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.
