Cosmos: Carl Sagan
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Carl Sagan, Jaromír Hanzlík, Jonathan FahnBrand: Koch International
Editor: Roy Stewart
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; Chinese (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Japanese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Box set, Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 780 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-10-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Cosmos Studios
Product features:
- Astronomer Carl Sagan's landmark 13-part science series takes you on an awe-inspiring cosmic journey to the edge of the Universe and back aboard the spaceship of the imagination. Topics covered include: the 15-billion year history of the Universe; the evolution of life on Earth and what forms life might take on other worlds; Johannes Kepler, the first modern astronomer; the hellish atmosphere
Movie Reviews of Cosmos: Carl Sagan
Movie Review: Carl's COSMOS-ological Constant.
Summary: 5 Stars
My first exposure to this brilliant TV series was when I was still at school; and all I knew of Carl Sagan then was he was an astronomer. I was interested in Cosmos because I am a fan of Science Fiction, thus I wanted to see what sort of show Cosmos was. Well...I was very surprised, it wasn't a science fiction show as such, but a science-fact-documentary-type program of self-discovery through Dr. Carl Sagan's perspective-A Personal Voyage.
This personal voyage also imprinted on me as I watched Cosmos week after week, As I too was interested in the Stars of the Heavens. Later I would read several books authored by Dr. Carl Sagan, to try to get to know him better, I am also into science fiction so reading `Contact' by Carl was a must. Sadly I didn't finish the book because I felt it was too boring, thus I felt Carl was not a very good sci-fi writer. (naturally some of you may think I'm wrong)
Anyway, back to business. Watching Cosmos again was a real thrill for me as it took me back all those years, even so, this TV Series back then and even now has no equal. If religion has the Dalai Lama, then science has Carl Sagan, he presented Cosmos in a way that you can understand it, and after each episode, you would walk away feeling you knew something that you didn't know before. The series is just as fresh now as when it first appeared back in 1980.
History Lesson 1: Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.
Now a bit about the show.
This thirteen-part television series was written by Dr. Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter, with Carl Sagan as the show's presenter. It covered a wide range of scientific subjects including the origin of life and a perspective of our place in the universe. It won an Emmy and a Peabody Award and has since been broadcast in more than 60 countries and seen by over 500 million people.
A book to accompany the series was also published. Cosmos was produced in 1978-79 with a $6.3 million budget, with over $2 million additionally allocated to promotion.
Cosmos is notable for its groundbreaking use of special effects, which allowed Carl Sagan to apparently walk through environments that were actually models rather than full-sized sets. Example: The Library of Alexandria. The soundtrack to Cosmos is just as impressive and included pieces of music provided by Greek composer Vangelis.
History Lesson 2: Cosmos: The Series.
Let's look at the episodes presented on seven DVDs in this edition.
Episode 1: "The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean"
The first DVD has the above episode and has an Ann Druyan Introduction.
Episode 2: "One Voice in the Cosmic Fugue"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
Episode 3: "The Harmony of the Worlds"
The second DVD has episodes 2 &3.
Episode 4: "Heaven and Hell"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
Episode 5: "Blues for a Red Planet"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
The third DVD has episodes 4 &5.
Episode 6: "Travellers' Tales"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
Episode 7: "The Backbone of Night"
The fourth DVD has episodes 6 &7.
Episode 8: "Journeys in Space and Time"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
Episode 9: "The Lives of the Stars"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
The fifth DVD has episodes 8 &9.
Episode 10: "The Edge of Forever"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1992?), presented by Carl Sagan.
Personal Comment: Interesting to note that this update may have been film in 1992, as a computer diagram shown by Carl is dated 1992, thus I must conclude that perhaps, all the updates on the DVD were not done in 1990, (Although assumed) but in 1992 at the very least.
Episode 11: "The Persistence of Memory"
The sixth DVD has episodes 10 &11.
Episode 12: "Encyclopaedia Galactica"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
Episode 13: "Who Speaks for Earth?"
This episode has the Cosmos Update, 10 Years Later (1990), presented by Carl Sagan.
The seventh DVD has episodes 12 &13.
Personal Comment: This DVD set states it has been Digitally Remastered, and it shows in parts, but in some scenes (live-action and animated film) throughout the series, there are no touch-ups, this is because the original may have been unable to be repaired, or those responsible just left the film as is. In any case, the untouched film/negatives does not degrade Cosmos as a whole-so enjoy.
One very big mistake about this DVD Edition is that it does not have a special hour-long interview conducted by Ted Turner with Dr. Carl Sagan. This is considered a must to complete Cosmos as a whole. This missing 14th episode: "Ted Turner Interviews Dr. Carl Sagan" must be added to future DVD releases. Why it wasn't included here is a mystery. (In the past this episode was available on video) I would have loved to have seen it.
