I've been a fan of Brian Eno's work for years, and have cherished the album entitled "Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks." The album is the commissioned soundtrack for this compilation documentary of the NASA Apollo missions. What a harmony of the arts this is. The stark NASA footage coupled with the hauntingly soothing score create a fascinating marriage of techniques and styles. Although the music editor overused certain tracks over others, the subtlety of Eno's music prevents it from becoming repetitive. A pleasure to watch.
43 Reviews
sadly diminished on smaller screens
mjneu5918 November 2010
In a project almost more ambitious than the Apollo program itself, Al Reinert distills six million feet of NASA film footage and over 80 hours of taped interviews into a glorious 90- minute flashback to the ultimate achievement of our time: the manned exploration of another world. The film condenses all ten Apollo moon shots into a single flight, using only the genuine sights, sounds, and impressions experienced by the astronauts themselves along the way, from the tension and exhilaration of lift off to the joy (and inconvenience) of zero gravity, and from the loneliness of deep space to the wonder of stepping foot on an alien world. Seeing the footage for the first time on a big screen can be a revelation; it's a thrilling, vicarious journey across a new threshold in human evolution, providing both an argument for the continued human exploration of the cosmos and a timely reminder of how precious life on our own planet is.
The Eagle has landed
nickenchuggets6 June 2021
This film is a retelling of arguably one of the greatest achievements of the human race. In summer 1969, on a bright sunny morning, a group of astronauts led by commander Neil Armstrong climbed into the Saturn V rocket ready for its first flight. Not even 70 years had passed since planes had been invented. About 1 million people had gathered at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the once in a lifetime event, and millions more watched the entire thing on television. This film attempts to recapture some of that excitement that must have been everywhere on that day. It features interviews with the people who were brave enough to leave Earth in order to visit a place that has always watched over humanity, quite literally. At some points, it feels almost like a horror movie because nobody in the rocket or back on Earth knew if the thing would just blow up in flight for no reason, and the inside of the rocket module looks incredibly small. One of the astronauts says how strange of an experience it was and how going to the moon isn't like travelling to any other place, because when you travel somewhere, you have various landmarks to tell how far you got. On the moon mission, he says you leave Earth, pass an unimaginably large area of absolutely nothing for a few days, and suddenly, you're at the moon. There is nothing in between. The fact that the moon is only about a quarter of a million miles from Earth while stars are so far away you couldn't reach them even if you travelled your whole life makes it even more daunting. After the module lands on the surface, Neil says his famous line, and we see more very impressive shots of what the surface of the moon looks like. It has a depressing feel to it because the only colors are gray and black, but at the same time, it has a triumphant feel. The moon has been waiting thousands of years for people to go there, and the men reflect this by saying even though they knew they might not come back, they felt at home there. The soundtrack for this movie also gives it a sad feel that makes you realize how vast and empty space is. They show many things that seem unbelievable, even to experienced astronauts, such as small dots of light on the African continent (they're actually fires started by tribes), and having their food float in zero gravity when they're trying to eat. This is something that everyone should see at least once, because it discusses one of humanity's biggest accomplishments. To this day it's strange to think it was done in the 60s. Not many people have been to space, so you will be amazed watching this.
A Film That Is Truly "For All Mankind"
timdalton00712 April 2007
I saw this film at a very, very young age and I suspect that it is the reason I developed a heavy interest in space exploration. I recently saw this again for the first time in many years since all I had was a vague recollection of it. And after watching many times since then I have no problem saying that this is one of the best documentaries ever made.
One must give the film's director, Al Reinert, at a ton of credit for his work. Who else could have come up with the brilliant notion behind this film? Who would have thought of taking footage from all of the Apollo missions (and a couple of the Gemini missions) and combining them with the words of the men who went where no one had (or has since) gone before? (Apologies for paraphrasing Star Trek) The genius of this film is that it shuns away from traditional documentary styling. Instead of compiling facts on one mission and having a well known actor/actress do the narration, the film lets those who went tell the story. Who else is better qualified? They might not be professional actors, but the astronauts don't need to be. It is the power of the events they describe that is the main reason for their presence. They are a powerful voice in this story.
In many reviews I have read, I have seen complaints about the mixing of footage or the use of footage out of its context (a Gemini reentry used for the TLI burn for example). Yes the mixing is nowhere near subtle and is, thus, blatantly obvious. But it is my feeling that this mixing was necessary. The only way to get across the story of Apollo's achievement to the average person was to mix the footage. Does it really matter in the end? I mean by that this: the film isn't about a single mission to the Moon. No, the power of Apollo lies not in each mission, but in the overall effect of the Apollo program. This film is about the journey of Apollo, the effect in had on the astronauts, and the effect it had on us all.
