Hubble 3D

I found this to be a well made and interesting documentary with very good narration. It made good points about space.

It's May 2009. Seven astronauts on-board the Space Shuttle Atlantis are on a mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope. I watched this from the DVD. I'm sure the 3D was amazing although I'm guessing some parts are more conducive to it than others. This should be much more of a thrill ride. There is a bit of information, a little behind-the-scene, and some traveling into the stars. There is a bit too much floating in space footage although the 3D may be fun to have the stars float around the audience. I'm surprised that re-entry and landing is missing from the film. I suspect that's some of the most thrilling aspect of a Space Shuttle ride.

The latest attraction at the Science Centre Omni Theatre, Hubble is presented sans the 3D version since the venue can only project 2D IMAX films. A friend who attended the special preview at Shaw Lido IMAX had mentioned that Hubble 3D was one of the trailers shown as an up and coming feature, but I remain a skeptic because I can't imagine a commercial cinema operator wanting to showcase a 40 minute documentary, when it probably can make a lot more showing the latest blockbusters in the format. I will be glad to stand corrected, but it remains to be seen.

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit some 21 years ago to much fanfare, and even more fuss made over it when it was discovered it had myopia (OK, in case you really think I meant that, it had faulty mirrors). So more space programmes were launched to have its telescopic sight fixed through the application of contact lens equivalents, and since then we've been treated to some of the most astounding pictures captured of our galaxy and beyond. This film chronicles the final servicing mission undertaken by the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis in May 2009, and in fact is quite lightweight in treatment and narrative.

There isn't much of a background on what and how Hubble was designed and conceived - you're left to your own devices to get chummy with the telescope. The bulk of the documentary focuses on the crew of the Atlantis and their mission at hand, from ground training at NASA, to the blast off from the launchpad, with quick glimpses of their life aboard the shuttle, before a rather detailed look at their space walk and repair at hand, with the narration, by Leonardo DiCaprio, focused on the danger of having their suits ripped by sharp, pointy objects as part of their work.

The other focus of Hubble the film is on the images captured by it, which gives space and astronomy idiots like myself a quick and slight introduction to stars, systems, nebulas and the peek inside those astonishing vastness of space invisible to the naked eye. With infra-red lenses too we get to see past space clouds that mask hidden gems beneath, and truly that's something that made this documentary stand out a little.

Still, I would have preferred if it had a more holistic approach to Hubble, but for what it is, presented on an IMAX format, it's still quite something to behold. Recommended!

Most of the 3D movies coming out these days are simply exploits by the film companies to cash in on the present 3D craze. This is NOT one of those films. 3D is everything in this presentation. If you are not able to see it in IMAX 3D I wouldn't bother. The movie is fascinating when it comes to explaining the difficulties in having to repair and upgrade a technological marvel. But,in 3D you are put seemingly inches away from an astronaut who is prepped for the coming mission, and right there as astronauts try to install new equipment into tight-fitting spots on the telescope. But, to me, the real worth of this film is seeing the expanse of the universe in 3D and seeing the incredible beauty of what is out there. You cannot possibly experience this without the 3D. As the telescope zooms through galaxies we see stars fly into the audience and past us as we reach deeper into space. I guarantee that most, after having seen this wonderful film in 3D will admit that they previously had no real concept of the vastness of space, and the endless billions of galactic bodies. Only the 3D experience makes it possible to wrap our brains around at least a small degree of understanding of how big our universe is, and the infinite galaxies which seem exist, let alone the billions and billions of stars(to quote the late Carl Sagen). I rate this 8 out of 10, subtracting 2 stars (no pun intended) because the film left me craving for more scientific explanation about the amazing details of the spacial orbs and expanses we see visually.

First of: I saw this movie in Imax but not in 3D.

If you are interested in understanding how Hubble operates, its engineering, day-to-day duties of the astronauts or any kind of coherent study of how stars are born and die then this movie will disappoint you.

The movie constantly errs on more emotional side, especially in presenting the astronauts. Some of the narration is also a bit too disingenuous - the crews going up the orbit are presented as some sort of breakthrough heroes doing something that had never been done before them - going into space.

What the movie does offer is spectacular imagery of shuttle launches, Hubble itself, and its "repair" and some light perusal into the astronaut's lives in the orbit. You will also see some spectacular imagery Hubble was able to capture and some explanation of it.