"Wonders of the Universe" (2011) TV mini-series 2011-

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

6 March 2011 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Brian Cox	...	Himself - Presenter / ... (5 episodes, 2011)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Narrator (5 episodes, 2011)

Series Directed by
Chris Holt		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Produced by
Jonathan Renouf	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 2011)
James Van Der Pool	....	series producer (5 episodes, 2011)
Chris Holt	....	producer (3 episodes, 2011)
Ben Wilson	....	assistant producer (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Original Music by
Sheridan Tongue		(4 episodes, 2011)

Series Cinematography by
Kevin White		(5 episodes, 2011)

Series Film Editing by
Darren Jonusas		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Production Management
Paul Appleton	....	production manager (5 episodes, 2011)

Series Sound Department
George McMillan	....	sound (5 episodes, 2011)
David Richmond	....	dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 2011)
Roz Wilson	....	dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 2011)

Series Visual Effects by
Nicola Kingham	....	visual effects producer (5 episodes, 2011)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Neil Kent	....	additional camera (4 episodes, 2011)
Andrew Fleming	....	additional camera / additional camera operator (2 episodes, 2011)
Espen Gjelsten	....	aerial photographer / aerial photography (2 episodes, 2011)
Leif Johan Holand	....	aerial photographer (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Editorial Department
Simon Astbury	....	colorist (5 episodes, 2011)
Daniel Dode	....	on-line editor (3 episodes, 2011)
David Linton	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Music Department
Daniel Mulhern	....	musician (4 episodes, 2011)
Jon Opstad	....	composer: additional music (4 episodes, 2011)
William Rice	....	composer: additional music (4 episodes, 2011)

Series Other crew
Jeff Forshaw	....	series consultant (5 episodes, 2011)
Jane Rundle	....	archive researcher (5 episodes, 2011)
Lydia Delmonte	....	production management assistant (4 episodes, 2011)
Laetitia Ducom	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 2011)

Series Thanks
Fabio Bruno Construções	....	thanks (1 episode, 2011)
Corey Houston	....	thanks (1 episode, 2011)
Adam Kokesh	....	thanks (1 episode, 2011)
David Southwood	....	thanks (1 episode, 2011)
Mark Sullivan	....	thanks (1 episode, 2011)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2011) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• BS Asahi (2011) (Japan) (TV)
• Polyband (2012) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The US titles for the episodes were The Cosmos Made Conscious, Children of the Stars, The Known and the Unknown, and On Beams of Light.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Breakfast: Episode dated 20 August 2011" (2011)

Brian Cox takes the torch with enthusiasm for science and cosmology

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.