If there is one element of this film that really stayed with men it was the music. It is among the most beautiful and haunting things you will ever here. Brian Eno does a marvelous job of conveying the mystery and majesty of both space and the Moon. This is one of those scores who really have to hear to believe.
For All Mankind, perhaps better then anything else out there, demonstrates the power of humanity in space. For one to really appreciate this film it needs to be seen on a large screen in surround sound. Only then can one appreciate both the film and the power of the Apollo legacy. This is the first film I've seen that I recommend to everyone. This is a film that is truly "For All Mankind".
One must give the film's director, Al Reinert, at a ton of credit for his work. Who else could have come up with the brilliant notion behind this film? Who would have thought of taking footage from all of the Apollo missions (and a couple of the Gemini missions) and combining them with the words of the men who went where no one had (or has since) gone before? (Apologies for paraphrasing Star Trek) The genius of this film is that it shuns away from traditional documentary styling. Instead of compiling facts on one mission and having a well known actor/actress do the narration, the film lets those who went tell the story. Who else is better qualified? They might not be professional actors, but the astronauts don't need to be. It is the power of the events they describe that is the main reason for their presence. They are a powerful voice in this story.
In many reviews I have read, I have seen complaints about the mixing of footage or the use of footage out of its context (a Gemini reentry used for the TLI burn for example). Yes the mixing is nowhere near subtle and is, thus, blatantly obvious. But it is my feeling that this mixing was necessary. The only way to get across the story of Apollo's achievement to the average person was to mix the footage. Does it really matter in the end? I mean by that this: the film isn't about a single mission to the Moon. No, the power of Apollo lies not in each mission, but in the overall effect of the Apollo program. This film is about the journey of Apollo, the effect in had on the astronauts, and the effect it had on us all.
If there is one element of this film that really stayed with men it was the music. It is among the most beautiful and haunting things you will ever here. Brian Eno does a marvelous job of conveying the mystery and majesty of both space and the Moon. This is one of those scores who really have to hear to believe.
For All Mankind, perhaps better then anything else out there, demonstrates the power of humanity in space. For one to really appreciate this film it needs to be seen on a large screen in surround sound. Only then can one appreciate both the film and the power of the Apollo legacy. This is the first film I've seen that I recommend to everyone. This is a film that is truly "For All Mankind".
If only I could have afforded a laserdisc player
scowl16 February 2000
I won't reiterate all of the praise of this film except to say that if I had just few more spare dollars when it was released on laserdisc, I would have bought a laserdisc player just for this title (and 2001). Fortunately years later I've already purchased a DVD player and For All Mankind has finally been released on that format.
To me the defining moment of this film is the lunar lander slowly returning to the command module. At first we only see the cratered surface of the Moon moving below at incredible speed. Then we see a tiny motionless speck above it. Was it a defect in the lens? Of course not. It's the lunar lander slowly returning from the surface. It seems to take much longer than it really does because there are no cuts and no narrator explaining what we already know we're seeing. There's only a dot turning into a space ship. What more could you add to this amazing sight?
To me the defining moment of this film is the lunar lander slowly returning to the command module. At first we only see the cratered surface of the Moon moving below at incredible speed. Then we see a tiny motionless speck above it. Was it a defect in the lens? Of course not. It's the lunar lander slowly returning from the surface. It seems to take much longer than it really does because there are no cuts and no narrator explaining what we already know we're seeing. There's only a dot turning into a space ship. What more could you add to this amazing sight?
Easily One of the Best Documentaries of the 20th Century
bobbrown11 September 2002
Without repeating all the good comments that have been mentioned by earlier reviewers, I will add what is unique for me.
1. When Reinert wonderfully builds up the tension for the liftoff, it is more than a crescendo of power when those Saturn 5 rocket motors blast to life! I've had the film on VHS tape for about 10 years, and I still enjoy knocking the socks off of first time viewers when the surround sound system is allowed give its all as it shakes the house. If there were ice chunks on the outside of my house, they would surely shatter and fall just as they did from the rocket body as it slowly left the pad. UNBELIEVABLE! I once read that the Apollo rocket, if it all exploded at one time, would equal 80% of the Hiroshima atomic explosion in WW2. Imagine sitting atop that 31 story tall monster awaiting your fate on the launchpad.
