[DVD Talk]

… Granted, this isn’t a big-budget production, so the majority of CGI on display here won’t blow you away. At worst, it can be almost painfully distracting. But History of the World in Two Hours makes up for this with rapid-fire editing and clean, concise narration…so even if some of the visuals don’t float your boat, at least they don’t stick out for too long. From the Big Bang to the Iron Age, from violent combinations of matter and energy to the first appearances of grass, this “Cliff’s Notes for the Universe” covers plenty of ground during its brisk running time, and only mild amounts of repetition (bookends between commercial breaks, for the most part) threaten to break its momentum. Everything is laid out quite clearly in layman’s terms, though younger audiences may have trouble keeping up at times. …

History of the World in Two Hours offers a compact, entertaining history lesson…and for the most part, it’s accessible and flows nicely. The film’s condensed, commercial-free running time may irritate those looking for a full 120-minute show, and it’s a shame more detail couldn’t have been added to spice up this home video release. An optional Blu-Ray (and Blu-Ray 3D) version is also available at a higher price point, but this DVD already seems a bit skimpy for the asking price. …

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