Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The 2 DVD set "Doing Da Vinci" contains six episodes. In each episode, builders attempt to create a machine that is based on the drawings and notes of Leonardo Da Vinci. The advertising claim that they work "using only materials available in da Vinci's own time" is false. In fact, they use plywood, steel beams and the nuts and bolts that you find in modern hardware stores. They use modern saws, drills, mills, and welders. (I am not disturbed by this. Da Vinci's era did have steel and wood. Making steel beams and plywood would have been possible, although laborious. The episodes are certainly not valid tests of the economic feasibility of Da Vinci's concepts.) The sheer size of some machines is impressive. Many of their beams and posts are larger than the typical handyman would encounter. When a project is completed, it is given some undemanding tests. For example, the mobility of the "armored tank" is only tested by a few runs on a flat cleared lot. The focus of the episodes is upon interpersonal dynamics in the group of builders. (Fans of the TV show "American Chopper", will be familiar with the concept. These episodes are a toned-down, PG-rated version of that idea.) The rough and ready attitude of the woodworkers is often in conflict with the precise habits of the group building the metal parts.
I rate "Doing Da Vinci" as four stars out of five to indicate that it is a reasonably entertaining documentary of some modern woodworking and metalworking, as well as some workshop conflicts. It doesn't rate five stars on any of those aspects alone. It isn't a convincing demonstration that Leonardo's inventions were practical, but it does show that they work "in principle". After all, each project is merely the first prototype of a machine.Contents And SynopsisDisk 1
Armored Tank
A circular tent shaped tank with 30 black powder cannon shooting 2 lb balls. The movement of the tank is tested on a flat lot. (The movement of war machines in other episodes is tested on the same lot.) It shoots some plywood soldier silhouettes.
Siege Ladder
A rolling siege machine about 20 ft tall designed to drop a covered ramp across a 30 ft moat
Scythe Chariot
A chariot with rotating scythe like blades. The pair of horses is replaced by a robot cart, in the interests of safety. The blades are actually sharp and dangerous. The chariot is tested against watermelons, bags of flour, plywood soldier silhouettes and a dummy.
Disk 2
Machine Gun
Not actually a machine gun, but a weapon with 3 sections of 11 cannons per section, firing 6 lb balls. After one section of cannons is fired, a new section is rotated into firing position. The machine is tested against plywood soldier silhouettes
Self Propelled Carts
Two spring powered carts are built by rival teams. They have a race.
Catapult
A catapult with a hurling arm that is powered by a large bow. It is tested, mainly in a humorous manner, and doesn't have an impressive range.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Doing DaVinci (2009)
Genre: Television: Discovery ChannelRating: NRRelease Date: 1-SEP-2009Media Type: DVD
No comments:
Post a Comment