Creation of the Universe (1985 TV Movie) User Reviews (3)

Response to a previous review by blackhole921

[crazymanmichael · 8/10 · 2 November 2007]

I have this documentary on DVD, and having watched it perhaps five or six times, I can only conclude that previous reviewer "Blackhole" must have been watching a different video. At NO point in the video does Timothy Ferris (or anyone else) say "This only proves the existence of 'Alah!'" or anything even remotely like it. He mentions Allah (sic) only during a short parenthetical segment in which he discusses the historical antagonism between church and religion regarding creation stories. But at no point does he even imply that because the universe arose from zero volume there must have been a "creator", nor does he refer in any detail to the Koran, or the Bible, beyond a passing reference to various creation mythologies from different cultural traditions. In fact, if memory serves, there is no reference to a "creator" at all.

Much of the information presented in this film comes from direct on-screen interviews with some of the most reputable cosmologists and astrophysicists in the business, Stephen Hawking, Alan Sandage, Murray Gell-Mann, John Archibald Wheeler (who, ironically, first coined the term "blackhole" in reference to collapsed massive stars) et al.

Finally, the first ten minutes of THIS film is NOT taken up with a discussion of the big bang at all, rather it covers the history of scientific thought and the scientific method, and then gets into atomic theory as a starting point for an examination of the origins of matter.

I don't know what film blackhole921 is reviewing in his comments, but it certainly wasn't this one.

One of my favorite films of all time.

[Blueghost · 3 November 2003]

Timothy Ferris narrates and presents what I believe to be one of the great scientific documentaries of all time; a movie that presents and talks about the notions of why the universe is, how it might've gotten started, and what some of the key notions and thoughts are by leading scientists in the field of cosmology.

Like all other documentaries you need to have a kind of interest in the subject to really appreciate it, but even if you're just mildly curious as to how scientists approach the question of existence, then you'll probably find yourself entertained.

The film is presented much in same vein of Carl Sagan's Cosmos TV series, and James Burke's Connections (which came out at the same time) and other similar productions which strive to inform and educate the viewer. Though somewhat dated in terms of when it was made the field of cosmology (at least from what I understand) hasn't progressed a great deal further than when the theories in the this film were presented. So, in that regard, it's still very much a timely film.

The true heart of this film is that it doesn't take a purely hard scientific stance on what is known and believed by the scientific community, but reveals the heart and soul of science by discussing the very nature of existance: It also touches on faith and why that element (or feeling) is itself (after a fashion) neccesary to conduct science of anykind. The film presents not only hard scientific facts, but feelings, notions and opinions of what the scientists themselves think and believe. This is what good films do.

The one drawback to this film, as with the supermajority of scientific documentaries meant for public consumption, is that there's little in the way explanation of the math that goes into research like this. But beyond that I really do cherish this film, and covet my VHS copy. I can only hope that someday it will see the light of day on DVD.

I'll also add that Timothy Ferris did another mini series on intelligent life on other planets. That's not so much a followup to "Creation of the Universe," but some of the same questions asked in this film are asked in that film, and in that way it is a kind of sequel.

Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this outstanding film :-)

Propaganda For The Existence Of EVERYTHING

[Steve_Nyland · 10/10 · 11 May 2008]

Like another commenter here I am somewhat dismayed by our good friend Blackhole's seeming misinterpretation of Timothy Ferris' thought provoking CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE, a sort of COSMOS Lite for the 1980s that explains in very easy to understand terms how that which we know of as everything -- including us -- came to be. I can understand how someone might get suspicions of a spiritual agenda at work here, since after all and in the language of my lifelong hero Dr. Carl Sagan, we are all connected to the very fiber of the universe in the most profound ways, starstuff who have evolved a consciousness and understanding of how we came to be.

What can be more spiritual than knowing that you are essentially just as old as the planet Jupiter? Or that the same laws which govern reality in Alpha Centauri are also in effect here? That sort of awareness really is on the same plane of consideration as that which religion poses, but the religion at work in Mr. Ferris' special is one of mathematics, physics, and evolution on the grandest scale, namely the beginning and 15 billion year life of everything that we know. God would be impressed, and I believe not at all threatened by our need to understand how an area the size of a head of a pin expanded into the fabric of space & time, and eventually coalesced into everything that is.

The obvious comparison to make with the show is with Dr. Sagan's COSMOS, which in my opinion is the single most important television event of my life aside from watching the Bionic Man fight Bigfoot. Dr. Ferris' approach is somewhat more concentrated around the mechanics of how everything came to be and perhaps a bit lacking in the charm department, unlike Dr. Sagan's bong hit fueled "personal journey". But then again Ferris only has 90 minutes in which to sum up this 15 billion year evolution of matter. We forgive him for his brevity, especially since he managed to score the show with the music of Brian Eno.

And just like COSMOS one thing must be said about CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE, which that it is VERY very enjoyable to watch. This is science as popular culture, with Mr. Ferris never talking down to his audience even when describing how the fabric of space/time came to be, which is not easy. It's fun and sexy to be smart, so nobody can walk away from the experience of seeing this excellent documentary unchanged. He also fills the program with the words & thoughts of a host of luminaries in the fields of science, physics and astronomy, so unlike Dr. Sagan's approach the effect is a bit more egalitarian, which impresses upon the viewer how science is a communal effort made up of many different voices, approaches, attitudes and insights. Not any one of us has it all figured out but together if we use our brains we can amount to far more than the sum of our parts.

If that sounds like some "Star Trek" inspired Vulcanian religious view you are correct, but the show isn't concerned with making the case for one spiritual ideology over another, and to see such an agenda in the approach is to miss the totality of existence as we know it today. This show deserves to be seen by anybody who is curious about just how we came to be here and is brave enough to face concepts that dwarf mere human ambition or petty concerns of ideology. And that sweater with an anorak look is still quite in style.

10/10: deserves a re-release.