History Lesson 3: Cosmos: The Music
For those who want to know about the sound track.
In 1981 a soundtrack LP was released on RCA records shortly following the series' airing. The LP contained short bits of popular and classical songs used throughout the series that were edited into musical overtures or collages. The signature theme "Heaven and Hell, part 1" by Greek synthesist and composer Vangelis was also included.
In 2002 a special "collector's edition" 2-CD set of the music from the series was released to coincide with the Cosmos: A Personal Voyage DVD. The 2-CD set contained complete versions of many of the songs from series, unlike the original release which contained only snippets of the various songs.
Track listing for 2-CD collector's edition:
CD 1:
1] Heaven & Hell, part 1 -- Vangelis -- 1975
2] The Year 1905 -- Dmitri Shostakovich -- 1957
3] Alpha -- Vangelis -- 1976
4] Cranes in their Nest -- Goro Yamaguchi
5] Clarinet Concerto A major -- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- 1791
6] The Pachelbel Canon -- Johann Pachelbel -- 1680
7] Metamorphosis -- Jeffrey Boydstun -- 19xx
8]The Sea named Solaris (BWV 639) -- Johann Sebastian Bach/Tomita -- 1714
9] Partita for Violin solo no. 3 in E -- Johann Sebastian Bach -- 1726
10] The Four Seasons:Spring -- Antonio Vivaldi -- 1725
11] Sonata D-Dur für Trompete, Oboe und Basso Continuo -- Gottfried Finger -- 169x
12] Concerto for Mandolin in C major -- Antonio Vivaldi -- 1725
13] The Tale of Tsar Saltan -- Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov -- 1899
14] Legacy -- Larry Fast -- 1975
15] Russian Easter Festival Overture -- Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov -- 1888
CD 2:
1] Pulstar -- Vangelis -- 1976
2] Vishnu symphony no. 19, opus 217 -- Alan Hovhaness -- 1966
3] Melancholy Blues -- Louis Armstrong -- 1923
4] Aquarius -- Galt MacDermot -- 1968
5] Beaubourg, part 2 -- Vangelis -- 1978
6] The Planets: Mars -- Gustav Holst -- 1915
7] Alien Images 1 -- Jeff Boydstun
8] Fly...Night Bird -- Roy Buchanan -- 1974
9] Entends-tu les Chiens aboyer? -- Vangelis -- 1977
10] Le sacre du printemps -- Igor Stravinsky -- 1913
11] Prayer of St. Gregory -- Alan Hovhaness -- 1946
12] Bulgarian Shepherds Song Izlel je Delyo Hajdutin -- Valya Balkanska
13] Comet 16 -- Vangelis -- 1986 (only the special edition of Cosmos)
Personal Comment: It may have been fate, but one of my favourite musicians is Vangelis, and his music adds another level of excellence to Cosmos; and the other musical additions by famous musicians gives the TV Series that added distinction.
Again, I feel the CD soundtrack should have been included in this edition, perhaps in the future, there would be a "Deluxe" Edition of Cosmos, that would have it. I'm sure as would others that listening to the music of the series will enhance its appreciation.
Final Thoughts.
Cosmos is the best TV Series that presents the mysteries of life, our world, and our place within the Universe; and even today, we are still trying to understand. Dr. Carl Sagan's thoughts for our world, who sadly is no longer with us and he will be missed. But his insight and his message to the human race through his TV Series is just as relevant today as it was back in 1980.
The thing is, do you wish to listen, do you want to hear? If you want to understand just a little, then Cosmos is for you. This series leaves for me anyway an afterthought of who we really are in the Universe and our place in it, but also to question our ourselves, our beliefs, our being to an almost spiritual sense. This earth is the only known planet that supports human life, we may wonder about other worlds, other intelligent life elsewhere, but if we are not careful, the human race will kill itself to extinction, before we have a chance to make ourselves known to the Universe. The eyes of God are watching.
Take the journey of wonder, of amazement, of reflection, of beauty, of knowledge with Carl through a voyage of discovery and remember...remember and never forget...we are all made of star-stuff.
Cosmos
On the Shores of the Cosmic Ocean, I hear One Voice In the Cosmic Fugue, speaking of The Harmony of the Worlds, that are like Heaven and Hell, so many worlds, so many colours, I feel the Blues For a Red Planet, such Traveller's Tales enrich the sky full of Stars that are The Backbone of Night, where one Travels In Space and Time, experiencing The Lives of Stars on The Edge of Forever, it is The Persistence of Memory, that I ponder the thoughts, "Who Speaks For Earth?"
From the Encyclopedia Galactica.
Thanks to Wikipedia, for additional information complete this review.
Summary of Cosmos: Carl Sagan
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