2. Eno's music- just can't say enough superlatives about this soundtrack. Like good art, there is plenty there to continue to pique your interest for years. He is a gift to all mankind for his work on this soundtrack, but that is just the beginning. He's been doing that high level of work for decades!
GREAT FILM!!!
1. When Reinert wonderfully builds up the tension for the liftoff, it is more than a crescendo of power when those Saturn 5 rocket motors blast to life! I've had the film on VHS tape for about 10 years, and I still enjoy knocking the socks off of first time viewers when the surround sound system is allowed give its all as it shakes the house. If there were ice chunks on the outside of my house, they would surely shatter and fall just as they did from the rocket body as it slowly left the pad. UNBELIEVABLE! I once read that the Apollo rocket, if it all exploded at one time, would equal 80% of the Hiroshima atomic explosion in WW2. Imagine sitting atop that 31 story tall monster awaiting your fate on the launchpad.
2. Eno's music- just can't say enough superlatives about this soundtrack. Like good art, there is plenty there to continue to pique your interest for years. He is a gift to all mankind for his work on this soundtrack, but that is just the beginning. He's been doing that high level of work for decades!
GREAT FILM!!!
Twenty years after the first manned moon landing, there came the best documentary about Apollo, and by extension, the space program that I've ever seen!
llltdesq5 February 2001
Nothing I can say could possibly do this documentary justice, but I'm going to try anyway. One of the greatest (in more than one sense) and most profound of human endeavors that has ever been undertaken is the effort at spaceflight. The most notable achievement is the landing and return of humans to the Moon. This documentary recaptures the awe and wonder I felt (and still feel today) when I watched the landing. Nominated for Documentary Feature, it should have won (or at least tied). As good as Common Threads was and is, for For All Mankind not to have won says more about the Academy and present-day society's fixation on now and its indifference to both yesterday and tomorrow. In a disposable society where creativity is less honored than timliness and for whom all too many, the past is what they had for breakfast, twenty years may as well be two thousand. Sic Transit Gloria (Thus Passeth Glory). Most, most highly RECOMMENDED!!!
Excellent from an educational point of view.
Space-822 January 1999
This movie is a very valuable resource regarding space education. As someone who works in the education field for the Hansen Planetatrium, we are always trying to interest the public in space sciences. Unfortunately, anyone who is 27 years old or younger has never seen anyone actually walking on the Moon. If it weren't for Apollo 13 most of the Elementary and Secondary aged kids wouldn't even know about the missions to the Moon. . Much less, the Gemini, Mercury, Altas, Skylab and other programs that preceded the Shuttle.
Great historical footage and commentary...strung together without context.
copacetic-7612213 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Footage is all genuine but narration by astronauts is not captioned with who is speaking and from what mission. Footage from different flights is intermixed, again without any indication what flight it was so you get clips of Apollo 11, then some Apollo 13 footage, then some more Apollo 11 footage, who knows what else. It even looked like Gemini EVA footage was included as if it was Apollo footage...not sure if the directors/really knew what they were trying to convey. Video is great though, just don't expect to be able to follow what is going on...C+
Great to watch again and again!
EyeDunno1 October 1999
The only thing I would criticize is that the movie is not longer! The music (I think Brian Eno composed it) fits well, quite ambient, never overpowering and helps take the viewer along with the astronauts. What a wonderful beginning, with President Kennedy's speech that the U.S. wants to reach the Moon.... And the words that follow are told only by the astronauts, not by some earth-based narrator that would over-dramatize without knowing what the experience of space travel involves. I've searched for this movie since I rented it on laserdisc years ago, and now I find it's being released in DVD! If you can buy it, it's worth purchasing.
Great archival video, but...
mutiny-272684 December 2023
This film was great to view, and a lot of the archival video has seldom, if ever been seen. You really felt you were on the lunar surface with those American astronauts. However, this film had some problems; there was no narration to let the viewer know exactly which Apollo mission he was seeing at any particular time. Another problem is that the film jumps around the timeline. Sometime you're seeing Apollo 8 footage, sometimes it's Apollo 11, 17, 13 or some of the other missions, with almost no way to discern between them. It should have been edited in chronological order, to give the viewer a sense of watching history in the making. The dialog between Capcom in Houston and the men on the moon is entertaining at times, showing that these were men like everyone else, in extraordinary situations and exhibiting uncommon bravery. If you're a fan of the space program, or can remember those heady times, this film, despite its shortcomings, is certainly worth viewing.
