Stephen Hawking & The Theory Of Everything

Originally shown in two parts on Channel 4 entitled "Stephen Hawking: Master Of The Universe", this exact amalgam of both episodes makes for a fascinating, if slightly ill-presented, 90 minutes which delves into the complexities of the universe with one of the greatest minds of all time.

Now 66 years old (lest we forget Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the age of 21 and informed he had 2 years to live), the Cambridge scientist’s continuing quest for a theory of everything examines the quantum leaps science has made, especially in the twenty years since the publication of his feted work "A Brief History Of Time".

The questions laid out by Hawking in the opening episode that are subsequently explored in the concluding part are immense. How can we understand the Universe? Is it arbitrary, or is there a grand design? Do we still need a God? These queries are approached with a combination of theories encompassing both the large (Einstein's Theory of Relativity) and the small (Quantum Mechanics) and lead Hawking to reexamine a number of his earlier suppositions made many years ago with fresh eyes.

The presentational issues stem from an inane American voiceover that labours under problems of repetition from both contributors and the inevitable reiteration of unnecessary information that would have occurred post commercial breaks. This is coupled with a dumbed down expositional approach from Oxford Professor Pedro Ferreira, an over reliance on uneven CGI and an obsession with Hawking's physical health (when it is his mental health that is so incredible) and go to create unfortunate stumbling blocks which mar what could have been an accessible and seminal documentary.

Extras: None.

Released on 17th March 2008 by Channel 4 DVD.

Written by Simon Cole.