Wonders of the Universe (I) (2011) User Reviews

Science for the masses

[Nickijah · 10/10 · 24 June 2011]

Some reviews on here are either woefully stupid or they just don't understand the reason for this program.

Now bear with me here: this is a prime time show on mainstream television. Did you understand that? No? Well just to clarify: the program doesn't assume we are all scholars in the fields of cosmology, particle physics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. This is a TV show, not a lecture. Although one reviewer seems to think that gravity is not a force (it is), so would have been utterly confounded by a proper lecture.

As someone who does know a fair bit about cosmology I watched this show with high hopes, as I very much enjoyed the previous series Solar System. It certainly lived up to my expectations. I watched it with my mother, who previously had little interest in the subjects covered, and she became more and more fascinated as the series progressed. This, I suspect, is the whole reason for the show: to bring science to the masses, rather than keep the knowledge within a group of people who already know it.

So to summarise: if you are well versed in physics and want to learn something new then you should probably avoid this show. However if you are merely interested in astronomy, cosmology et al and want a plain, easy to understand welcome to the field then I very much recommend this show.

Very well done BBC!

The Phrase: "A must see" is not even close to describe

[lembisyou · 10/10 · 24 July 2012]

I must have seen probably more or less a hundreds of documentaries, about nature , environment, and some enough for Space, Universe, Cosmos.

In this Documentary, simply what you watch , what you can get its indescribable. And it is represented for this really wonderful person Professor Brian Cox. You simply can see with every word and every expression of his face, how much he loves and he is fascinated with everything he describes. One more amazing thing is that he tries and succeeds to describe so many things with simple stuff traveling all around earth, to show a simulation and to bring as close it could be, to things billions miles away. So even if you don't have any background in astronomy e.t.c you can surely watch and learn so so , but so many things. Although i would suggest some little knowledge from before so you can understand even better.

Well i think , as many as i would write would never be enough.

This is really the best of the many many documentaries i have seen so far ( Although you can't say such thing ). Hope he will continue the same... thank you sir Brian Cox.

fantastic

[damyon_brazier · 10/10 · 29 March 2011]

looks like the science guru's have decided to write reviews for this and slammed it. personally i have enjoyed the series. Yes it has fantastic vista's and glorious visuals , and probably not enough content for the want-to-be or actual geologists within each episode. It does however bring a visual feast and captures the feel of how i certainly used to look out at the stars at night as a child. Its warm, educational, and puts hair on the back of your neck. Brian Cox has a wonderful way of making you understand everything he is explaining (for us mortals that is)In my opinion i appreciate, to "aficionado's" this is child's play, but for the rest of us bored with reality TV , this is compulsive viewing.

Brian Cox takes the torch with enthusiasm for science and cosmology

[christian94 · 9/10 · 26 November 2012]

In the same scope as Carl Sagan's Cosmos (1980), although not quite as comprehensive, Brian Cox's Wonders of the Universe (2011) along with Wonders of the Solar System (2010) attempt to place humankind in the scale of the universe and explore some of physical science's more meaningful discoveries. Cox actually gives homage to science vulgarization pioneer, Sagan, in Wonders of the Universe which I will review here. Although Cox does not tackle subjects like time travel in a daring and direct way like Sagan, he is an eager, likable, scientist who engages and teaches with appropriate awe and metaphors.

This time Cox is aided by breathtaking HD cinematography, coupled with the technical prowess of eye-candy CGI and post-production, but the soul-searching subject remains as the core of the text to leave us in admiration, wonder and understandably a little perplexed. He explains the content and the context well and builds the viewer's knowledge along the way.

The series as a whole is a success and perhaps bridges the 30-year gap since Sagan's landmark 13-part series. Episode 1 "Destiny" defines time and describes the beginning and the end of the universe in a near- complete and cathartic way. It explains entropy, puts our existence in perspective and sets the stage for further topics and questions of the series. The second episode "Stardust" deals with chemistry from its origin to the complex carbon-based human beings that we are and the wondrously diverse world around us. It explains stellar evolution and the births and deaths of stars. It shows how everything is connected and creates a case for the continuous recycling of matter in the Universe.

