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Awe Inspiring and humbling experience
by bck (movies profile)
Dec 7, 2007
2
of
2 people found this review helpful
The thought of actually venturing into the unknown, to not simply leave the ground but truly leave the planet is such an undertaking that the effort alone is worthy of awe and inspiration. To go to the moon and actually be there, it's a level of amazement known only to a handful of people. These same people are at the center of this remarkable documentary as they relate their personal experiences in making the remarkable journey. It was a time when the impossible was achieved and by that, I don't just mean getting a human to the moon and back but in that one moment, the world was practically united in awe and wonder.
That reaction of the people around the world was reflected upon by Aldrin and Collins within the documentary and it is something that is seldom touched upon. The impact they and Neil Armstrong had upon the world populace was simply breathtaking.
Their story may take up most of the documentary but the other astronauts and technicians connected to the Apollo missions do get their reminiscences across, as we get to look, via archival footage, the ongoings at mission control during some of these missions. Naturally, the tragedy of Apollo 1 and the failure of Apollo 13 are also covered briefly. The essence of the movie is to remind people of the remarkable feat these people achieved and the daring measure that led to those moments. Sometimes, we may be too cautious these days as we even have to weigh the risk of actually sending someone back to the moon, let alone putting a human on the surface of another planet like Mars.
It is far more reflective of the events surrounding the Apollo missions and their significance than one would assume of such a documentary. The only thing missing is Armstrong's participation in this endeavour. It is mentioned that he is a reclusive person and when they talk about his legacy, it somehow makes sense that he remained reclusive and uncommunicative about the experience. It strengthens his legend when you see and hear what others have to say about him without him commenting on it.
This is an amazing and captivating documentary that deserves some screen time in the big dark hall of a cinema (or even a smaller hall of a cineplex). Just as the world held its breath all those years back, this movie does capture that same emotion all over again. AND it reminds us of the great things we are capable on this tiny little ball of life floating in the vasty nothingness. |
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