Excellent montage!
rjpurves5 January 2001
I've always been a fan of space exploration (which incidentally helped fuel my star trek addiction, but that's another story) and this film is certainly very informative.
Far be it for me to pontificate over this excellent and informative piece of film, go rent it instead. Or buy it even.
Brian Eno's music adds a really effective other worldly atmosphere to this film. (I even went and bought the album! "Apollo" by Brian Eno if anyone's interested).
You won't be disappointed.
Far be it for me to pontificate over this excellent and informative piece of film, go rent it instead. Or buy it even.
Brian Eno's music adds a really effective other worldly atmosphere to this film. (I even went and bought the album! "Apollo" by Brian Eno if anyone's interested).
You won't be disappointed.
A decent documentary boosted by an incredible Brian Eno score.
Jeremy_Urquhart1 December 2023
This documentary was a little dry for my liking, presentation-wise, but much of the actual footage shown is pretty remarkable, even if the editing and overall "storytelling" are a bit weak. I think they sort of just wanted the images and audio recordings from the people involved to speak for themselves, and it's an approach that kind of - but doesn't entirely - work.
Still, I do have to give it an extra half-star for the Brian Eno score. It's all music I've been familiar with long before watching For All Mankind, because the soundtrack album is one of his most acclaimed releases. Called Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, it was inexplicably released six years before For All Mankind was, which in my mind makes me feel okay about caring for the music more than I do the documentary it's designed to accompany (it's great study and/or writing music - highly recommend).
Still, I do have to give it an extra half-star for the Brian Eno score. It's all music I've been familiar with long before watching For All Mankind, because the soundtrack album is one of his most acclaimed releases. Called Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, it was inexplicably released six years before For All Mankind was, which in my mind makes me feel okay about caring for the music more than I do the documentary it's designed to accompany (it's great study and/or writing music - highly recommend).
Great topic, annoying style
edimdb-17 September 2005
I followed the Apollo program closely and have seen much footage. I prefer a straightforward presentation of material, not this highly "augmented" stuff. I find the music and the sound effects added to the film annoying. Especially bad is the incoherence created by mixing film from different flights, and even using the audio from one while showing the video from another. For example, use of the spacewalk from earth-orbital flight Apollo 9 gives the impression it was done on the way to the moon, and the "flight director says 'get back in'" they add to the soundtrack is from Gemeni 4! The flights were dramatic enough, distortion to "improve" them isn't necessary! The extra material on the DVD is interesting, including commentary by Alan Bean on his paintings. He comments on many details about the experience you don't normally hear, like his suit's ankle joints were more comfortable than the knee joints.
Fantastic, essential viewing. A real gem.
a_gulliver29 October 2004
I taped this off British TV in 1989 or 1990, and could never understand why nobody I speak to has ever heard of it! Even real space enthusiasts have not seen or heard of this wonderful film. Even today it remains unavailable on DVD except in the USA (buy an import from Amazon, well worth it!).
Quite simply there is no better way to tell the story of such a unique and special journey than in the words of those who undertook it. Here we have the live radio transmissions between the astronauts and Houston, reminiscences from the astronauts a decade or so after and no interference from any professional actor/narrator. There is footage even the most obsessed space enthusiast will not have seen, especially the 8mm film shot by the astronauts themselves.
This film presents, in a mere 80 minutes, the story of the Apollo missions from pre-launch preparations though the journey, their time on the surface of the moon to the take-off from the moon and safe return to earth. The views are as majestic as any on the earth, all accompanied by soft and appropriately ethereal music.
Why this hidden gem of a film is not constantly being broadcast on a documentary channel or even entertainment stations is totally beyond me - and also beyond those I have shared the DVD with. Seek out this film and watch it. As a friend said to me, "why is it we can walk into any shop and buy row upon row of rubbish and we cannot buy this, which shows a real achievement of mankind".
Quite simply there is no better way to tell the story of such a unique and special journey than in the words of those who undertook it. Here we have the live radio transmissions between the astronauts and Houston, reminiscences from the astronauts a decade or so after and no interference from any professional actor/narrator. There is footage even the most obsessed space enthusiast will not have seen, especially the 8mm film shot by the astronauts themselves.
This film presents, in a mere 80 minutes, the story of the Apollo missions from pre-launch preparations though the journey, their time on the surface of the moon to the take-off from the moon and safe return to earth. The views are as majestic as any on the earth, all accompanied by soft and appropriately ethereal music.
