NOVA - The Miracle of Life
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Movie Reviews of NOVA - The Miracle of Life
Movie Review: Great DVD - just as good as the VHS
Summary: 4 Stars
My wife and I watched the VHS after we were married per our parents advice. Learned more then in Sex-Ed, of course I had a reason. Good quality pictures that captivate and bring the whole process of conception home.
This is well worth watching for mature audiences.
Movie Review: An incredible journey on video
Summary: 3 Stars
[I wrote the following review for the second edition "Life's Greatest Miracle," but in the review I compare both editions, so I think you'll find my review helpful.]
"Life's Greatest Miracle" is a one-hour PBS program on how the human life starts in the womb. Produced circa 2001, it was an updated edition of the ~1983 ground-breaking "The Miracle of Life," also aired in the U.S. under the auspice of the Nova series.
I've watched both DVDs and I'll compare the two. If you are debating which version to watch, I say it depends on your interest: if you want to see more microscopy photography, get the original "The Miracle of Life." If you want a better viewing experience, get this one, "Life's Greatest Miracle." I give both DVDs 3 stars.
While not as ground-breaking as the original, "Life's Greatest Miracle" sports higher-definition, more colorful microscopic video images, which are simply amazing. Of course, everyone who's never seen a large number of sperm swimming around will simply be mesmerized. I couldn't tell whether the all the video footage of the wiggling sperm was the same as in the original edition, but it seemed to me that here either the sperm were stained more (with chemicals so they stand out against the background, as is done all the time in biology), or the producers somehow increased the contrast. To the viewer, the action (no pun intended!) is more captivating. (In the old edition, images are coarser and less colorful.)
The biggest difference between this edition and the original program is the emphasis of the content. The original edition emphasizes the science part, and there are long sequences of cells dividing and inside looks of the vagina and uterus. This edition focuses on the entire process more, and speeds up and cuts out some of the long microscopic video scenes from the original edition. The story in this edition is weaved better and seems less like a science class as "The Miracle of Life."
Also, the present edition features updated information as well as some additional video (but not much). Also, there's more animation to help the viewer understand. The original program tends to get boring and confusing, but things are much more easily understood in this updated volume.
But I only give "Life's Greatest Miracle" 3 stars because, like the first one, it just doesn't have enough interesting stuff. Actual microscopic footage occupies perhaps just 1/3 of the total running time, and there's this unnecessary story of a pregnant couple. What's more, I couldn't tell whether some of the "inside the womb" scenes were microscopic photography or computer-rendered graphics, and this troubles me. I prefer "real" images, even if it means staining cells in order to make them look more vivid. Computer-generated stuff is fake, and it's worst when someone tries to pass it off as real.
In short, "Life's Greatest Miracle" is an informative and enjoyable program to watch -- and you are treated to the commercials that precede PBS's Nova airing! (Luckily you can forward-skip them.) Whether you are expecting or not, I recommend this, so everyone can appreciate human life more.
If you want a more science-oriented view with more microscopic footage, get the original "The Miracle of Life." The presentation is drier but you get to see more images that demonstrate how miraculous life is.
Movie Review: Review of NOVA's video The Miracle of Life
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this video because we were required to watch it for a college level biology class. The narration is good, but because it is an old video, the quality of the picture could be better. I also wish the producers would have labeled some of the biological structures on the screen as they talked about them. Being new to human biology I was not always sure what part of the picture on the screen they were talking about. I believe there is a newer version out, and would probably recommend checking it out before purchasing this one. Unless, of course, like me you are required to watch this one.Movie Review: Little Disappointed
Summary: 3 Stars
This is an amazing video that focuses primarily on fertilization (with actual footage of the ejaculation) and the beginning of life and disappointingly only a few minutes of a developing baby in the womb and the birth. Of course, Nova couldn't create a documentary on life without including their take on evolution and how something as complex as a human being evolved from some soupy stuff billions of years ago. If you believe differently than Nova and/or you are a cautious parent, you may want to think twice before letting your kids ,of any age, view this video.Movie Review: Not as good as stated...
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this DVD a short while back from Amazon with great expectations. This video was made in the early eighties and it shows it's age. This video was marketed as a great aid for expectant parents. On that premise, I decided to purchase it. The video starts off talking about cells and how life got started on earth a million years ago. I was disappointed to see that the first 30-45 minutes didn't really talk about babies at all, but more the fertilization process. There is a short segment at the end that shows a few different stages in the pregnancy, but not nearly enough. I also bought Life's Greatest Miracle by NOVA at the same time. I was a little disappointed in that one too, but it shows more of what I was expecting to see. Whatever you do, don't buy both as I did...A lot of the stuff is redundant. Hope this helps.