posted 07-19-2005 12:43 AM               

"Space Station" The Most Successful IMAX® Space Film Of All Time On DVD From Warner Home Video

Prepare to launch 220 miles above Earth at 17,500 mph to experience a remarkable out-of-this-world adventure with the popular IMAX film Space Station, the first-ever cinematic journey to the famed International Space Station (ISS).

As astoundingly beautiful as it is technically dazzling, this extraordinary film, narrated by Academy Award-winner Tom Cruise, is the closest most people will ever come to real space exploration.

Blasting off onto DVD July 19, this one of a kind DVD is loaded with extras and priced to own at $19.98 SRP from Warner Home Video.

One of the most popular IMAX films ever (over $57 Million U.S. Box Office), Space Station treats audiences like real astronauts from blast-off to life inside the ISS.

Made with the cooperation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Space Station is the story of the unique partnership of 16 nations building a laboratory in outer space — a permanent facility for the study of the effects of long-duration exposure to zero gravity and the necessary first step towards the global co-operative effort needed if man is to someday set foot on Mars.

The film is highlighted by the challenges, setbacks and triumphs of this groundbreaking engineering feat — and ultimately, the shared international victory of men and women whose dreams exceed the limits of life on Earth.

Space Station follows two separate space shuttles that leave from Florida's Kennedy Space Center and Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome to rendezvous with their new home in orbit 220 miles above Earth.

Now people of every age and language can work side by side with their space-walking crewmates, building and inhabiting this unprecedented structure in space.

"After a very impressive run at IMAX theaters around the country, we are excited to release the ultimate space movie experience, Space Station, for fans to enjoy at home," said Christine Martinez, WHV Vice President, Non-theatrical Franchise Marketing.

"This DVD gives audiences an experience like none other by offering incredible extra features that take the viewer to the next level. Bonus features include an exclusive guided tour through the ISS from the astronauts who lived and worked there, interviews with the astronauts explaining how this movie was made in space, never-before-seen photos, and more. Space Station is the perfect film for anyone who wants a first hand look at what it is like to travel into space."

The Space Station DVD extra content includes:

• Featurette: Adventures in Space — The Process of Moviemaking
  
• Director/Astronaut Commentary
  
• Two Audio Visual Astronaut Guided Tours Of The ISS
  
• Photo Gallery (including never-before-seen photos)

posted 11-27-2010 05:10 PM               

I had the opportunity to see this feature on a full-sized IMAX screen several years ago and had been really impressed by the presentation, so when the 3D Blu Ray was announced I was eager to see how the experience would translate to the home.

Having now seen the feature in 3D several times on my TV I can report that it is an impressive presentation and makes good use of 3D technology to really suck you into the experience. For those who may not be familiar with how 3D TV's work, this isn't your old RED and BLUE cardboard 3D, but rather full color stereoscopic 3D in full 1080p high definition; the system uses active shutter liquid crystal display glasses to project 60 frames to each eye every second, thus creating the illusion of 3D.

The 3D effect is quite convincing, even at home; and, if you have a large enough TV and sit at a relatively close distance so that it covers most of your peripheral vision, you're treated to some really nice eye candy. Lots of breathtaking imagery is presented such as Soyuz and Space Shuttle takeoffs, spacewalks, and tours of the station's interior. 3D serves to make the various hardware on display seem really massive and brings out all sorts of detail.

As is the case with most of these early 3D Blu Rays, there is a little bit of crosstalk (where faint double images appear) in a few scenes but most of the imagery, including majestic views of the space station orbiting Earth look breathtaking and utterly real.