Why this hidden gem of a film is not constantly being broadcast on a documentary channel or even entertainment stations is totally beyond me - and also beyond those I have shared the DVD with. Seek out this film and watch it. As a friend said to me, "why is it we can walk into any shop and buy row upon row of rubbish and we cannot buy this, which shows a real achievement of mankind".
Great B-Role of the Moon Landing Mission
iquine12 July 2022
Most of this NASA footage is not what you've been able to see on the news but footage that shows more of the humanity and introspective moments that happen in the midst of the spectacular. Extended moments of them approaching the moon before the Eagle lands and the astronauts describing what it's like walking on the moon and as they explore and try to take a moment stop and simply ponder being on the Moon. A must see for any space fan.
An awe-inspiring documentary about an awe-inspiring achievement
AidanManchester30 January 2010
I will just quote an e-mail message I sent to a film maker friend of mine:
I have to tell you about this movie I've been watching on iPlayer. It was on BBC4 last week. Maybe you've seen it, it's For All Mankind about the Apollo missions, produced and directed by Al Reinert.
What is remarkable about it – and has a parallel to your work – is the way it tells the narrative, weaving and compressing all the Apollo missions into one 'storyline' starting on Earth, going to the moon and back again.
There is no narrator, just voiceovers by various astronauts who travelled on the moon, including Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, and the 'radio' voices of the astronauts and Mission Control from the recordings of the missions.
It is a superb piece of documentary film making. And the way the music is used, I can't find words to describe it. There are tracks from 'Apollo' the album of ambient soundscapes by Brian Eno.
The music that keeps recurring is the ethereal and moon-like 'An Ending (Ascent)' and it is utterly spine chilling particularly at the very end. Phew, it really gets to me!
I'm a great admirer of Brian Eno, and saw him interviewed by Tony Wilson at In The City in 2000.
I think I will buy a DVD copy, as I just want to own it and replay it loads of times!
I think every documentary film maker should watch it!
Thanks,
Aidan
I have to tell you about this movie I've been watching on iPlayer. It was on BBC4 last week. Maybe you've seen it, it's For All Mankind about the Apollo missions, produced and directed by Al Reinert.
What is remarkable about it – and has a parallel to your work – is the way it tells the narrative, weaving and compressing all the Apollo missions into one 'storyline' starting on Earth, going to the moon and back again.
There is no narrator, just voiceovers by various astronauts who travelled on the moon, including Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, and the 'radio' voices of the astronauts and Mission Control from the recordings of the missions.
It is a superb piece of documentary film making. And the way the music is used, I can't find words to describe it. There are tracks from 'Apollo' the album of ambient soundscapes by Brian Eno.
The music that keeps recurring is the ethereal and moon-like 'An Ending (Ascent)' and it is utterly spine chilling particularly at the very end. Phew, it really gets to me!
I'm a great admirer of Brian Eno, and saw him interviewed by Tony Wilson at In The City in 2000.
I think I will buy a DVD copy, as I just want to own it and replay it loads of times!
I think every documentary film maker should watch it!
Thanks,
Aidan
"Filmed on location
"
romanorum110 January 2014
The movie is a documentary, a chronicle of about nine NASA missions to the moon from 1968 to 1972, including the near disaster of Apollo 13 ("Houston, we had a problem here."). It is not important that there is not a great focus on any one particular space mission. After all, even if not exactly alike, the trips were similar. But how about those brave men, sitting atop a 300+ foot spaceship longer than the height of the Statue of Liberty . . . waiting for the rocket motors to blast-off . . . a big candle indeed! To make this wonderful movie, director Al Reinert mulled over six million feet of film and taped more than 80 hours of NASA interviews. Editor Susan Korda must have had much work to do.
It all began in 1962 with President Kennedy's famous Texas speech. "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." We had a supporting array of brilliant engineers at Houston. Our achievement was monumental.
The film offers no professional narrative, no texts, and no talking heads. None of those are needed. Instead the story is told by Houston and the astronauts themselves. The footage speaks for itself. And it is beautifully set to music by Brian Eno. An astronaut plays Frank Sinatra's 1964 rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon." How apropos! Later we hear "The eagle has landed." What an experience: walking and hopping on the moon, rock hunting, securing the American flag! One of the astronauts tests Galileo's Law of Falling Bodies using a hammer and a feather. The Italian physicist was right! The film is dedicated to the 14 men and women who died. They include four Russians on two Soyuz missions, and the three astronauts who died in that terrible Apollo I fire in January 1967. Also there were the seven who perished in the Challenger in January 1986.
