Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I saw this program on PBS and was so impressed that I wanted to own the DVD. I have yet to see more thorough and comprehensive coverage of this subject in a single documentary. It examines the basis and origins of life on earth, and then proceeds outward to the rest of the universe. Timothy Ferris' insights, anecdotes, and relaxing tutorial style, combined with the incredible CGI visuals, kept me captivated from beginning to end.
Rating: 
Summary: Great film - but a major video problem with the DVD
Review: Life Beyond Earth is a wonderful film. Unfortunately the DVD picture suffers greatly from frequent frame stuttering and staggering - most prominent during the many animation sequences. What I recall as a smooth animated glide through the Eagle Nebula is now more of a bumpy bus ride. It's too bad, because other than that, the picture/color/clarity is greatly improved via my s-video connection, and the dolby surround, though not 5.1, does the soundtrack justice. Whether it's a flaw in the original transfer, or just bad duplication, I do not know, but I've now tested two copies on two different DVD players, and the flaws are consistent... and ohhhh so frequent. It's maddening. I certainly expected better from PBS.
Rating: 
Summary: So-So
Review: This video has only some informative stuff here and there throughout the video. It is somewhat slow and not very organized when they edited the video. I wouln'd buy it unless your a hardcore space fan.
Rating:
Summary: Stimulating and brilliant!
Review: Timothy Ferris is both a intelligent and humorous guide in our journey through the two parts of this tape. In the first part, the first 60 minutes, he explores how life developed on Earth and if there can be life on other worlds. On the second, he examines how man became intelligent, if intelligence could develop on other worlds and how to communicate with that alien intelligence. Lovely special effects, a great musical sore, interviews with scientists and just plain common sense makes the tape a MUST for any library. From PBS it has nothing that might upset the kiddies, so let them view it also!"The long twilight of human loneliness may come to an end within our lifetime." - Timothy Ferris.
Rating:
Summary: Stimulating and brilliant!
Review: Timothy Ferris is both a intelligent and humorous guide in our journey through the two parts of this tape. In the first part, the first 60 minutes, he explores how life developed on Earth and if there can be life on other worlds. On the second, he examines how man became intelligent, if intelligence could develop on other worlds and how to communicate with that alien intelligence. Lovely special effects, a great musical sore, interviews with scientists and just plain common sense makes the tape a MUST for any library. From PBS it has nothing that might upset the kiddies, so let them view it also! "The long twilight of human loneliness may come to an end within our lifetime." - Timothy Ferris.
Rating:
Summary: Great work with a tough topic.
Review: Yes there is or no there isn't. Either way, the logic is presented flawlessly for both arguments.
Are there other civilizations out there? Odds are yes.
Will we ever find them? Odds are no.
Life on our world was a bilion to one shot, but there are billions upon billions of other worlds.
This is the perfect film to learn how to present an argument. Support your facts, lead your listener to the conclusion you want. But don't push.
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