UFOs: Down to Earth

For generations people have been watching the skies, pondering the possibility of life on other planets. However, it wasn't until WWII--when fliers began noticing strange, fast moving lights hovering around their planes--that our kind began to take seriously the notion of extraterrestrial life. Are there really UFO's, or are we dealing with various examples of classified military research, natural phenomena, or just mass hysteria? Reason to Believe, the opening video in this 4-volume set, reviews what, if anything, has been learned in the fifty-plus years of searching for flying saucers. The trail runs from Roswell, New Mexico (where some believe remains of aliens were found in a downed UFO), to close encounters in the British Isles and Russia. Some claims are dismissed as hoaxes, such as the '80's Gulf Breeze "sightings," while others, such as the eerie lights seen glowing on a Welsh mountain, are explained as meteorological quirks. Skeptics and true believers stake out their respective positions on this perennially controversial topic, as every fruitless government investigation is followed by charges of a cover-up. Viewers will learn about how the latest technology aids SETI (remember Jodi Foster's work in Contact?), as scientists scan deep space for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. Produced for the Discovery Channel, this program is thoughtful and informative, but not much different from other documentaries on the subject, such as the older Farewell Good Brothers (VL-3/94) or UFO: The Untold Stories (VL-9/95). Still, if your library needs a good, recent video set on the topic, this one is recommended. The other titles in the series are: Deep Secrets, Great Balls of Light and Uncovering the Evidence. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)