Plot: What’s it about?
In The Dream Is Still Alive, we as viewers are taken along on a massive ride through space, from the initial takeoff to some tense in-flight missions. After the space shuttle carries us into space, we’re right in the middle of things with the astronauts, right to the simple things we take for granted. For example, sleeping is no real issue for most of us, but with the pressures of zero gravity, it can become harder than you think. Add the same statement to eating, working, and everything else, to gain a little better picture of what space travel entails. As we float around high above our planet, we can peer down and see things from a whole new perspective, very impressive indeed. You’ll be able to gaze at Italy’s boot, the sandy stretches of Egypt, and all sorts of other sights, all from one of the highest perches you can imagine. We’re also taken along as the first spacewalk by a female is enacted, as well as a tense satellite mission, very cool stuff indeed. This is a terrific and fun feature to be sure, giving us the kind of visuals only IMAX can.
This is the kind of feature that makes IMAX so powerful, a wide scale documentary with a ton of incredible visuals. I think just the sights taken in from up in space would be enough, such as the wisps of white that encircle the blue masses, or perhaps the various landmarks that can be seen from so high above. But in The Dream Is Still Alive, we’re taken beyond those simple visual treats and allowed an insider’s look into what happens in space, from the tense moments to the amazing achievements. I was pleased to see some interesting situations included here, such as a satellite retrieve and repair mission, filled with suspense and tension. These are the kind of events that thrive in this IMAX format, so it was very cool to find such an inclusion within this program. You’ll also see the first spacewalk for a female and of course, that holds a lot of unique historical significance also. But those intense visuals mentioned before also surface, such as landscape shots and various other “from space” footage, all very cool to view here. This is one of the better IMAX programs I’ve seen, so I recommend you check it out, if you’re at all interested.
Video: How does it look?
The Dream Is Alive is presented in a full frame transfer, which is the best option for viewing IMAX films on home theaters. This was made in 1985 and as such, shows a little more in terms of age signs, when compared to more recent IMAX releases. This means a little grain at times and some small print flaws, but nothing to be overly concerned about. The colors look bold and vivid, while contrast is consistent and always well balanced. In other words, a very solid visual treatment from start to finish in this case.
Audio: How does it sound?
I didn’t expect much in this area, but man, I was blown away by the included Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. The surrounds are used often and to effective ends, especially during a few key scenes, such as the space shuttle takeoff. There’s power, directional use, and even subtle presence here, all the bases are more than covered. The dialogue is clean and crisp also however, while Walter Kronkite’s narration is ever steady and easy to understand. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s IMAX trailer.