I noticed that the end movie credit of Santo and Johnny Farina's 1959 top instrumental hit reads "Sleepwalking" instead of "Sleep Walk." But the movie version is the cover by Lee DeCarlo (who was also the film's post-production sound supervisor) and also Peter Manning Robinson. Maybe this version was renamed; it certainly does sound like the original Farina tune.
"For All Mankind" is recommended for everybody!
It all began in 1962 with President Kennedy's famous Texas speech. "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." We had a supporting array of brilliant engineers at Houston. Our achievement was monumental.
The film offers no professional narrative, no texts, and no talking heads. None of those are needed. Instead the story is told by Houston and the astronauts themselves. The footage speaks for itself. And it is beautifully set to music by Brian Eno. An astronaut plays Frank Sinatra's 1964 rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon." How apropos! Later we hear "The eagle has landed." What an experience: walking and hopping on the moon, rock hunting, securing the American flag! One of the astronauts tests Galileo's Law of Falling Bodies using a hammer and a feather. The Italian physicist was right! The film is dedicated to the 14 men and women who died. They include four Russians on two Soyuz missions, and the three astronauts who died in that terrible Apollo I fire in January 1967. Also there were the seven who perished in the Challenger in January 1986.
I noticed that the end movie credit of Santo and Johnny Farina's 1959 top instrumental hit reads "Sleepwalking" instead of "Sleep Walk." But the movie version is the cover by Lee DeCarlo (who was also the film's post-production sound supervisor) and also Peter Manning Robinson. Maybe this version was renamed; it certainly does sound like the original Farina tune.
"For All Mankind" is recommended for everybody!
Praise for NASA documentary
mschottlan7 August 2002
`It feels just like it sounds,' says astronaut Ken Mattingly as Apollo 16 roars off the launch pad, ice crystals shattering an avalanche across the rocket's skin, the engines shouting lava.
From 1968 to 1972, there were nine manned flights to the moon, all as part of the Apollo space program. Twenty-four men made the round trip. Twelve walked on the moon. They brought back six million feet of footage. Director Al Reinert condensed the NASA films, dubbed in his interviews with the astronauts, and mixed in Brian Eno's weightless score. The result is the Oscar winning For All Mankind. And despite its many players, cosmic tableaus, venue shifts, malfunctions, space walks, and varied narrators, the film runs seamlessly. Reinert abridged all the moon shots into one eighty- minute trip. Not a simple mission in its own right.
What attains is a kind of spiritual velocity.
`If the glass breaks or the computers quit, you're not going to get back home. We had a lot of time to think about that,' says Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean while the camera drifts through the command module.
Minutes pass wordlessly. Reinert lets the footage speak for itself; staging, landing, earthrise appear ineffably beautiful. Set off by the intense black of space, the colors glow. Someone muses about the serenity of space travel. All goes quiet until suddenly the speakers crackle to life.
`Houston, we've had a problem here. The fuel cell's disconnected, buss overload in 1 and 2. Main buss A and B are out. Everything in the world just dropped out.We are venting something into space.' What little footage there is from the Apollo 13 malfunction is enough to make me wonder why Ron Howard bothered re-shooting.
`You get ready to land on the surface. Then you look up, and there's that old moon growing fast, filling up the hatch window as you're drifting into its shadow. 2001 stuff,' says Apollo 14's Stuart Roosa.
From countdown to splashdown, not a moment passes without some scenic revelation, some eerie silence, some prayer, some pride. Through it all, the cameras capture details within details.
An audio track on the dvd features commentary by Reinert and Apollo 17's Eugene Cernan, who sounds more like a poet than a pilot, which fits. Only a poem could express in words the tranquility, honor, and wonder of this fine documentary.
From 1968 to 1972, there were nine manned flights to the moon, all as part of the Apollo space program. Twenty-four men made the round trip. Twelve walked on the moon. They brought back six million feet of footage. Director Al Reinert condensed the NASA films, dubbed in his interviews with the astronauts, and mixed in Brian Eno's weightless score. The result is the Oscar winning For All Mankind. And despite its many players, cosmic tableaus, venue shifts, malfunctions, space walks, and varied narrators, the film runs seamlessly. Reinert abridged all the moon shots into one eighty- minute trip. Not a simple mission in its own right.
What attains is a kind of spiritual velocity.
`If the glass breaks or the computers quit, you're not going to get back home. We had a lot of time to think about that,' says Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean while the camera drifts through the command module.
Minutes pass wordlessly. Reinert lets the footage speak for itself; staging, landing, earthrise appear ineffably beautiful. Set off by the intense black of space, the colors glow. Someone muses about the serenity of space travel. All goes quiet until suddenly the speakers crackle to life.
