From the Earth to the Moon

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Accomplishment
Review: How does one review a movie 12-hours long in just a few words. This production would be an amazing accomplisment for a movie studio. The fact that is was produced as a TV miniseries just boggles the mind.

There really aren't enough superlatives to describe it. About the best I can do is to say that it was totally engrossing from beginning to end. Well known and little known actors work side by side with spectacular results. The special effects are as good as any I've seen, and the absolute authenticity makes it a movie hard to stop watching. Tom Hanks has produced a space masterpiece that is made all the better by the fact that it is all true.

This is a movie that can be watched again and again. I'm sure I will.

Rating:
Summary: A really great experience
Review: This series is wonderful for families who want their children to know what the space program was all about. Granted, it's a bit difficult to keep up with all the characters; but it's one of the most in depth, detailed space program series we've seen. Extremely informative and a must see. We had to force ourselves to turn off the television and call it a night with this series! The only reason why we didn't give it a 5 is because there were so many people involved in the space program whom they discussed which are a bit difficult to track and remember. So we've decided to purchase this to watch over and over again and look forward to our children being old enough to understand and watch what the space program was all about. Truly spectacular.

Rating:
Summary: A Must See!
Review: From the Earth to The Moon is -- just like most of Tom Hanks's productions -- top-notch! Anyone who is even remotely interested in space should see this. A great depiction of the Mercury thru Apollo programs. There are 12 1-hour episodes. These episodes include Apollo 13 (of course) & what I found even more compelling, things that you would never even think about. A real behind-the-scenes look. Each episode is extremely interesting and gave me new insight on just what it took & what an amazing adventure it was for us "to go From the earth to the Moon".

Rating:
Summary: simply the best
Review: This series is a fitting tribute to those who went miles and miles before us. It is also a reminder that we have miles and miles to go. All I can say is well done, Tom Hanks and cast--for their fine work, they all should have won Emmys!

Rating:
Summary: A Voyage Most of us Only Dream of...
Review: First off, if I could give this miniseries 10, 20, a zillion stars, I would. Amazon just didn't let me count high enough.

So let me get ahold of myself long enough to tell you to run, run, run and get this DVD set now, if you haven't already. "From the Earth to the Moon" is one of the most unique and engrossing (as well as gorgeously produced) miniseries I've ever seen -- 12 hours of moving, dramatic, gripping, frightening, and ultimately completely inspiring entertainment. As a kid born in the late sixties, I missed the moon race (and I'm still ticked about it). But this literally perfect 12-episode miniseries makes me feel as if I've been there too -- from the tragedy of Apollo 1 to the triumphs and near-misses of the ensuing missions, to the vastly underappreciated final Apollo 16 and 17 missions. (As one character in the film laments, "We stopped going up just when we were getting really good at it.")

Those of you who might have avoided this because it's "history" -- let me reassure you right now that it's as gripping as any drama you'll see in or out of a theatre. This isn't just history painstakingly created by some of those who were there -- it's also just plain incredible, suspenseful, joyful entertainment.

And for those of you who saw it on HBO, the DVD set is well worth the price, even if you'd already taped it. The DVD set offers not only crystal-clear viewing you'd expect (and the special effects hold up admirably under the discerning eye offered through DVD), but also special features including an enjoyable making-of featurette (emphasizing Tom Hanks' huge role in bringing the project to the screen), plus behind-the-scenes studies of special effects, 3D ship models (which can be rotated or even viewed in wireframe), a transcript of Kennedy's "We Choose to go to the Moon" speech, a follow-up quiz, and a virtual tour of the solar system. And that's just for starters.

The writing, acting, music, direction and more are all simply superb -- each hour out of the twelve having its own particular look and feel, while nevertheless meshing perfectly with the others. The introductions to each chapter in Apollo history are delivered quietly, but with eloquence and power, by the project's producer, co-writer, actor (and driving force) Tom Hanks.

One of my favorite aspects of the project was the way it brought in so many actors who are often underused (or at least under-appreciated) in TV and film today -- many of whom are cast against type to show what they can really do. Stephen Root, a guy I'd loved as Jimmy James on NewsRadio for years, does a terrific job in a serious role as Mission Control's Chris Kraft, as does Nick Searcy in a quiet and often sensitive turn as the program's father figure Deke Slayton. Meanwhile, Stephen Root's former NewsRadio news director Dave Foley also gets in on the action, and gets to shed his "Kids in the Hall" cynicism with a surprisingly sweet and innocent portrayal of Al Bean.

