In The Shadow Of The Moon, apollo, documentary, dvd, moon landing, movie, recommendation, space program...

Go Back To Where We Once Feared To Tread

The documentary In The Shadow Of The Moon comes out on DVD in a month, and is well worth picking up. Today we take moon landings for granted, but it's been 35 years since Gene Cernan was the last man on the moon (note for you trivia nuts), and we haven't come close to going back. In the intervening years, we've forgotten just what it took for our country to land people safely on the moon, and bring them back home.

Today we're not impressed unless our science fiction involves explosions, boobs, mutants, or all three, but back in the 60s when science fiction became science fact, it seemed like the country could unite to do anything. I caught this film last year at Sundance sandwiched between melancholy indie art films that make you pray that you might choke on your own tongue, and I was blown away. It's a great testament to the entire space program, and what might be one of the last memorable looks at the surviving men who have walked on the moon.

If you're looking for a trippier moon experience, however, pick up the Brian Eno scored For All Mankind, which was culled from the massive amounts of film that NASA shot on flybys of the moon. You'll recognize the "Deep Blue Day" track immediately from the time Ewan McGregor had to go diving in that shit-encrusted toilet in Scottish junkie flick Trainspotting to fetch his opium suppositories.

io9: the only place that will take you from the surface of the moon to a feces-covered toilet in Scotland. Sorry, it had to be said.

3:32 PM on Thu Feb 14 2008
By Kevin Kelly
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12 comments

Comments

goldfarb at 03:45 PM on 02/14/08
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Canadians however, for reasons I can't imagine, can buy it now.
I watched it last night and can't say enough about it - by far the best documentary about the men who went to the moon, note that this film is about the astronauts and not the Apollo program itself, nor is it specifically about any one mission, though there is an understandable focus on 11 and 13. Fantastic footage, much of which I've never seen, and really fine music.
able-x at 05:34 PM on 02/14/08
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it's also available now on Netflix, as it should be in mailbox tomorrow. Looks terrific, and I can't wait to check it out.
low_brass at 06:01 PM on 02/14/08
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I saw this at the Seattle International Film Festival last year, and it is amazing. Best documentary I've ever seen. As I recall, the entire dialogue of the movie consists of the astronauts sharing their experiences. Very inspiring - a testament to the greatness of the Apollo program.
diverguy at 06:42 PM on 02/14/08
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Out in a month?!?! Hmmm I rented it from Rogers video last night, watched it, and have sitting in front of me. It came out on Tuesday.
Rybanis at 06:57 PM on 02/14/08
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I will see this. This is coming from a guy who LOVES For All Mankind. I've got the Criterion edition of it.
Chris Wren at 08:08 PM on 02/14/08
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Saw this in the theater during its limited run, and I'm glad I did. It's excellent, and takes a different tack than the usual pure historical documentary we're used to seeing. It's part editorial, heavy on the personal journeys and reflections of the Apollo astronauts. It's about the relationship between the Apollo program and the prevailing cultural climate of the time. The two were much more intimately connected than we tend to remember them being. Highly recommended.
92BuickLeSabre at 06:57 AM on 02/15/08
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Connectedness Index: 558

@goldfarb: First we remind the Canadians of how awesome we are; then we remind ourselves.
goldfarb at 07:03 AM on 02/15/08
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@92BuickLeSabre: but we can give people the finger with the Canadarm ;)
92BuickLeSabre at 07:06 AM on 02/15/08
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Connectedness Index: 558

@goldfarb: Do you all even use the one-finger salute? Or are you still giving the two-fingered salute of your Royal Overlords?

/ : )
Pouncer at 07:54 AM on 02/15/08
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I wanted to see this in theater, but it only played for a week where I was inundated with work. I'm off to Netflix now to add it to my queue. The reviews for this documentary have been commensurate with the achievement of the Apollo program, and I can't wait to revisit their triumphs.
Klebert L. Hall at 09:00 AM on 02/15/08
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@goldfarb:
You know the Canadarm company's up for sale, right?
-Kle.
regis at 07:02 AM on 02/18/08
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I just saw this at this year's boston SF marathon and it was *outstanding*