Dream Big: Engineering Our World

Don't expect any real engineering information in this. This is a non technical film promoting engineering as a vocation to those who may never have considered it, and for this it probably does the job adequately.

The 8/10 review by Jollen has a comprehensive review of the programme and I recommend reading this too.

I have though rated this 6 based on the information (4) and the scenery (2). The programme is 42 minutes long but doesn't actually start until 5 minutes in. Jeff Bridges is not a great narrator, his voice isn't overly clear and I had to listen intently.

All the segments are led by female engineers, which must have been the intention. This aside, there is some interesting information and encouragement to become an engineer, the latter again no doubt the reason for the programme. I did find the programme engaging overall.

The less positive: The second segment, which is based in Africa, has an African style song. This song is used in each successive segment and no longer fits with the style of what we are being shown. Some of the segments should be longer or should not be included at all. We are shown the Great Wall of China but more time is given to what it looks like than to how it was made or remains standing. The last segment is on a new San Fransisco transport hub, saying it is going to be greener and more efficient, but no further detail is given. There is a lot of time wasted on unnecessary scenic views (based on the programme's intent) and unnecessary graphics.

Very cute, short and light, with the presence of children and several magnificent ingenuities generated by brilliant minds produced by brilliant hands... Divine soundtrack, "One Day" touches my soul and heart, and quotes the fantastic boys from the movie "Spare Parts", beautiful and exciting...

8th grade level content. 10 minutes in and we're still getting narration at 35 words per minute. Contrast that to Carl Sagan's Cosmos with 75 words per minute and words of a more difficult to comprehend nature. "Where's the Beef?"

I watched it with my students today..they were very amazed by it and kept on talking about their future plans, it's a must watch for middle/high schoolers