Stephen Hawking
- 2008
- AddFuturama: The Beast with a Billion Backsto QueueAddFuturama: The Beast with a Billion Backsto top of Queue
The story that began in Bender's Big Score concludes as a massive rift in space and time unleashes a cosmic terror of epic proportions and the citizens of planet Earth discover a strange new religion. A revolting, planet-sized alien has taken control of Fry, transforming our time-sleeping hero into the Pope of a new religion that encourages mankind to abandon planet Earth. With no more humans to get in the way, robots the robots will finally be free to take over. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy West, Katey Sagal, (more)
- 2007
A 21st century revival of a popular 20th century TV genre, the ABC miniseries Masters of Science Fiction was conceived as a six-episode anthology based on the works of an equal number of celebrated science-fiction writers. Focusing more on plot and character than special effects, the series utilized the sci-fi format to tackle a number of contemporary issues, ranging from homosexuality to global warning. Among the A-list guest stars appearing on the show were Anne Heche, Sam Waterston, Judy Davis, Brian Dennehy, John Hurt, and Malcolm McDowell; the directors included Mark Rydell, Michael Tolkin, and Jonathan Frakes. Unfortunately, it was obvious that ABC had little faith in the series; keeping it on the shelf for nearly a year, the network finally unveiled the show in a Saturday-night "death" slot on August 4, 2007. As a result, only four of the six completed episodes were telecast: "A Clean Escape, written by John Kessel; "The Awakening", by Howard Fast; "Jerry Was a Man", by Robert Heinlein; and "The Discarded", by Harlan Ellison (who pulled double duty as a supporting actor!). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Co-directors Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners conduct interviews with some of the world's leading scientists and creative thinkers in a film that asks whether or not it's too late to avoid the ecological disaster that looms ominously on the horizon. In addition to exploring how the human race has arrived at this crucial point in history, conversations with 50 leading thinkers, scientists, and leaders including former Soviet prime minister Mikhail Gorbachev, world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, and sustainable design experts Bruce Mau and William McDonough to find out just what humankind can do about the most pressing issues of our time. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- 2000
In the season finale episode, "Anthology of Interest I," Professor Farnsworth unveils his "What-if" machine and Bender, Leela, and Fry each get a chance to ask it a question. Bender asks what it would be like if he were 500 feet tall, so he becomes a giant and flies to Earth to the tune of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." He befriends a boy (Fry) and accidentally destroys the city in a take on The Iron Giant. The Professor then makes Dr. Zoidberg a giant so they can fight each other. Leela asks what it would be like if she were more impulsive, so she ends up killing the Professor in order to get his fortune. As people find out about the murder, she is forced to kill them one by one until she has killed almost everyone. Fry asks what it would be like if he were never cryogenically frozen in 1999. He ends up meeting the Action Rangers -- made up of scientist Stephen Hawking, Vice President Al Gore, Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols, and Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy West, Katey Sagal, (more)
- 1998
Originally telecast on the Learning Channel, Prophecy: Countdown to the New Millennium - Prophecies and Predictions features a look to the third millennium and beyond, with expert religious leaders and scientists pondering visions of the future, from the mundane to the apocalyptic, from a sustainable world to nuclear Armageddon. Series highlights include interviews with spiritual leader and author Marianne Williamson, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking, Bible Code author Michael Drosnin, evangelists Robert Schuller and Jerry Falwell, and astronaut and psychic explorer Edgar Mitchell. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- G
A Brief History of Time is based on cosmologist Stephen Hawking's 1988 bestseller of the same name. This anecdotal film concerns itself as much with Hawking's day-to-day life as it does with his unorthodox theories about the universe. Only the most close-minded viewer will be bothered by the ALS-suffering Hawking's physical appearance and his inability to move and speak without assistance (as narrator of the film, he utilizes a voice synthesizer, which he capriciously refers to as "my American accent"). Director Errol Morris inventively adopts a semi-dramatized approach to his interviews with Hawking's friends and relatives: they all appear in fabricated sets, and are lovingly photographed and lit as if they were starring in a film. Though of necessity a "talking heads" effort, A Brief History of Time is also cunningly and subtly cinematic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Hawking