Episode 3 "Falling" examines gravity, but is the lesser of the series. It does not fall completely short, but is bogged down by two experiments (weightlessness - or so-called zero g - airplane and g force accelerator) and less compelling screenplay and source material. "Messengers" ends the series on a high note and looks at light as a property, but also as a code for the history and intricacies of the universe. It also relates space and time, the Big Bang and present day quite harmoniously. It demystifies myths, shows infra-red, radio and micro waves as extensions of the light spectrum smoothly, examines the importance and apparition of eyes in evolution and leaves us with a sense of unity with the universe and ongoing inquisitiveness into our nature.

All in all, the series succeeds in promoting science, awakening curiosity and giving deeper meaning to things we may take for granted. It is beautiful and thoughtful. It lacks perhaps some of the detailed observations a more science savvy audience may expect, but it gives an accessible solid foundation for one to build further knowledge and explore on his own.

Wonders of Life (2013) will complete the "Wonders Of" series in a BBC co-production with China's CCTV. Also, Sagan's widow and co-writer will be involved in a new Fox version of Cosmos called "Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey" to be aired in 2014.

May science live long and prosper.

Loved it

[eosmusashi · 8/10 · 10 March 2013]

I loved this series, being a big fan of the Cosmos series my feeling is that Brian Cox has the best of Sagan's ability to explain and transmit the excitement and joy of astronomy and physics, he keeps it interesting, exciting and simple to us all non-scholars of complicated astrophysics.

I found very interesting that he made huge references to the Cosmos series, he sure is a big fan of Sagan's work and he passes that with a more modern twist and the use of nice CGI.

Overall a great documentary and a nice addition to other Universe related films, the locations filmed are amazing and Professor Cox's way of talking is mesmerizing.

An excellent documentary about the universe

[rgcustomer · 8/10 · 26 April 2011]

I'm not sure what some people were looking for here. It's not meant to be a university lecture. But it is meant to be a way to communicate to the average person (who may reside in Jesusland instead of an ivory tower) our current knowledge about the universe.

Yes, Brian Cox is beautiful. Who do you want to learn from? He's enthusiastic, friendly, nice to look at, and knowledgeable. That's exactly who should be presenting science. Look at who you are competing against, for viewers.

While I was expecting something like a visit to various celestial objects, similar to a tour of our solar system (and we do get a bit of stuff like that), this takes a much wider view.

We see the sheer size of the universe, in both space and time. We see how a universe like ours is necessary to support life, but that life can only exist for a relative instant. And then we explore two other big concepts on the scale of the universe: gravity and light (although frankly, the first two episodes are sufficient by themselves).

This is, without a doubt, the clearest documentary description of humanity's place in the universe that I have seen. And it is presented in a way that properly dramatizes it, and simultaneously shows off the beauty of Earth as well.

The two minor drawbacks I see are: the episode order is in roughly decreasing emotional impact and should be adjusted/edited, and there are too many repetitive shots of Brian in the same place (for example, standing on the peak of a mountain).

Awesome Documentary

[srinivasan-27291 · 10/10 · 22 December 2015]

This brilliant documentary made me understand the concept of universe further more from the previous documentaries i have already about the universe. Brian Cox, as most people already said is involved more in this subject, but i quite frankly like it, because he explains concepts, principles and other factors which occurs in the universe with simple details and in ways which are totally understandable easily if you tried to listen well. I totally loved this series. The visuals are so good too. If you have downloaded in the best quality, you would definitely feel amazed in the first episode itself, when Brian cox explains things with grains of sand, in which the sand grains are so detailed and lovely to watch too. I definitely recommend this series to everyone who wants to learn about the universe and it's concepts.

