IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON - 2007

RATED - PG for mild language, brief violent images and incidental smoking.

RATINGS - 67 Amazon (5/5), 45,356 Netflix (4.0/5), 1,594 IMDB (8.3/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - The APOLLO astronauts and NASA.

STORY - When we think of the 1960's today we so often think of the assassinations, the race riots, the Vietnam War, the Beatles, etc. We often forget this was also the decade of the race to the moon. In 1961 the Russians officially launched the space race by launching the first human into orbit soon followed by a 15 minute manned flight by the U.S. The newly elected president of the United States, John F. Kennedy laid down the gauntlet by challenging our country to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, at that time a more than ambitious (some thought impossible) goal. This film is the story, in the APOLLO astronaut's own words and incredible archival footage of how the U.S. became the first to land on the moon. As Roger Ebert says, we tend to focus on the accomplishment and not on the journey. This is about the journey as well as the incredible achievement. The clips, many seen on film for the first time, especially those walking on the moon's surface, are spectacular. This is a story that should be seen by everyone, especially those who did not grow up in the sixties. We may have forgotten that the first three astronauts were killed in a fire on the launchpad that could have stopped the whole mission dead in its tracks. These are the only men in the history of our planet who have seen earth from another celestial location. One final note. This was an achievement that united, literally the whole world. As the astronauts traveled the world afterwards, they were struck by the fact that everywhere, people referred to the achievement as 'WE' did it, not you did it. It was something that everyone was proud of, regardless of their country. How different that seems from the world culture today. Is there anything we could conquer today that could unite the world into saying WE did it. You will not be disappointed in watching this great film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/14/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT, TCM, TRAILER.