Powers of Ten

You might think that you live on a pretty big planet. Well, as "Powers of Ten" shows, Earth is nearly atom-sized compared to the universe. Starting by showing some picnickers in Chicago, the scene zooms out showing squares, each one ten times larger than the previous one, extending all the way to the outer reaches of the known universe...before reversing and zooming in on the man's hand. This documentary, directed by Charles and Ray Eames, just goes to show how tiny we really are, and that the universe is truly more massive than we can ever truly imagine. This topic is one of the first steps towards understanding physics, but above all, it humbles you. Really good one.

I agree with dynamite_xi--for a 1970s film, the animation is absolutely stunning. Even today with all our advances, such a film would be very impressive. It left me wondering how they managed to make such a professional looking thing with relatively simple technology.

The concept of the film is very simple and is one you could imagine being used by a science or math teacher to explain about the size of the universe, the size of atoms or about mathematical powers. It starts with a couple lying on a blanket in a park in Chicago and begins pulling back step by step to the power of 10. In other words, starting at the couple, the camera goes to 10 meters square, then 100, etc. until the solar system becomes a speck and beyond. Just how small and insignificant we all are is very well explained. Then, once it makes a return journey, then it goes to the negative 10 power--going deeper and deeper inside the human body to the subatomic level.

While this is not a particularly "fun" film, it's very educational and tops when it comes to animation. I am impressed.

I walked away from seeing this short film very surprised.

A very scientific and mathematically related movie, Powers Of Ten can be classified as one of Charles and Ray Eames' most brilliant and campy short films.

This movie shows how small we are in the universe as well as how big we are. This film might be nine minutes long, but everything blends in well for the short time limit.

This is also a good film for students who have just learned about astronomy and cellular functioning. It will leave them surprised and shattered about this film as much as I was.

Phil Morrison's excited narrative during this movie as well as the campy Moog background music made me think of this as a film to get people scared about the universe. It might not SCARE you, but it will leave you astounded.

Also, for a film about the universe, it must have at least some special effects. It does, but everything seems like one dimension. The special effects were not cheesy, yet I was dumbfounded that anyone can obtain pictures of everything dealing with the universe in 1977.

All in all, Powers Of Ten is a short film for any person who is interested in the paranormal, universal life, or even the universe in general. Ray and Charles Eames's style isn't for everyone, so be forewarned before you watch this. If you are in the mood for something completely different from your average short film, then feel free to see this short film on the "Films Of Charles and Ray Eames Collection Volume One". You won't be disappointed!

Never before has such grand ideas been explained so cleanly and perfectly. This is a master piece that goes beyond film and animation and goes further to show our place in the universe. A scene starts on a picnic and then the shot zooms out x10 at each second: it leaves the picnic, show all of the harbor, Chicago, the Mid-west Earth and then into deep deep space. It's simplistic and the music is cheap and weird. But the scale has never been evaluated quite like this film. And a relative showing of the speed of light is amazing. This is an important film and was remade as a Imax movie using the latest CG, which is also breathtaking, but all the credit must go the the Eames couple.

I would have liked the filmmakers to have slowed it down a bit more to give us time to gain more perspective. Nevertheless, this is a highly enjoyable trip through relativity. Some of the animation is a bit simplistic, but the effect it has on one is quite startling..