Our Universe

[surjoiamback · 9/10 · 12 September 2012]

Professor Brian Cox takes up the charge of exploring our planet and explain the motions of the Universe and everything that it is made of, thus explaining gracefully with simulated and beautiful depictions of our place in this planet and the Universe at large. One has to keep in mind, this is not a nerd show which will highlight all pro-level science talk. Men like Brian Cox, Neil Tyson are science communicator and popularizer. The main purpose of this show is to bring young minds who fear science in this wonderful fascination and its justifications,and to make them understand how profound are the immutable laws of physics and other sciences, when it comes to the grandest of stages i.e. life of the stars. The show did that quiet splendidly. So if solar system and galaxies have been your fascination, but you were always afraid of the big science formulas and terms, this is your chance to get hold of them, and understand the beauty they have and represent.

Brian Cox and brilliant visuals did the trick.

[arnab-18513 · 10/10 · 21 October 2019]

Brian Cox is a brilliant narrator and gave the series his best. Equally good was the visual effects and when these two factors met together it created something majestic to say the least.

asking big questions

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 28 January 2017]

Brian Cox opens the series by asking "Why are we here? Where do we come from?" This is a wide-ranging show of 4 hour-long episodes examining big fundamental concepts. The first "Destiny" examines time, entropy, and the eventual heat death of the universe. The second "Stardust" examines the creation and composition of material of the universe. The third "Falling" examines gravity and black holes. The fourth "Messengers" examines light and sound. The show can float from one subject to another. I like his explanation of entropy. The other concepts are fairly basic. The show can be jumpy. In general, the big concepts are compelling and understandable. The questions are so big that the answers can be uncontained.

The Boys-Own Guide To Space

[screenman · 4/10 · 20 March 2011]

This is a classic example of modern TV and documentaries in general. It is dumbed-down supreme. For the first episode, enough information that could be communicated by Patrick Moore in 15 minutes was strung-out and sometimes repeated for what seemed like 2 hours. Whilst - endorsing the current obsession with yoof - new-found favourite of the moment, Professor Brian Cox, brought his boyish enthusiasms and his bucket-and-spade to bear upon the cosmos and all things within. I don't mean to appear unkind or - heaven forbid - counter-ageist, but Coxy doesn't look old enough to be an undergraduate let alone a fully-fledged Emeritus. To hear this cherub-cheeked academic reiterate the mechanisms of the universe was as jarring as political comment from a pram. The only time he seemed to fit the picture was when he was making sand-castles. Prodigy he may be, but plausible he ain't. This job needs a Time-Lord, or at least somebody who'd pass for one.

Sadly, the only really informative content of the program was provided by his narration. And this often fronted a backdrop of largely computer-generated 'wonder'-ful imagery that bore little or no cogent association with what our boy-genius was actually saying.

Worse still, those production chuckle-heads at the dear old BBC had incorporated a music track that practically drowned out his piping little voice with crashing cords of heavenly bombast. In order to avoid an evening of tinnitus it became necessary to turn the volume down to a level that rendered his narration almost inaudible. I gather The Firm received so many complaints about this particular issue that they actually intend to pump down the jam for future episodes. That in itself is a 'universal wonder', because if there's one thing the Wizards of Wood Lane are usually deaf to, it's the tastes of their viewers.

The BBC can make absolutely top-drawer documentaries. They recently produced to little popular acclaim, a short series called 'Indian Hill Railways' which was an absolute corker. There wasn't a single wasted second. I've bought the DVD. 'Wonders Of The Universe' was as near to being the opposite as could be. It was ill-conceived, cheap, and as vacuous as deep space itself. It was a video coffee-table-book, with lots of startling, artistic imagery abutted by short captions of general information. It's the universe for kids.

Meantime, grown-ups should stick with 'The Sky At Night'. It'll easily outlive this pap.

Quick guide to the universe, and Brian Coxs ego

[atisazens · 20 October 2011]

I was shocked to find this "documentary" has almost 9 points on IMDb. This show is watchable if you have never seen any documentary about our universe before. In that case I can understand how this show got 9 points, its strong points are; beautiful scenery and space CGI mixed together with some jaw dropping numbers.

If however you have seen ANY previous documentaries about space, you will be greatly disappointed. 70 percent of the screen time is taken up by our presenter Brian Cox, who for some reason thinks its a good idea to grin and walk around in slow motion in front of the sunlight. All the while talking about some of the most obvious scenarios in space.

