Product Description

Today, most scientists and philosophers claim that Earth is an ordinary speck of dust adrift, without purpose or significance, in a vast cosmic sea. This idea (popularized by the late astronomer, Carl Sagan) is an outgrowth of the naturalistic philosophy that has dominated science for the past 150 years. Yet, remarkable evidence--unveiled by contemporary astronomy and physics-may now tell a very different story. Building upon the overwhelming success of Unlocking the Mystery of Life (widely acclaimed as the most effective refutation of Darwinian theory, ever produced), Illustra Media presents The Privileged Planet. This hour-long documentary explores the scientific evidence for intelligent design and purpose in the universe. In the process, Earth is revealed as far more than the product of time, chance, and random natural processes. We now know that a rare and finely tuned array of factors makes Earth suitable for complex life. We depend on our planet's oxygen-rich atmosphere, its large moon, its planetary neighbors, and its precise location within the solar system and Milky Way galaxy. But the story does not end here. For, the same factors that make a planet like Earth hospitable to life also provide the best conditions for scientific discovery. Is this correlation merely a coincidence? Or does it point to a deeper truth about the purpose of the cosmos and the reality of a transcendent designer? The answer could dramatically affect 21st century science. Through stunning computer animation, interviews with leading scientists, and spectacular images of Earth and the cosmos, The Privileged Planet explores a startling connection between our capacity to survive and our ability to observe and understand the universe. A connection that points directly to the work of a creative mind and plan. This extraordinary documentary will be a focal point in the escalating debate between evolution and design.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2431 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-08-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 58 minutes

Review
Outstanding computer animations. Some of the best Ive ever seen. I am a cell biologist and I want to congratulate you. --Marvin J. Fritzler, Ph.D., M.D., Professor of Molecular Biology, University of Calgary

Review
It's as good as anything Ive seen on NOVA. The program is a delightful presentation that will be of interest to scientists and laymen alike. --Edward T. Peltzer III, Ph.D., Ocean Chemist

Review
It is tremendous! I really enjoyed it. --Bijan Nemati, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA

Customer Reviews

Excellent
Thia DVD is an excellent summary of Richards' and Gonzalez's insightful thesis: The best conditions for complex life are also those that allow complex life to observe the rest of the universe. As Richards say, this should suggest conspiracy as opposed to blind chance.

Beautifully Produced Dreck
This really is a beautifully created video. Pop it in, mute the sound and enjoy. The intelligent design mantra however is a disaster. Just looking through the reviews here confirms my fear: people are gullible, probably on purpose, always trying to believe what they want to believe, not what the evidence really says to us. Recognizing the inherent human need to seek out and relate to patterns, it is easy to see how people either knowingly or unknowingly get duped.
It may be uncomfortable for people to accept that perhaps we are not special in the scheme of the universe, that the Earth is not particularly important outside of our own understanding but discomfort is never a criteria for doubt. You may not like reality, but that doesn't mean you should ignore it and replace it with comforting concepts to get a nice, fat, warm cozy working.
The biggest issue with this and any intelligent design material is the insidious subversion it so innocently claims to deny. Anyone supporting the intelligent design "movement" that claims there is not a creationist agenda is either lying or stupid. Maybe both.

This video will open your eyes!
This is an excellent video for the creationist viewer or the "open minded" person searching for answers.