Other favorites out of the dozens of amazing actors include Ted Levine's wistful, complex (not to mention curmudgeonly) Alan Shepard, the criminally underused Jo Anderson's sensitive and moving Pat White (wife of Gemini and Apollo I astronaut Ed White), and memorable appearances large and small by such gifted folks as Kevin Pollak, Elizabeth Perkins, Matt Craven, Tim Daly, Mark Harmon (returning for a few moments to his lighter roots), Paul McCrane, David Clennon, James Rebhorn, Mark Rolston, Jay Mohr, George Newbern, Brett Cullen and Steve Zahn.

The surprises are the best part. Before viewing this, I would never have guessed that the Apollo 13 ("We interrupt this Program") segment, while unique and powerful, would be my least favorite of the group, while "Spider," a look at the development of a *machine*, for goodness' sake, would move me to tears. Other standouts (keeping in mind that they're all terrific) include a quietly powerful look at Apollo I, the trials and surprising fates of the astronauts' wives in an episode directed by Sally Field, and the bittersweet old-man-as-underdog battle of Alan Shepard to make it "up there" one last time -- and for more than 15 minutes.

OK, I'll shut up. But if you ever have a day when you've encountered a really stupid driver, or been detained in ridiculous meetings with half-brained bozos, or wondered if human beings aren't actually DE-volving -- then this miniseries is just the kind of thing to remind you of what human beings can be at their very best. And what wonders they are capable of.

And I can't believe I missed it all. We just better go back. Darn it.

NOTE: For those of you inspired by the miniseries, I strongly urge you to go pick up Andrew Chaikin's wonderful "A Man on the Moon," the history of Apollo that provided much of the backbone for the miniseries. And for an even closer look at the moon, don't miss "Full Moon" (Michael Light and Andrew Chaikin) -- a truly stunning, beautiful, even eerie compilation of lunar photographs, many of which had never before been seen.

Rating:
Summary: Excellence in Presentation
Review: I wasn't an HBO subscriber when this film came out and only saw one portion at a friend's home during its original run. That was enough to convince me to buy the series on DVD even before I owned any electronics that would play DVDs. Since then, I've purchased a DVD player and I am as impressed by the content and the quality of this production as I was back when I saw it the first time. For those that are younger, it takes a committment to get through all the episodes, but they will learn much and reap great rewards. For those of us that were actually alive during the Apollo years, who watched as NASA unfolded a dream for us, Tom Hanks and HBO take us where we only dreamed. Despite its cost, I can easily recommend this set and would encourage moving it to the top of your buy list. It is a welcome look at a time when this country had the courage and the imagination to do things that were indeed great.

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC MINISERIES! BUY IT NOW!
Review: I really have to say that the money spent on this item are probably the best investment I have ever made. This series achieves the goal of blendig tecnical accuracy with historic perspective and with human's emotions. What is really interesting about this series is that, using entirely new and very realistic visual effects, it succeds in explaining the whole experience of the Moon Race. In this area it is way superior to any of the "original footage" documentaries on the subject, since those were limited to the video footage actually brought back from the moon. (i.e.: How do you explain how the astronauts piloted the lunar module to the surface of the moon using original footage, when the only thing avaiable is footage from a camera with a narrow angle mouted on top of the LEM!?). And I am not talking about the tecnical details! I am talking about the fliying experience!! How do you land 240.000 miles from home, with no runway lights, with a vehicle that looks like a spider and on a surface that you don't know wether it will hold once you tuched down!?

The series is structured in several episodes, each one about a particular milestone in reaching the Moon or a particular Moon mission. Once an aspect of the flight is shown, the attention in the following episodes shifts to other aspects, so that it is never repetitive.

On the TECNICAL SIDE it does a nearly perfect job of describing the challenges of going to the moon and the hardware used to do it. The nice thing is that it achieves this goal with stunning visual effects and brief explanations in the form of dialog between the characters, leaving deeper details to further reading by the viewer. I personally got immediately interested in the subject and ended up reading a couple of books on the moon program. (the cool thing is that going back to the TV series once I read some literature, I realized how realistic and historically accurate it was!!).

