I grew up in Central Florida in the 60's when the space fever was at it's highest. I had the models of the Saturn V, the Command Module and the Lunar Modules in my bedroom. It was so exciting to be an 11 year old boy. So, when I finally got a chance to see this movie, after hearing of it for many years, I was excited to see Turner Classic Movies was going to show it!! BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!
First, the plot was not that bad. We were in a race to the moon with the Russians and I remember some of the "go fever" that was going on at the Cape. I remember when Apollo 1 had the fire that set things back so there was really a fear that the Soviets were going to beat us to the moon. However, to think that the people at NASA would have just thrown together a mission such as Pilgrim, was ludicrous. The only thing worse for the US than getting beaten by the Soviets was if we had LOST the men, or man in this case, while trying to go there. THAT would have ended NASA for good, at least for the next 10 or 20 years. So, if the Russians beat us, too bad, but we are going to go with what we planned, a newly designed Apollo craft with 3 crewmen, one to stay in orbit above the moon which was the safest way to do it.
The acting was good, but the depictions of the two main characters really cheapened astronauts and their importance. First of all, Chiz was a MILITARY man, and he was used to obeying orders. He is portrayed here as a pouting child when he finds out he is not going to be first to go to the moon. Then, to think that his superiors would have not seen his attempt to sabotage Lee's training putting the entire mission at risk, C'MON! Then, Lee, it turns out, really was not prepared to go as Chiz had been saying, he was continuously arguing with the people in Houston, and, beads of sweat constantly on his brow as he panics when he can't see the beacon on the shelter vehicle. Listen, these astronauts were THE BEST OF THE BEST and they were men who understood their missions and did them. They were competitive with egos, but they also understood their role in the greatest adventure on Earth (and the Moon).
The special effects on the moon was also as cheezy as it gets. To think that they would not be able to communicate for hours without a relay in the Gemini craft that would not be set up where Lee could speak to them while he was walking to the shelter, is ridiculous. The way he walked, just taking a leisurely stroll on the moon was also ridiculous. There was no urgency for him to get to the shelter, even taking time for him to spend several precious minutes at the Soviet craft to unfurl the flags. Minutes that almost caught up to him at the end.
But, my BIGGEST gripe is the ending!!! As he sees the shelter vehicle, I thought, he's going to make it, he's going to get inside just as his air is running out and signs onto the radio and the world erupting in cheers!!! NOPE!!! We get the ending credits even before he gets within 100 feet of the craft! I'm going, ?????? We don't get to see Chiz smile that his friend had been able to do it, Lee's wife having tears of joy, the others who didn't know whether we could do it finally being able to cheer. The last few minutes of Apollo 13 and the mission control scene would have been appropriate here, but, no, we see the credits.
Finally, I was very disappointed at this movie. It portrayed our space program as being unfocused with a "make it up as we go along" attitude which I know was not the case. Especially after the Apollo 1 tragedy, rather than folding up our tents, the men and women at NASA buckled down to go to work, to find out the problems and fix them. And, because of that, we were able to go to the moon, not just 1 time, but 6 times and 12 US astronauts walked on it and advanced the cause of science beyond anyone's imagination. I think I understand why I had never been able to see this movie until today, the people in charge there, wished it would just go away. And it should.
First, the plot was not that bad. We were in a race to the moon with the Russians and I remember some of the "go fever" that was going on at the Cape. I remember when Apollo 1 had the fire that set things back so there was really a fear that the Soviets were going to beat us to the moon. However, to think that the people at NASA would have just thrown together a mission such as Pilgrim, was ludicrous. The only thing worse for the US than getting beaten by the Soviets was if we had LOST the men, or man in this case, while trying to go there. THAT would have ended NASA for good, at least for the next 10 or 20 years. So, if the Russians beat us, too bad, but we are going to go with what we planned, a newly designed Apollo craft with 3 crewmen, one to stay in orbit above the moon which was the safest way to do it.
The acting was good, but the depictions of the two main characters really cheapened astronauts and their importance. First of all, Chiz was a MILITARY man, and he was used to obeying orders. He is portrayed here as a pouting child when he finds out he is not going to be first to go to the moon. Then, to think that his superiors would have not seen his attempt to sabotage Lee's training putting the entire mission at risk, C'MON! Then, Lee, it turns out, really was not prepared to go as Chiz had been saying, he was continuously arguing with the people in Houston, and, beads of sweat constantly on his brow as he panics when he can't see the beacon on the shelter vehicle. Listen, these astronauts were THE BEST OF THE BEST and they were men who understood their missions and did them. They were competitive with egos, but they also understood their role in the greatest adventure on Earth (and the Moon).
The special effects on the moon was also as cheezy as it gets. To think that they would not be able to communicate for hours without a relay in the Gemini craft that would not be set up where Lee could speak to them while he was walking to the shelter, is ridiculous. The way he walked, just taking a leisurely stroll on the moon was also ridiculous. There was no urgency for him to get to the shelter, even taking time for him to spend several precious minutes at the Soviet craft to unfurl the flags. Minutes that almost caught up to him at the end.
But, my BIGGEST gripe is the ending!!! As he sees the shelter vehicle, I thought, he's going to make it, he's going to get inside just as his air is running out and signs onto the radio and the world erupting in cheers!!! NOPE!!! We get the ending credits even before he gets within 100 feet of the craft! I'm going, ?????? We don't get to see Chiz smile that his friend had been able to do it, Lee's wife having tears of joy, the others who didn't know whether we could do it finally being able to cheer. The last few minutes of Apollo 13 and the mission control scene would have been appropriate here, but, no, we see the credits.
Finally, I was very disappointed at this movie. It portrayed our space program as being unfocused with a "make it up as we go along" attitude which I know was not the case. Especially after the Apollo 1 tragedy, rather than folding up our tents, the men and women at NASA buckled down to go to work, to find out the problems and fix them. And, because of that, we were able to go to the moon, not just 1 time, but 6 times and 12 US astronauts walked on it and advanced the cause of science beyond anyone's imagination. I think I understand why I had never been able to see this movie until today, the people in charge there, wished it would just go away. And it should.