So if you have never seen a documentary about space before, this could be worth a watch. If however you are even MILDLY educated in physics/cosmology all this show has to offer is beautifully shot scenery (space and nature) with a very annoying commentator. The information was so stretched out, that I think they could have done a single episode instead of 4.

Why was I watching someones Holiday Snaps?

[edward-burdak · 3/10 · 29 March 2011]

Fascinating subject. But instead of having a bright Astronomer do the presentation we get a particle physicist instead? :( Going off to some of the most exotic places on Earth - generally to do some seriously poor metaphor and generally loose the plot.

There are some excellent bits in the middle but there really is some serious doggy pooh to wade through to get there.

Professor Brina Cox has serious problems in presenting. From misunderstanding gravity (and calling it a force) to failing to comprehend that time is a man made construct and the universe doesn't care what time it is. And to try and claim during free fall he's experiencing zero gravity when he is still in the gravity field of the Earth - just free falling - well that's was just very poorly done and explained.

But the worse, the absolute worse moment for me has to be when he talks about Einstein's equations of relativity and he Cox wants to make a contribution that would result in a change in those formulations - an improvement in the equations First thing to do Bri is pack up your Projector and Holiday slides and for good sake stop looking down at the camera and the audience - and actually learn to make a clear concise non confusing presentation.

Poor effort BBC - poor Effort

Unintersting and overloaded with shots that belong on a desktop background.

[kingdavidek · 1/10 · 22 July 2011]

Within the first twenty minutes we learn that the universe is very old, that you can't go back in time, that a year is when the earth revolves around the sun once, that the universe appears eternal and never changing(even though, spoilers, it isn't) and that time is irreversible and changes things. Brian Cox manages to repeat this last fact about ten times, seemingly challenging our notion of time and trying to make us believe we have been caught in some broken record of an alternate universe. For any person, whether you are physics graduate or you have simply completed one year of primary school, this is not news.

The BBC seem satisfied with squandering an obviously large budget on admittedly impressive but ultimately useless shots of far away landscapes. This series simply looks for the money shots, whilst giving the writing job to a nine year old boy with adhd. Time is irreversible, now heres a turtle, time is irreversible, now heres a glacier, time is irreversible, now heres a cool simulation of an explosion! Though clearly trying to emulate the same wonder and respect for the universe that Carl Sagan had, Brian Cox's exhilaration seems completely artificial. This shows that today, documentaries are willing to sacrifice learning and wonder for special effects and plane tickets to anywhere that takes their fancy, no matter how relevant to the message it is.

Good if you are a fan of Brian Cox

[thatsforjay · 1/10 · 4 March 2012]

This series sounded really promising but the most beautiful shots are usually with this guy running around or showing close ups of his face.

I have no idea who thought it is a good idea but for a documentary series like this the universe and the beauty of it should be the focus of the movie and not some dude with a "hip" hairstyle.

Him constantly running around in front of the camera, adds nothing to the whole documentary and is just distracting.

My wife and me couldn't stand watching more than half of the first episode. What a pity. This is not how good documentary movies are made.

To make everything look nice the editors used vignetting which truly makes everything look kind of good.

Just terrible

[dregj · 1/10 · 28 January 2013]

A uncharismatic big toothed northern gentleman presents a show about the universe.But rather than use "cool" diagrams,cgi or the like to explain his "simplfied "concepts we have an endless series of exotic locales with our presenter gurning and babbling in the corner of the shot.He spends about two sentences in each part of the world for no good reason other than to waste wheel barrows full of the license payers money by shipping a film crew around the World just so he can say very little .Here a tip if your going to have a show called wonders of the universe try showing THE UNIVERSE rather than endless shots an overly enthusiastic aging hippy

Death by drownng out

[jennyglaze-28704 · 9 December 2021]

I really wanted to watch this and visually it looked amazing

The music, as is often the case these days, was far too loud I could not hear what he was saying for most of the time. Painful and sad did he not have a say in wanting to be heard ? Gave up.