The documentary equivalent of a popcorn flick...
As lurid as the content may be, however, it provides plenty of fuel for water-cooler conversation. We´ve all considered the apocalyptic scenario in one form or another, where by way of religion or simply through the cinema, and it´s always fun to play the "What if?" game. Have you had time to think about the two questions above? If you don´t want to read the answers, just skip the next two paragraphs.
One of the likely candidates to be the last source of artificial light on Earth is Las Vegas, because it gets its power from the Hoover Dam which powered by water, not fossil fuels, and would thus have a natural power source long after man is gone. According to the documentary, the Hoover Dam could last as long as a year without human maintenance; I wonder if this means anybody will be getting laid off soon? I think this answer may be a Western-centric one, though. With China´s Three Gorges Dam coming on line, surely there´s a Chinese city or two that´s as viable a candidate as Las Vegas.
There´s no definitive answer to what the last man-made monument on Earth would be. It also depends on your definition. The pyramids would probably last for ages but would be reclaimed by the desert without man to provide a bulwark against the encroaching sand. The Great Wall is another possibility, but author and astrophysicist David Brin suggests that Mt. Rushmore, which is carved out of solid granite, would outlive even the Great Wall. Barring earthquakes or lightning strikes, the faces carved by Gutzon Borglum, working almost entirely by himself for decades, will still be recognizable hundreds of thousands of years from now.
Life after people may be difficult to imagine, but it´s hardly a long-shot scenario. In fact, it´s pretty damn likely. As I wrote in my review of "How the Earth Was Made" humans have only been present on Earth for a tiny fraction of the planet´s existence. Human existence on Earth is a historical anomaly. Cool, huh?
Video
The program is presented in a 1.78:1 wide-screen aspect ratio (not the 1.33:1 that is mistakenly listed on several sites.) The transfer is very strong by History standards, and I have no complaints about it.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles. Optional English closed captions support the English audio.
Extras
The DVD includes 20 minutes of additional scenes, most of which concern possible ways in which the human race could be exterminated.
Film Value
"Life After People" is trashy documentary fare, but in a rather enjoyable way. It´s over the top and sometimes downright goofy, but director David de Vries helps to craft an entertaining speculation about the world after humans. This is the kind of History program that should have a very broad appeal.
One of the likely candidates to be the last source of artificial light on Earth is Las Vegas, because it gets its power from the Hoover Dam which powered by water, not fossil fuels, and would thus have a natural power source long after man is gone. According to the documentary, the Hoover Dam could last as long as a year without human maintenance; I wonder if this means anybody will be getting laid off soon? I think this answer may be a Western-centric one, though. With China´s Three Gorges Dam coming on line, surely there´s a Chinese city or two that´s as viable a candidate as Las Vegas.
There´s no definitive answer to what the last man-made monument on Earth would be. It also depends on your definition. The pyramids would probably last for ages but would be reclaimed by the desert without man to provide a bulwark against the encroaching sand. The Great Wall is another possibility, but author and astrophysicist David Brin suggests that Mt. Rushmore, which is carved out of solid granite, would outlive even the Great Wall. Barring earthquakes or lightning strikes, the faces carved by Gutzon Borglum, working almost entirely by himself for decades, will still be recognizable hundreds of thousands of years from now.
Life after people may be difficult to imagine, but it´s hardly a long-shot scenario. In fact, it´s pretty damn likely. As I wrote in my review of "How the Earth Was Made" humans have only been present on Earth for a tiny fraction of the planet´s existence. Human existence on Earth is a historical anomaly. Cool, huh?
Video
The program is presented in a 1.78:1 wide-screen aspect ratio (not the 1.33:1 that is mistakenly listed on several sites.) The transfer is very strong by History standards, and I have no complaints about it.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles. Optional English closed captions support the English audio.
Extras
The DVD includes 20 minutes of additional scenes, most of which concern possible ways in which the human race could be exterminated.
Film Value
"Life After People" is trashy documentary fare, but in a rather enjoyable way. It´s over the top and sometimes downright goofy, but director David de Vries helps to craft an entertaining speculation about the world after humans. This is the kind of History program that should have a very broad appeal.
![Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The [TV Show]](/images/displaymedia.php?id=24781&sizew=70&cat=3)
Average user rating (1-5):
Not yet rated.
Not yet rated.