`Houston, we've had a problem here. The fuel cell's disconnected, buss overload in 1 and 2. Main buss A and B are out. Everything in the world just dropped out.We are venting something into space.' What little footage there is from the Apollo 13 malfunction is enough to make me wonder why Ron Howard bothered re-shooting.
`You get ready to land on the surface. Then you look up, and there's that old moon growing fast, filling up the hatch window as you're drifting into its shadow. 2001 stuff,' says Apollo 14's Stuart Roosa.
From countdown to splashdown, not a moment passes without some scenic revelation, some eerie silence, some prayer, some pride. Through it all, the cameras capture details within details.
An audio track on the dvd features commentary by Reinert and Apollo 17's Eugene Cernan, who sounds more like a poet than a pilot, which fits. Only a poem could express in words the tranquility, honor, and wonder of this fine documentary.
Great at conveying the emotions of lunar missions, but...
DavidBarak28 May 2021
The filmmakers used some spectacular footage I've never seen before and seem to have done a fine job of conveying the emotions astronauts felt as they flew lunar missions.
However, this film should NOT be taken as a historical document. They mixed footage from various Apollo missions as well as earlier Gemini missions to creative a loose mission timeline. In one case that I noticed, the audio from one mission was used with video from another mission, and I'm sure there were other cases. Again, the goal of the film was to convey the emotions rather than a completely factual recounting of the program.
One area in which the filmmakers failed was with the landing of Apollo 11's lunar module, Eagle, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The actual landing was much, much more dramatic and suspenseful than was shown in the film. In fact, the crew was literally less than a minute from having to abort the landing because of their fuel state. The landing area picked out by the automated system was pockmarked with craters, making it dangerous for a landing, so Armstrong had to take over, choose a different landing spot, and handle the whole thing manually. The filmmakers skipped over that, and I believe that was a major mistake. For anyone that's interested, actual footage and audio from that landing drama is available on YouTube.
The film's intent was fairly narrow and it succeeded in that, but it played loose with the details. See it but don't take it for gospel as a historical record.
However, this film should NOT be taken as a historical document. They mixed footage from various Apollo missions as well as earlier Gemini missions to creative a loose mission timeline. In one case that I noticed, the audio from one mission was used with video from another mission, and I'm sure there were other cases. Again, the goal of the film was to convey the emotions rather than a completely factual recounting of the program.
One area in which the filmmakers failed was with the landing of Apollo 11's lunar module, Eagle, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The actual landing was much, much more dramatic and suspenseful than was shown in the film. In fact, the crew was literally less than a minute from having to abort the landing because of their fuel state. The landing area picked out by the automated system was pockmarked with craters, making it dangerous for a landing, so Armstrong had to take over, choose a different landing spot, and handle the whole thing manually. The filmmakers skipped over that, and I believe that was a major mistake. For anyone that's interested, actual footage and audio from that landing drama is available on YouTube.
The film's intent was fairly narrow and it succeeded in that, but it played loose with the details. See it but don't take it for gospel as a historical record.
One of a Kind
robwhitlam28 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I own about a dozen documentaries covering the moon landings, being someone who remembers the endeavour from Apollo 8 onwards (collecting the newspaper clippings and building my plastic Saturn V) and this is easily the most watched in my collection. The atmospheric soundtrack allied with the voice-overs from the actual Apollo astronauts and flight controllers raise this above the others, giving a real insight into how it felt to be creating history. It's a great shame that some reviewers have seen fit to mark down this film because it doesn't do what the majority of the other documentaries do. For All Mankind is one of a kind and all the better for that.
a pure time capsule
SnoopyStyle17 July 2019
This is a documentary of the Apollo missions sending mankind to the moon. It is all footage from NASA contemporary to the landings which some have never been publicly shown. There is no overall narration from a British commentator. It does include audio interviews with the astronauts during the 70's. The overall effect is a purity of experience and knowledge. There is minute slant in the footage. It's not colored by modern day events like the Challenger disaster. If anything, it's like a time capsule. It's behind the scene footage in mission control. It's lesser seen footage with the astronauts. It is a moment in world history inside the bubble. It's eerie and hypnotic.
Amazing Historical Footage
hantonr31 August 2009
This film had some of the most extensive, most well restored Apollo footage I have ever seen.
Not having been around in the 1960s to see much of this footage firsthand, I was astounded by some of the videos and insights portrayed by this film. To see the Apollo 11 astronauts goofing around and playing cassette tapes that had been custom made for them by their favorite artists is pretty awesome. This is a must-see for any big Apollo or space buff.
