Rating: 
Summary: Minority report
Review: After reading the other reviews on this site, all of which granted five stars, I bought this disk set. As a great admirer of the Apollo program and a reasonably well-informed student of that effort, I fell compelled to offer a different review. Positives: As others have noted, there is seldom-seen footage and it is really good to see. The use of NASA audio and the definite lack of overdramatization (that smothers some other notable multi-disk videos) is also welcome. Seeing the entire lunar EVA is good to see (finally). The minimalistic narratives at times help focus the viewer on what was really going on. There are some uses of multiple-angle views that are novel, but the astonauts' post-flight audio commentary (covering some key mission events)are more interesting. These are significant positives that the Apollo fan will appreciate. Negatives: While there is some great footage and audio bits, one should remember that that was the result of NASA's prodigious work -- and considerable public money. The producers' job was to assemble and present them as a coherent narrative. They do their best when they simply let the NASA video play (for example, in the case of the entire EVA). But what they themselves have done is quite modest and at times thoughtless. First, they provide absolutely no overall narrative, although several methods -- a second audio track, accompanying booklet, use of subtitles, an occasional diagram -- could have been used. Those not familiar with the mission's major milestones (preparation, science goals, staging, critcal manuevers, etc.) will not gain insight and will be confused by some of the offerings. Take, for example, the footage labeled "probe and drogue" (disk 3), presented after the landing footage. With knowledge of the mission, one can figure out that it was taken shortly after LM-CSM docking, before the landing. But if you don't have this knowledge, or even what the probe and drogue assemblies are, you're left in the dark and perhaps puzzled as to its place in the mission. The lack of context confuses and fails to educate. Repeatedly, the disks choose not to illuminate the viewer when they easily could have (again, through optional subtitles or 2nd audio track). On disk 1, one sees ~15 minutes of video from a top-mounted camera looking down at the vehicle, poised for launch. It is accompanied by very sparse commentary from an Apollo public-affairs official who largely marks time until launch. One sits through at least five segments of no audio, each lasting 1.5 to 3 minutes! Even one predisposed to like this kind of DVD gets restless at staring at this uninformative shot for that long. Finally, the editing at times is thoughtless. During the section on vehicle roll-out, there are many nice shots of the vehicle, launch tower, and mobile service structure. However, they are inanely and repeatedly shown out of order, one minute ready to launch, the next with the service gantry surrounding it (i.e., events that are days apart). And while presenting NASA audio of the countdown 2 hrs prior to launch, they show the 3 astronauts on top of the launch tower...in shirt sleeves! Later, they show them getting suited up, again with the audio mismatched to the time when they're already in the command module! These large mismatches were simply not necessary. In summary, I think a die-hard Apollo fan (such as myself) will welcome the additional footage and the lack of over-the-top dramatization. The moon EVA footage is a real highlight. However, the $45 cost, the nice packaging and dramatic menus belie the lack of useful editing and supportive narrative. This set is will interest Apollo admirers, but doesn't do the less-informed viewer any favors. Finally, I have no financial interest in this product.
Rating:
Summary: Minority report
Review: After reading the other reviews on this site, all of which granted five stars, I bought this disk set. As a great admirer of the Apollo program and a reasonably well-informed student of that effort, I fell compelled to offer a different review. Positives: As others have noted, there is seldom-seen footage and it is really good to see. The use of NASA audio and the definite lack of overdramatization (that smothers some other notable multi-disk videos) is also welcome. Seeing the entire lunar EVA is good to see (finally). The minimalistic narratives at times help focus the viewer on what was really going on. There are some uses of multiple-angle views that are novel, but the astonauts' post-flight audio commentary (covering some key mission events)are more interesting. These are significant positives that the Apollo fan will appreciate. Negatives: While there is some great footage and audio bits, one should remember that that was the result of NASA's prodigious work -- and considerable public money. The producers' job was to assemble and present them as a coherent narrative. They do their best when they simply let the NASA video play (for example, in the case of the entire EVA). But what they themselves have done is quite modest and at times thoughtless. First, they provide absolutely no overall narrative, although several methods -- a second audio track, accompanying booklet, use of subtitles, an occasional diagram -- could have been used. Those not familiar with the mission's major milestones (preparation, science goals, staging, critcal manuevers, etc.) will not gain insight and will be confused by some of the offerings. Take, for example, the footage labeled "probe and drogue" (disk 3), presented after the landing footage. With knowledge of the mission, one can figure out that it was taken shortly after LM-CSM docking, before the landing. But if you don't have this knowledge, or even what the probe and drogue assemblies are, you're