This 12-hour HBO miniseries created by Tom Hanks garnered 17 Emmy nominations and captivated audiences. From the early stages of the space program and Kennedy’s 1961 call to reach the moon within a decade to the successes and heartbreaking failures of the race for space, the dream was kept alive by dedicated, daring professionals and a nation intent on reaching for — and landing amid — the stars, all while the world faced the Vietnam War.
Originally broadcast in April and May of 1998, the epic miniseries From the Earth to the Moon was HBO’s most expensive production to date, with a budget of $68 million. Hosted by executive producer Tom Hanks, the miniseries tackles the daunting challenge of chronicling the entire history of NASA’s Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972. For the most part, it’s a rousing success. Some passages are flatly chronological, awkwardly wedging an abundance of factual detail into a routine dramatic structure. But each episode is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program. The cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA’s monumental achievement. With the help of a superlative cast, consistent writing, and a stable of talented directors, Hanks has shared his infectious enthusiasm for space exploration and the inspiring power of conquering the final frontier.
NASA’s complete participation in the production lends to its total authenticity, right down to the use of NASA equipment, launch locations, and even spacecraft. The re-creation of the lunar landscape is almost as impressive as the real thing and is further enhanced by the use of helium balloons to lighten the actors playing moon-walking astronauts. (These and other backstage details are revealed in the “making of” featurette, along with a wealth of supplemental materials, on a bonus disc in the miniseries’ DVD package.) With a fictional, Walter Cronkite-like TV reporter (Lane Smith) serving as the dramatic link for all 12 episodes, this ambitious production may not be a great work of art. But as a generous and definitive example of nonfiction drama, it’s full of the same kind of awe, inspiration, and humanity that led to “one giant leap” in the all-too-short history of 20th-century space exploration. –Jeff Shannon
Buy “From the Earth to the Moon – The Signature Edition” For Only $17.47
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March 17, 2010
#1
This is not a documentary. It is a long movie based on actual events, obviously made by Americans. It has too much “gee whiz aren’t these American guys just so neato?” thrown in for me to enjoy it. Though it may be a matter of pride that we got to the moon first, this volume is too maudlin and patriotic for me to enjoy it as a documentary, which is what I thought it was.
March 17, 2010
#2
I will not be doing business with amazon again, the DVD that was I received was defected and I think amazon knew it, I talked to amazon and they told me to return it, I am not going to do that, I am thinking of turning it over to the AG in Oregon, this isn’t the first time this has happend but it will be the last for me. I’ve been telling eveyone I know what I think of amazon and so far they to have stopped using amazon.
Sincerely
Jesse Slade
(503) 364-3158
March 17, 2010
#3
I have never seen any place where it takes more than two months to ship a package. I will never do business with amazon again!
March 17, 2010
#4
When you compare this series with the “actual” moon landing footage from Nasa, this one is by far a better job and more realistic looking. It just goes to show you that a moon landing hoax is not impossible to do, just take a look at how well done this series was, since they didn’t actually go to the moon to film it, yet they pulled it off as if it were real and there was zero gravity. Bravo!
If a movie company can do it so well with their budget and resources, keep in mind the government has an endless budget and resources to make such a movie too.
Also keep in mind that the US government is said to have sent all these men and missions to the moon, never once crashing on the moon or being unable to get back, and that is with 1960′s technology, but today with all our computers and modern science, we can’t seem to get MOST of our probes to Mars without crashing or getting lost, and the ones that do make it, constantly have problems and of course, we don’t have the technology to ever have any of them come back to earth either.
To this day, the Russians, who beat us into space, beat us with satellites, even created a space shuttle that looked almost exactly like ours does, have STILL not been able to send a man on the moon.
President Bush wants to send a man to the moon, and for some reason it will take about 15 years to do it. Perhaps by then, we will actually have the technology and ability to do such a thing. Why doesn’t anyone ask Nasa why they don’t just use the EXISTING plans of space craft they already had so much SUCCESS with using 1960′s technology that never lost a man on the moon?
Because that wasn’t real? Because it really will take 15 years before Nasa can figure out a way to get a man on the moon for real?
This series is very enjoyable when you realize it is science fiction all the way. But do not confuse this with the real history of the US space program.
If out of dozens of probes sent to Mars, only a small tiny fraction ever make it, and of those, so many problems occur, then how can going back to 1960′s technology have several manned moon missions where not one single man or craft crashed on the moon and died. Not one. PLUS they were able to go from the moon back to earth again, something no Mars probe has ever been able to do with today’s technology.
Surely, if even today, we have a plan and desire to “return” to the moon, the Russians would still want to at least go to the moon ONCE. Yet they still don’t have the technology to do so, just as we never did yet. Nasa thinks in 15 more years we might be able to first send a man to the moon.
When watching this excellent series, keep in mind that they are not REALLY on the moon in this film. The extras reveal HOW they dealt with the special effects of less gravity and such.
Keep all of that in mind when watching the Nasa films too.
Think about it.
March 17, 2010
#5
My first and last dealing with Amazon.ca
Ordered Dec 5 for Christmas delivery (New Years at worst) and I doubt if I will see it by Valentine’s day as I just got another email saying that it is delayed again.
There is an import listed that can be shipped in 24 hours but they are too cheap to send that too make up for the delay.
Amazon.com has it for about $10 more but it will be here by the week-end.
Nice way to do business.