Seeing from some other reviews that incorrect footage is mixed to information about different missions doesn't really hurt the picture. Many of the different Apollo launches looked similar. It is hard to tell from the outside what each ship's mission was, so that does not detract from the film.
Hopefully we will have more footage from the moon in the near future as we proceed back into outer space to gain more knowledge through exploration like the early explorers that can be heard and seen in this film.
Not having been around in the 1960s to see much of this footage firsthand, I was astounded by some of the videos and insights portrayed by this film. To see the Apollo 11 astronauts goofing around and playing cassette tapes that had been custom made for them by their favorite artists is pretty awesome. This is a must-see for any big Apollo or space buff.
Seeing from some other reviews that incorrect footage is mixed to information about different missions doesn't really hurt the picture. Many of the different Apollo launches looked similar. It is hard to tell from the outside what each ship's mission was, so that does not detract from the film.
Hopefully we will have more footage from the moon in the near future as we proceed back into outer space to gain more knowledge through exploration like the early explorers that can be heard and seen in this film.
A Nutshell Review: For All Mankind
DICK STEEL30 March 2009
Yes, it's strangely surprising that the next DVD I would pop in the player would be NASA related as well. The previous was mission specific, looking back at the Apollo 13 mission, but this documentary by Al Reinert consists of many first hand account as well as rarely seen footage caught by various moon-bound astronauts over the series of successful Apollo missions.
And it isn't really surprising that the astronauts all have a film camera with them when they blasted off into space. After all, who better than to record some never seen before visuals, either en route to the way up to outer space, or to the lucky few who got to land on the moon, the view from out there looking back on Earth. They become filmmakers in documenting their lives too living inside a cramped space craft, to bring to us some National Geographic moments of the lunar surface, and plenty of picturesque shots of our planet.
Covering the viewpoints of multiple astronauts, most have confessed that it's easy to get distracted by the view from up there. You get to listen to their thought process, and plenty of unseen footage of the surface that while on one hand fascinating, on the other it may be a bit monotonous because frankly, there's nothing up there except miles and miles of rock and dust. You can tell the enthusiasm of all the astronauts as they frolic around in tumbles and falls, thrilled by the 1/6 gravitational pull, with the nagging fear that should they spring a leak in that suit because of a sharp edge, it'll mean instant goodbyes. If you'd think it's all grim and serious there, then this documentary would change your mind.
And it isn't really surprising that the astronauts all have a film camera with them when they blasted off into space. After all, who better than to record some never seen before visuals, either en route to the way up to outer space, or to the lucky few who got to land on the moon, the view from out there looking back on Earth. They become filmmakers in documenting their lives too living inside a cramped space craft, to bring to us some National Geographic moments of the lunar surface, and plenty of picturesque shots of our planet.
Covering the viewpoints of multiple astronauts, most have confessed that it's easy to get distracted by the view from up there. You get to listen to their thought process, and plenty of unseen footage of the surface that while on one hand fascinating, on the other it may be a bit monotonous because frankly, there's nothing up there except miles and miles of rock and dust. You can tell the enthusiasm of all the astronauts as they frolic around in tumbles and falls, thrilled by the 1/6 gravitational pull, with the nagging fear that should they spring a leak in that suit because of a sharp edge, it'll mean instant goodbyes. If you'd think it's all grim and serious there, then this documentary would change your mind.
Uninformative and slow
crash2119 June 2008
I typically enjoy documentaries about the original moon missions, but I was quite disappointed when I watched "For All Mankind." I have to ask, "where is the documentary aspect?" Most of this film was nothing but slow, boring video shot by the original astronauts with annoying music playing in the background. They don't explain anything, the closest they come to narrating any of this is every five minutes or so, someone makes a short 15 second comment, but that's basically it.
I think the History Channel did a much better job with their documentary "Failure Is Not An Option", it was 100 times better than this, simply because they combined the video from the moon missions with good narration and interviews with the original astronauts and mission control staff.
In my opinion, "For All Mankind" was nothing more than a collection of the moon astronaut's home videos and it has the quality of a homemade film.
I think the History Channel did a much better job with their documentary "Failure Is Not An Option", it was 100 times better than this, simply because they combined the video from the moon missions with good narration and interviews with the original astronauts and mission control staff.
In my opinion, "For All Mankind" was nothing more than a collection of the moon astronaut's home videos and it has the quality of a homemade film.
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