left in the dark and perhaps puzzled as to its place in the mission. The lack of context confuses and fails to educate. Repeatedly, the disks choose not to illuminate the viewer when they easily could have (again, through optional subtitles or 2nd audio track). On disk 1, one sees ~15 minutes of video from a top-mounted camera looking down at the vehicle, poised for launch. It is accompanied by very sparse commentary from an Apollo public-affairs official who largely marks time until launch. One sits through at least five segments of no audio, each lasting 1.5 to 3 minutes! Even one predisposed to like this kind of DVD gets restless at staring at this uninformative shot for that long. Finally, the editing at times is thoughtless. During the section on vehicle roll-out, there are many nice shots of the vehicle, launch tower, and mobile service structure. However, they are inanely and repeatedly shown out of order, one minute ready to launch, the next with the service gantry surrounding it (i.e., events that are days apart). And while presenting NASA audio of the countdown 2 hrs prior to launch, they show the 3 astronauts on top of the launch tower...in shirt sleeves! Later, they show them getting suited up, again with the audio mismatched to the time when they're already in the command module! These large mismatches were simply not necessary. In summary, I think a die-hard Apollo fan (such as myself) will welcome the additional footage and the lack of over-the-top dramatization. The moon EVA footage is a real highlight. However, the $45 cost, the nice packaging and dramatic menus belie the lack of useful editing and supportive narrative. This set is will interest Apollo admirers, but doesn't do the less-informed viewer any favors. Finally, I have no financial interest in this product.
Rating: 
Summary: Nasa Footage At Its Best!!!
Review: I am a huge Nasa Fan and am really sick of the lame DVD sets that have been released in the past!!! I have really wondered why Nasa never released comprehensive footage of not only the missions in space but also what goes on behind the scenes to make these voyages possible. Well my prayers have been awnsered. This 3 DVD set shows everything from assembling the actual rockets to the training that the astronauts undergo to take such a trip. Almost everyone in the world has seen armstrong set foot on the moon and have heard the infamous statment "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Thats it though, we have never been alowed to see much of anything else. Well this DVD set makes up for all of the waiting. Not only does it give complete footage of the entire moonwalk, but also complete footage of the film made of the moon itself from Apollo while buzz and armstrong were on the moon. One of the best parts of this DVD is the actual takeoff from the launchpad which can be viewed from, If I remember correctly, 7 different views which can be swiched at a moments notice with the angle button on your DVD remote. Other great footage includes all the broadcasts which were made for the television viewing audience. There is really too much on these DVD's to go into detail about. If you are a fan, such as I am, of the space program then buy these without a question. I have just read that the additional DVD's that are coming out will be 6 DVD's, not 3. I cant imagine how good these are going to be. Anyways to sum it up these are amazing, facinating and quite simply the best footage ever relaesed to the public for the amazing voyages. My only complaint is that it took this long to release these. Enjoy, I know I have!!!
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Wealth of Information
Review: I have been wanting someone to do this for years. The first memory that I can recall is at age four watching the telecast of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon, and I have been hooked ever since. There have been many excellent Apollo documentaries over the years since, but this is a totally different concept. Instead of taking the strict documentary approach and editing the raw materiel until only the subjective 'best' materiel is left, the producers show basically all the uncut, raw materiel, frequently from different perspectives or with different options. Examples here are watching the Lunar Landing film taken from the LMP window synched with numerous different soundtrack options such as the Flight Director Loop, the TELCOMM (later TELMU) loop (which is of particular interest during the 1202 and 1201 Program Alarms), the PAO loop, or the onboard recorder from Eagle. Similarly, you can select up to six different angles to watch the launch from. This set is simply amazing to watch. It includes all the TV transmissions and onboard 16 mm film. If you are interested in Apollo or space exploration, you absolutely must have this DVD set. You will love it.
Rating:
Summary: Must See
Review: If you were alive in July '69 , then you know the feeling the world had as they followed the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon.This DVD set is a very impressive piece of work.The images may be raw and the audio scratchy,but it is a true representation of what went on that summer in space...I found it most interesting and informative...I have seen most films of this flight,so I was surprised to see a few clips that I had not...If you are looking for a documentry or hollywood version,look elsewhere, because this is the REAL thing...I enjoyed the multiple angles at liftoff and the multiple audio tracks to choose from during the lunar landing clip...I will definitely purchase the Apollo 16 and 17 versions as they become available...If you were interested in these missions 30 years ago and enjoy space flight today,get these DVD's before they are out of print,you will not regret it...
