I could give it six stars...
Review: This is simply the finest documentary I've ever seen. Beautiful is not a word I use often, especially in such a context, but it certainly applies here. The cinematography, music and overall style is understated, yet excellent. If you're looking for a mere visual depiction of Dr. Hawking's wonderful book, you are apt to be surprised. The video interweaves Dr. Hawking "reading" his book (with appropriate visuals) with interviews of his colleagues, friends and family. While much of the interview material discusses Hawking's disability, there is none of the maudlin pity or false heroics we see so often in the media. The viewer is left with a sense of tremendous awe, both from the material explored, and from the power of one man's genius. Very highly recommended. I've watched it several times.
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