Film Review: Galactic Adventures Double Feature (3D Sun / Mars 3D)

SYNOPSIS:

SUN
From Earth, the Sun cannot be looked at with human eyes. 3D SUN gives audiences a chance to see the Sun up close in startling 3D. Stand above the arctic circle and witness the most brilliant auroras on Earth; take a ride on a solar blast from Sun’s surface to Earth’s Magnetosphere, and come to a deeper understanding of what this vast sea of fire means to life here on Earth. In October 2006, NASA launched twin spacecraft from a single rocket in Florida — a spacecraft that would, for the first time in the history of space exploration, capture space-born, high-definition 3D images of the Sun. In 3D SUN, the leading NASA scientists from the mission unveil these images and take us behind the scenes to tell the story of the Sun and why it is of crucial importance to all of us.

MARS 3D takes viewers behind the scenes of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission revealing daily dramas, mind-boggling physics and compelling science behind the $820 million dollar NASA project. Behold this celebration of space exploration and the human stories behind the mission, how engineers plunged the depths of gravity and physics to ensure a successful launch an landing and how two 380 pound rovers will bring scientists closer than ever before to solving the mysteries of Mars.

REVIEW:

How often do you really get a good look at the sun? Our solar system contains some of the most mysterious elements in existence and yet ones such as our sun virtually go unnoticed providing a daily glow of warmth and light. In 2007 (year end), NASA and company released a film called 3D Sun which played n digital 3D theatres. It’s Imax round would come a year later. Now on bluray, TV viewers can relive much of that experience in true high definition. In fact if you happen to own a 3D TV, you’ll also get the benefit of the depth details.

In this release, Image entertainment has bundled both the 3D sun and 3D Mars into a combo pack. With it, comes explanations by the scientist and technicians involved who have spent years developing this technology so that they could better understand the complexities of how these solar elements function. In 3D sun we get to see the various levels revealed thru temperature filters. Auras, sunspots, solar storms and active turbulence within its surface.

The year was 2006, in which NASA launched a single rocket equipped to capture 3D images of the sun. The result is a reveal of its violent explosions and Coronal Mass Ejections that almost are responsible for causing the northern and southern lights at the Earth’s poles. The spacecraft called STEREO provides 3D detail vantage points that provide the data to see the sun in 3D form. The technique uses stereoscopic images employed by 2 identical space-based observatories. The mission spanned over 2 years and provided a look into the sun that our human eyes can’t.

“3D Mars”, offers its own level of satisfaction showing us the images and videos presented during the Mars sent spacecraft called Rovers (“Spirit” and Opportunity” named) that were designed to land and send back information to Earth. The documentary explains what we are looking at and why the mission offers alot of information about Mars that was previously a mystery. One such inference is that at one time, the planet was a host to rivers and water pools suggesting that it was perhaps ripe for inhabitation.

This product is clearly intended for owners of 3D television, so if you fall into that category, you should grab this release as part of your collective. Those of us who lack the 3D aspect shouldn’t be discouraged as the visuals are still brilliant enough to take in as is. In fact any documentary that gives us such a great look at our planets and sun is a must see in my opinion. What is more important here is that the images are NOT CGI and have arrived per the efforts of the teams who sent their rockets and exploration machines out into space.

Fans of science fiction should have no reason not to want this incredible product in their libraries. Now packaged together AND in bluray form, the product is ripe for picking. Whether your curiosity needs more closure than reported on in the past or not, 3D Sun and 3D Mars are presentations you just don’t see everyday. The product arrives on bluray per Image Entertainment containing both 3D and 2D versions of each production. If you missed them in Imax before, then this is your chance to get them for home viewing in full high definition.