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Complete Collection
Review: In short... I've been hoping to have this material for 30 years. Having seen glimpses of footage in documentaries over the years, this set finally provides all the material in one place - with excellent quality. Seeing the launch from multiple angles and hearing Armstrong describe the final approach as the film from the LM window goes by is about as close as you can get. Included is footage of training, rollout, launch, all the TV transmissions, film, EVA, and recovery. I'm hopeful more missions are to come! Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Spacecraft Films "Space History Series" is a must buy!!!
Review: My ninth birthday was July 20, 1969, some guys walked on the moon. Yawn. My Dad kept nudging me to stay awake and to make me remember this historical moment in time... I tried, but I was sleepy. The picture was fuzzy on our 9 inch tv screen. He told me by the time I was a grown up people would be taking their vacations on the moon! (he was a little off on that predicton!) The 3 dvd set "Apollo 11, Men on the Moon" gives you everything you could possibly want in recapturing that impressive moment so many years ago. The film, the tv, the audio of the astronauts and mission control doing an incredible feat with grace, skill and yes, heroism. If it had a commentary track with the astronauts I would probably never leave my house, so that is the only thing that could make it better, as it is, it comes as close to perfection as humanly possible. When there is no video of a certain point in the EVA, the producers give you the pictures the astronauts took from the surface of the moon along with the real-time audio of the events taking place. NASA has put out some terrible looking videos over the years, with some horrific sound tracks, this IS THE REAL DEAL, exactly what I have been looking for and I am so glad I found it! The critical moment when the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) was about to land on the moon, there were a few error messages called out from Mission Control, an alarm on the computer was going off, the guys on the ground analyzed it and said they were go for landing on the moon, and then during landing, Armstrong came to within 30 seconds of running out of fuel.... it really is amazing that these folks did this in 1969. The producers of this dvd give you the chance to just listen to the astronauts, or just to mission control, or to hear a 5.1 surround mix, and listening to Gene Kranz do the poll for landing, Go, NO GO, was a huge thrill to me. I got chills. I got chills just thinking about it just now! Separating the audio tracks, and giving the viewer the use of the "angle" button to choose what video to watch is a great bonus and shows the extent to which the producers of these dvds know how to pack in the quality, for example on Disc 2 for the EVA, on angle 3 you can watch the 16mm film from the LMP window on the LEM, the TV downlink, the Hasselblad still images and an EVA training film ....wow! That sure beats that scratchy NASA video with the wonky music on the sound track!!! Kudos to this team of media giants at Spacecraft Films, they made this dvd series a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to more of their offerings!
Rating:
Summary: Not What You Might Think
Review: This is not a polished, "sit back and eat popcorn" documentary ala National Geographic or Nova. It is a collection of raw NASA video and audio feeds. Where there is commentary, the commentator's delivery while rather bland is filled with facts and figures (as in the section on the Saturn V in the Vehicle Assembly Building). That being said, it is an AWESOME collection of video and audio, things you didn't see in the network news coverages. There's even audio of Armstrong and Aldrin during a post-mission technical debrief on the lunar approach under video of the approach with graphics describing the technical terms used in the discussion. In many cases multiple audio tracks are available. In the lunar approach you can listen to the Flight Directors loop, full LEM on-board voice recorder, air-to-ground, etc. I only wish they would have included more, particularly of the initial earth orbit and preparation for the trans-lunar injection burn. Excellent! A definite must-have for any serious space junkie.
Rating:
Summary: Not What You Might Think
Review: This is not a polished, "sit back and eat popcorn" documentary ala National Geographic or Nova. It is a collection of raw NASA video and audio feeds. Where there is commentary, the commentator's delivery while rather bland is filled with facts and figures (as in the section on the Saturn V in the Vehicle Assembly Building). That being said, it is an AWESOME collection of video and audio, things you didn't see in the network news coverages. There's even audio of Armstrong and Aldrin during a post-mission technical debrief on the lunar approach under video of the approach with graphics describing the technical terms used in the discussion. In many cases multiple audio tracks are available. In the lunar approach you can listen to the Flight Directors loop, full LEM on-board voice recorder, air-to-ground, etc. I only wish they would have included more, particularly of the initial earth orbit and preparation for the trans-lunar injection burn. Excellent! A definite must-have for any serious space junkie.
Rating:
Summary: Humbling Experience
Review: This is not the only DVD set that I would get on Apollo 11, but I believe it is an important one to have. I'm only 27 years old and I feel that I was greatly brought up to speed on what happened with the Apollo 11 mission during the summer of 1969.
The raw, continous footage shown that was accompanied by the actual air and ground communications was surprisingly satisfying. Surprising, because I wasn't entertained at first. No, instead, this DVD set, without hardly any narration, gave me a greater appreciation for what was experienced and accomplished during Apollo 11's flight. Man, I love it.
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