James May's Big Ideas [DVD] [2008]

Lovely James. Lovely, lovely James. A man horrid people would find interminably dull but who is, in fact, one of our funniest and cleverest national treasures.

Big Ideas is the follow up to 20th Century, where he explores developing science-y things. The series runs to only 3 episodes (fner) with each lasting an hour (hurrah). In episode 1, he seeks out a better way of travelling. His journey takes him from the depths of Russia to the depths of Sussex, visiting California along the way. There are jetpacks, Russian spy-gliders, tiny helicopters, and even flying cars. This, perhaps predictably, is where he becomes his most giddy and excited.

In episode 2 (the best of the 3 by a country light year) he searches for the most advanced humanoid robots. Naturally much of his time is spent in Japan, where he meets two - what turn out to be hugely unsettling - robots. The first contraption doubles the strength of the tiny woman inside it as she stomps around like the crazy chick in Alien. Next he meets a robot that has been designed to look and act like its creator. It's wicked creepy and James's reaction as he's sitting in front of it is moving, and confirms that he absolutely deserves the epithet of Lovely James.

He also meets 2 "brother" robots, both of whom answer to "Asimo". Literally. The first can walk like we do; it can even handle stairs and run like we do. (You may have seen him [it? Tis an existential minefield!] in a Honda car advert a few years ago... adorable little astronaut-lookin' thing.) His movements - the loping gait - are so lifelike and human it's almost hard to remember it's a robot. The second brother is the more cerebral - this one can see and make value judgements based on the shape it's looking at. While that doesn't sound impressive, in reality it's a massive dealio - value judgements require thought. So is Asimo thinking for itself? The first Asimo is arguably the best bit of the episdode, but each of the 60 minutes of the hour-long programme are simply wonderful, and mustn't be missed.

And finally, in the 3rd installment, he tries to find alternative ways of powering the planet and our everyday lives. He jetsets once more: Spain and Holland, Britain and the States. He meets mad scientists, bent on building an elevator (lift, if you please) to the sky. He meets a Brit whose life's work invloves putting a big, plastic wormy thing in water, converting wave power into energy. Most impressive, perhaps, are the chaps who can make petrol out of thin air.

May is utterly, utterly British. Eccentric, chronically and wonderfully long-winded, unfeasibly clever... very much the sort to dust himself off and pull up his socks. (Creep up behind him, hitch up a trouser-leg and doubtless you'll catch a glimpse of tweed.) But he clearly genuinely loves this stuff. Oh, he's still a melancholy, grumpy old sod, but his excitement is entirely infectious, and his concern for the well-being of the planet (a bit of a knee to Clarksonian nuts) proves that he really is lovely James. Lovely, lovely James.

These are not James May's ideas. But James May presents ideas from other people. For this purpose May travelled around the world, from the UK to the States and then to Japan and back.

In the first broadcast you will see interesting ideas about transportation: the Harrier, the plane from the R.A.F., that could start vertically; a little town in the US, where you could park your plane in a garage near your house; an ultralight helicopter; ... Perhaps you will hear from one or the other idea sometimes in the future.

The second broadcast brings you to robots and artificial intelligence. What do you think about robots, that could learn autonomous? Do you like robots, that looks like human beings? Do you know the Holodeck from Startrek? Here you can explore it with James May and an avatar of him.

The last broadcast you could explore yourself.

James May, a low speaking presenter, guides you through his adventures. No nonsense and very funny. Don't expect very wide informations, these clips are just the beginnings for your own explorations. But it's very amusing to see James May fly in the Harrier or a little car that wants to be a plane.

Excellent Sunday afternoon viewing. Great for inspiring the kids and getting them interested in the wonders of modern engineering.