Bluespace

Gr 8–10—This atmospheric film conveys the message that it's all very well and good to dream of terraforming Mars, but we'd better take stock of what- is happening to Earth's water first. It's punctuated by lengthy views of flowing water, close-ups of melting ice, and rugged terrain seen from above, with soft New Age music in the background. Beautiful views of both planets from space and visits to the observatories where Giovanni Schiaparelli and Percival Lowell "saw" Martian "canals" alternate with boat rides around New York City—notably the heavily polluted Gowanus Canal (where a guide points to floating condoms as a telling "tracer experiment" that indicates "a direct link between a toilet and a waterway")—as well as looks into laboratories and an experimental Martian habitat. The disk includes a shorter, more quickly paced classroom edit with fewer narrative-free stretches. Led by author Kim Stanley Robinson, a select group of researchers and conservationists in both versions offer thoughtful comments about their work and the future. The overall tone is more cautionary than optimistic.