Originally broadcast on the Discovery Channel in March 2008, Human Body: Pushing the Limits is a dazzling four-part series with each program devoted to a vital aspect of human physiology: sight, strength, sensation, and brain power. A state-of-the-art showcase for sophisticated computer animation—applied to the most intricate workings of the human body—the see-it-all CGI (like a virtual version of those “visible skeleton” models available in hobby stores) is used to illustrate what happens to the body's tissues, muscles, bones, and nervous system under extreme conditions. All of these pushed-to-the-limit scenarios are taken from real-life emergencies, with action-packed recreations of life-threatening traumas accompanied by interviews with those who survived. While some of the scenarios are drawn from sports (a near-fatal rock-climbing accident, or the hotbox conditions of a NASCAR cockpit in mid-race), most of the dramatizations are related to natural disasters, accidents, rescue missions, and even the mysterious working of the brain during REM sleep. This combination—astonishing tales of survival examined through the exquisitely detailed exploration of human anatomy and physiology—proves to be remarkably exciting, both visually (the production values are first-rate throughout) and medically, with each program here offering a number of suspenseful highlights that play out like a classic episode of CSI. Available in both DVD and Blu-ray (the latter boasting stunning visual quality), this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Shannon)
Human Body: Pushing the Limits
(2008) 2 discs. 165 min. DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray: $29.98. Image Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 6
Human Body: Pushing the Limits
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