On the HISTORICAL SIDE it does a great job in putting the Apollo program in perspective. I believe that this is very important since the choices that were made at the time cannot be fully understood if the competitive, tecnological and political enviroment are not taken into consideration. This is done by including original media coverage of the event and by including a sense of urgency in the decisions made by the caracters. We all of course know how the story ended, but at the time of the first lunar landing the russians were still very much part of the game!

And on the EMOTIONAL SIDE the series does a nearly perfect job in describing what it must have been to go to the moon as an astronaut. Being a pilot myself I was so much fascinated by the feelings that were transmitted thru the visual effects, the soundtrack and the dialogues. I really felt as if I was behind Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in the LEM during the first lunar landing.

My suggestion is very simple: 1- If you are interested in the Moon program buy it now! What r u waiting for!? 2- If you are even remotely interested in the Moon race buy it even so!! You will be more interested afterwards, I guarantee! 3- If you are not interested in the Moon program and you believe that the money spent on Apollo were a complete waste...well...buy this miniseries and you will soon be advocating for a return to the Moon and the exploration of Mars!!

Rating:
Summary: Greatest video series I've ever seen
Review: I love more than anyone else when our country pulled her people and resources together in the 1960s for Project Apollo and The Moon! I was only 9 yrs old when we first went to the Moon! I got to meet and write many of The Apollo astronauts; but have always had trouble remembering all the missions in detail; and have always regretted there not being VCR'S then to have all the history and memories on video for posterity, and my children and theirs to see! Well, thanks to HBO and Tom Hanks' caring and interest ,like mine in THE MOON landings; we all, now, have all the missions and can be made aware of the astronauts, their families, and what it took to make this all possible! I saw things on these videos that i've never read in books, and learned and relived the "whole Apollo" story for me, and what it took to get there, thanks to our nation's willingness,everyone working together;(as a team effort)toward's a common goal, and President Kennedy's committment and confidence in our great land, and the skilled/dedicated and talented people that our country has within! The best-most intense and best-researched acting and producing that you could ask for, in a tv series! Only the truth, as it happened,so that we all today and tomorrow) will always have visible proof of mankind's greatest adventure of all-time; thus far! Tom Hanks and all actors and everyone involved with this series, should be given the utmost credit and praise for a job "well-done" like no other. Even if your not a Space buff, I guarantee you all that once you watch this series, you will watch it over and over again and will appreciate all who went there, been there, and done that! Thanks Tom and all for a superior/fantastic job! And thanks to HBO also for helping us to remember each mission, because the only other recorded history is in NASA archives, and some of us may never get the chance to get to these specail places, and be able to spend hours at old Nasa films/viewing it, or have the time or money! These videos take you there, let you be on the Moon,walk on it,cruise around theMoon, and splash down in Pacific, and youn feel like you were there, like never before! Thanks again Mr. Hanks and HBO! W ish there were 100 more video series's like FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON! May therebbe many more! Long-live Profect Apollo!

Rating:
Summary: Tom Hanks should be pleased with himself
Review: I saw this mini-series when it aired on HBO, and when the DVD set was available at the library, I checked it out and watched it twice. Finally, we broke down and bought the set; its worth three times it's price! My six year old enjoys watching it with us, as he has an interest in anything related to space. Each episode is wonderful, providing accurate information about the Apollo space program within the framework of vivid storytelling. The acting is top notch; it's hard to believe these guys didn't actually go into space themselves! For entertainment or educational purposes, From The Earth to The Moon is a must see by anyone interested in the space program, or in the mood for good drama.

Rating:
Summary: Best Moon narrative ever! and best documentary in my opinion
Review: Tom Hanks is like me in that he could forsee a long time ago the significance of telling the apollo story, just like it happened! i could view this collection 1000 times; and never get tired of it! its the next-best thing to actually being there! also,this series was a long time coming, and thanks to ron howard and tom hanks, this series will live as long as the apollo legacy will--forever! thanks tom for having the same insight and love for the moon, as do so many of us average citizens and space buffs from the apollo era-those days will never die in our hearts and minds--these men were our true heroes, who sacrificed and gave their all