Rating: 
Summary: This movie has it!
Review: Although The Right Stuff was a box office flop, it was considered by critics to be one of the best films of the decade.I'll start off by comparing the movie to the equally excellent novel by Tom Wolfe. Phillip Kaufman's film adaptation stays faithful to Tom Wolfe's masterpiece. There's a lot of good material that was left out, but this movie runs over three hours long as it is. Much of Wolfe's satire is captured by this brilliant movie. By humbling the astronauts and telling thier true stories, The Right Stuff actually helps viewers gain a new appreciation for our space pioneers. The astronauts wives, who are pushed into the background, still have an important role in the film. And Chuck Yeager, Wolfe's "Original Astronaut," is an important and recurring character. Sam Sheppard plays Yeager with the dignity and the strength that Chuck Yeager deserves. The real Chuck Yeager even gets a cameo as a bartender. The rest of the characters are minor and are drawn as cartoons. Even Vice-President Johnson is portrayed in this way. But this tactic is an effective tool in this historical satire. By portraying the buffoonery of the media and the bureaucracy with humor, you can both satire them and make the astronauts appear more noble and brave as a result. The DVD special features include actor bios and some background on the film. It's nothing to get excited about. But the extras are unnecessary when the movie is that good. The combination of good acting, incredible storytelling, and inspiring musical score are unbeatable. The Right Stuff is an emotional roller coaster of optimism, comedy, disappointment, and triumph. It's rare that you'll see these qualities in a historical film. Everyone associated with this film should be very proud.
Rating:
Summary: A Film that Will Have You Cheering from Your Seat
Review: I didn't really want to see "The Right Stuff" all those years ago, but it was nominated for an Oscar, and my best friend really was eager to go, so I obliged. Just before the movie started, an announcement was made as to its length, and I was even less inclined to like the show. Well, let me just say, that I loved this movie then, and I still do! The men who were the heroic Mercury astronauts are wonderfully portrayed by a great ensemble cast, featuring Ed Harris as John Glenn. All different types, the former test pilots realize that their strength will be in their unity, and once they band together, they get to play the game by their rules, LBJ notwithstanding. Sam Shepard does a great job as Chuck Yeagher, the test pilot not even considered for the job, since he isn't a college man. So we see the two paths juxtaposed against the other, the career test pilot believed by the astronauts themselves to be the best, and the band of astronauts who make history as the space program takes off. If you want to see a movie about heroes, then "The Right Stuff" is the flight to catch.
Rating:
Summary: a glimpse into the passion for flight
Review: An elegant film created in a unique style that doesn't aggrandize or demean all the characters in this ensemble piece. In a film industry that tends to insult viewers by overemphasizing or overdramatizing, "The Right Stuff" comes out subtle and indifferent with its presentation of events and the people embroiled in them. Everyone can't say enough about the impeccable work of the actors in this film. If you never understood the bug that drove test pilots and astronauts to the sky and beyond despite the very real mortal danger associated with pushing the envelope, this movie will help give you an inkling of that drive and that passion. If you don't get goose-bumps, have someone check your pulse.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: I love this movie. It's an all-around good movie, but my favorite part is one most people probably don't notice. Watch the movie. After Scott Crossfield breaks Mach 2 and is celebrating at Pancho's, watch when Glennis Yeager walks in. She'll go talk to the bartender, who just happens to be played by General Chuck Yeager himself. He also appears later in the movie, with his one and only line: "You guys want some whiskey or something?" But even without Yeager this film is worth owning.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Portrayal of LBJ
Review: I loved the book however the movie is weak and one dimensional in terms of character development. It would be nice to see a more realistic Vice President Johnson as he was stopped from visiting Annie Glenn. The courage of Chuck Yeager and the humor of Gordo Cooper made this film worth watching again and again. It should not be looked at as a documentary, but as entertainment with a little history thrown in for good measure. Despite the fact that I take exception with some of the film, I will contunue to watch it each time it comes on television
Rating:
Summary: Historically accurate? Not really. Entertaining? You bet!
Review: Although the film does not always accurately present the beginning of America's race into space with the Russians, The Right Stuff does present an admirable look into the motivations and spirit of the persons involved. Chuck Yeager had the "go for it" mentality, and he was good at his job. The "First Seven" were ready to go do their best to make Kennedy's challenge of putting a man on the moon in 8 years a reality, and they were a team. Unfortunately, Gus Grissom was not treated with enough respect in the script, but Fred Ward did a great job with what he was given. Viewers looking for more should see Tom Hank's From the Earth to the Moon series and the available NASA footage. Then they should read some of the many books written by those who were there, including astronauts Deke Slayton, Alan Shepherd, Gordon Cooper and John Glenn, flight directors Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz, and space enthusiasts like Andrew Chaikin. Looking past the inaccuracies, the film is fun to watch. The actors do fine jobs portraying the talented men who were instantly thrust into hero status before ever embarking on a mission. The women do well with the roles that the wives were forced into as "Mrs. Test Pilot' or "Mrs. Astronaut". The photography was very satisfying and effective, and the music did much to complement the mood of the film. The comedic and dramatic scenes were equally well executed, and both moved the story along at a nice pace. This is one of those movies that when it appears on television, even on a commercial station, I cannot turn it off, even though I have a fine DVD copy and it may well be past my bedtime! Watch it, enjoy it, and then watch & read other treatments of the story. The Right Stuff was the spark that rekindled my "space junkie" flame.
Rating:
Summary: an an aviation masterpiece..an American classic.
Review: the right stuff is just that..it Has the right stuff...great story,it's well written, well paced...great actors...sam shepard's chuck yeager is brillant(they should have let him into the space program)..as well as fred ward's gus grissom--he adds a certain charm to the role. the historical aspect is right on the money..from the famed launch of the bell X-1 in 1947..thus breaking the sound barrier..(that whole scene gives me a lump in my throat everytime i watch this film)...this eventually leads into the scouting for astronauts then all the interesting things start like the training scenes, as well as that hilarious scene where shepard is in the spacecraft waiting to launch,and he has to relieve himself in his spacesuit(priceless) this film also has the theme "that we have to be number 1 and beat the russians" as well, as the fears of the men themselves..this film shows how they feel about what there doing, how they interact with each other. this film is accurate in the usage of spacecraft/aircraft as well ...from showing the bell x 1 to showing the A-4 fighter on the aircraft carriers in short the right stuff is a film for lovers of aviation,and space exploration.with a little romance, and humor thrown in for good measure. this movie should have won some oscars.
Rating:
Summary: Piece of History.
Review: This is a very good example of the first space missions and the problems that had to be solved. Very important piece of history.
Rating:
Summary: Fine insight
Review: This is a fine insight into the history of how the space program started and a good tribute to those who took part.
Rating:
Summary: HIstory it Ain't
Review: The Right Stuff is one of my favorite movies. Having said this it is undoubtedly not the best way to learn about the space program. Although a great film, it uses a lot of poetic license, especially in its treatment of Gus Grissom, a man who was dead and could not defend himself. The movie implies that Mr. Grissom panicked and blew the hatch cover on his Mercury capsule, sinking the ship. Yet the real Gus Grissom went on to fly in Gemini and was picked to be the commander of the first Apollo mission, an assignment which resulted in its death. It's a shame that his memory is sullied by a few scenes put into a movie to heighten the drama.
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