Cosmic Voyage

This IMAX documentary is sort of a brief introduction to the history of the universe, starting with the Big Bang and covering the rise of life on Earth. In addition, it shows us the extent of the universe as well as the microscopic world on Earth. It's an enormous scope, but this movie doesn't get overwhelmed by too much subject matter. It starts out by asking what is truly large and small, and a view of a human in a canyon is already an awe-inspiring image of how large the world is. This is nothing compared to the universe- it's astounding when the narrator, Morgan Freeman, tells us the lights we see aren't just stars but whole galaxies. It's incredible that we can see so far into space. The movie also briefly ponders whether there could be life on other planets. We see water in an alien world and a glimpse of life, which is intriguing.

Morgan Freeman is a suitable narrator with an authoritative voice. Cosmic Voyage also has great visuals that were probably more impressive on the IMAX screen (I only have the DVD). Nominated for an Oscar for best documentary short.

From an adult's viewpoint - I found this "arm-chair" cosmic voyage documentary (from 1996) to be only marginally educational when looking at it from a strictly scientific perspective.

I repeatedly found that a fair amount of the information being recited here by its bored-sounding narrator was, basically, just recycled data and second-hand knowledge which, of course, was made to appear significantly more interesting by an onslaught of dazzling CG imagery.

And, speaking bluntly about some of this science-documentary's computer graphics - I certainly wasn't all that impressed a lot of the time. I mean - If you ask me - There were certainly times when some of these glittering images actually looked downright hokey and, yes, almost laughable to this viewer.

Anyway - I'd say that the only thing that saved this IMAX "Cosmic Voyage" presentation from eventually deteriorating into a literal snore-fest was its short running-time of only 35 minutes.

An interesting and highly-visual edumentary, useful for introducing students to the scale of the universe and the Big Bang theory.

However, it is now over 20 years old. Having said that, it's so basic that it probably hasn't dated other than the omission of the Large Hadron Collider and perhaps alternatives to the Big Bang theory, and there's not much about quarks and really small stuff which is understandable.

If you don't grasp the principle of exponential expansion you may struggle with the scale but you will get the idea that it's Very BIG.

Nicely narrated by Morgan Freeman to a very Star Trekian score by the excellent David Michael Frank.

So, a shortish basic primer, but if you've dabbled with 'space' there'll be nothing new for you here.

This gorgeous and mind expanding IMAX film was nominated for an Academy Award in the documentary category, but it is truly in a class of it's own. It is such a joy to experience on on multiple sensory levels, capturing an awe-inspiring sense of our place in the universe. Scientific theories go hand in hand with this visually stunning film. Morgan Freeman's narration was perfect. In fact it was his first narration job that was a spring board to his career. The sound effects supervisor, Nick Armington, should be credited in choosing Freeman. The sound track is also breathtaking. Our small place in the cosmos made greater by experiencing this film.

I rated this movie a 10! I watched it in the IMAX format at The Reuben H Fleet Space Museum in San Diego, CA. I saw it the first time and had to go back twice more to see it again that same evening! The special effects are awsome! Morgan Freeman's narration was right in tune with what was on the screen. I am so excited it will be available on DVD in early May 2002. This film rightly puts you in awe of God's Cosmic Creation -- the Microscopic AND the Macroscopic!!!