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First Man is an expansive and maybe even majestic look at the US manned space program from the perspective of Neil Armstrong. It acknowledges the entire program but spends most of the time on the Gemini and Apollo phases.
There's a lot of "human interest" development where we're introduced to Armstrong, his family and close associates as well as the space program itself. The developmental scenes are punctuated by relatively short but intense action scenes that help define the various phases of the space program as it progresses. Many of these scenes are shot in a way that places the audience in the middle of the action and the effect is pretty dramatic. I can't imagine viewing this on the small screen. As we know, everything leads to the first lunar landing where the story ends.
I found this film both nostalgic and inspiring. The period in which the story takes place was pretty accurately portrayed. Controversies were also acknowledged including some of the human costs, government budgets and public protests over spending. Its amazing what was accomplished within the manned space program considering the technical resources avail at the time. Technical progress was rapid and the film shows us that progress fairly accurately as the program moves from Gemini to Apollo. They even got the Quindar tones right and there's a clever nod to 2001 in one scene. Obviously, there was much attention to detail which warrants seeing First Man on the biggest screen you can find.
Overall, I liked this film and recommend it. It's a tribute to what man can achieve when there's a national unity of purpose. OTOH, some may find that the development scenes slow the pace to the point of distraction. This is probably one of those no-middle-ground films: you'll either love it or be totally indifferent. Interestingly, I attended a late afternoon IMAX showing and the place was empty: maybe 15 people in a 600 seat auditorium so word may already be out....not for millennials.
Follow Ups:
Saw it last week on a big THX Cinemark XD screen. I was glad I got it on that big screen. I liked the film, altho I think it could have been a little shorter. I was more interested in the rockets and astronaut stuff than the personal family stuff, but that's just me being ADHD, probably. The main impression I was left with was that those guys obviously had some serious bolas to strap themselves into those antiques. That first trip could have taken an entirely different turn. Little bits like the shitty wiring or other quality control failures drove that point home.
As for that bracelet, I have one just like it. Interesting that they gave those things to babies. They're crimped together with lead, like fishing weights, right where babies need them to be to suck on their wrists. Babies born back then probably lost a lot of IQ with those. I sucked in a minus 20 IQ points myself, no doubt!
It is fine as entertainment, but seriously, anyone really interested in how space flights developed, should read the memoirs of people who were actually involved in it.I have read quite a few written by the Russians, and they are incredibly revealing, forcing you to see it all in totally different light. The level of detail there is incredible. At this moment I am still reading the books by general Kamanin. If you don't know what that is, that means you really need to catch up on your space history.
If you were to limit yourself to just two authors, then books by Chertok and Kamanin would be it.
I am wondering if anyone could recommend similar reading on US space program.
Edits: 10/22/18
That said the US and Russia split up Germany's rocket scientists and that Von Braun's crew played to their new home crowd as evidenced by booster rocket flare. Von Braun's boosters burned in a brilliant yellowish glare almost like it was a firework while the Russian boosters burned a smaller, less colorful flame and they lifted heavier payloads. Von Braun was giving the US a "show" while Russian scientists were less interested in show and more interested in go.
It also stated that the acquirred German scientists worked with their Russian counterparts and when they had fed them all they knew they were banished to a miserable post-war lifestyle while the new Americans were enjoying civil service pay and our post war boom.
YMMV.
...I'm reading a book called "The Future of Humanity" by astrophysicist Michio Kaku.
"Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth"
Fascinating - what the future holds for our space program and the technology that will get us there.
...read the day by day account of someone on the inside.With the space program there is always a facade there, much less with the US one, but still. The real heroism and real struggle are always invisible to the public, but that is where the Right Stuff is, not on your TV screen.
Anyway, I checked, and Chertok's memoirs are available in English translation, so I highly recommend them. Tons of technical details for the tech junkies like myself.
Staying with the movies, the soviets had their own version of The Right Stuff - it was called Taming of the Fire. Kinda as superficial and silly as TRS, much along the same lines.
Edits: 10/23/18 10/23/18
...while history is interesting and I've read plenty of it, I prefer to look forward rather than look back.
The people planning for the future based on all of the changing things going on today are really fascinating.
The actual one on Tv, The Right Stuff, Apollo 13 and The Martian. Thanks, but no thanks.
For anybody interested in the early space program, I highly recommend 'For All Mankind'. Perspective from many of the astronauts that went to the moon, with music by Brian and Roger Eno, and Daniel Lanois.
No other space film has made me appreciate the heroism of both the astronauts and their families like this one. All these people, past and present, are heroes for sticking with this vocation despite glory or death. I think the strain on the families were conveyed nicely and was relieved to see two shots of the flag in the distance.
Well done, this film is far more important than its production values and actors. Looks like an Oscar magnet to me.
Flag?
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
I think it was inserted for our market.
Thought it was excellent. I turned 18 that July and was a space geek. Brought back lots of memories. They left out much about the Gemini and Apollo programs but the film would have been 4 hours long to cover it all. Young folks may not care because they have no reference. For old guys like me it's a winner.
-Wendell
overall a mixed bag but if you wonder what it was like to be an astronaut back then I can not imagine a better portrayal.
I will not submit to globalist social engineering.
... based on the huge many flags shown, start to finish. Yes, this guy counted.
Movie crowd social engineering.
..."revisionist history" or "revisionism" seems better suited. For the record, I detected nothing I'd describe as revisionist in the film although I wasn't really looking for it.
What did you detect as revisionist?
-Wendell
I found nothing I'd consider revisionist. Everything seemed about as I remembered from my innocent and impressionable youth. I'm sure there minor distortions of the pure truth in the interests of storytelling.
Recall up above BW stated he wouldn't be seeing the film due to something about flags. He implied the flag thing was a result of "social engineering. Although I don't agree with that assessment, I thought revisionism might be a better term if I did. That's all.
It's one of those currently fashionable nebulous buzz phrases that people throw around when they want to demonstrate political stances, based on attitudes. Usually used in some negative, cynical context.
Broadly, it can describe attempt to steer thinking or massage mindsets in populations.
I think revisionism is a subset of this catch-phrase concept.
And I think about everything is some degree revisionist in these times; even mathematics.
The movie sounds like a good one, regardless of real or imagined "engineering". People see what people see. Anything in these times that helps make Americans happy is a good thing.
...including the scene you were misled to believe wasn't there. Also recall Armstrong's carefully chosen words as he stepped onto the lunar surface for the first time. That wasn't "fake news" despite the premise of another truly great lunar landing film: "Capricorn One". Personally, I was upset that Armstrong was played by a CANADIAN.I suggest you go see it and just say you didn't. You'll be better for it.
Edits: 10/13/18
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Wasn't he supposed to say a small step for "A man"?
Doesn't really make sense with the "A" missing, does it?
"Man" and "Mankind" are the same thing.
The words were carefully chosen and less carefully spoken? While "a man" is probably more grammatically consistent with the rest of the phrase, I think what we actually heard rolls off the tongue a lot better. And we all knew exactly what was meant regardless of the grammar.
As a child, hearing the first words spoken from the moon, i was confused at a sentence construction that was nonsensical. Once he got back , the man stated that he made a mistake in his excitement, and didn't recite his planned phrase correctly, leaving out a modifier critical to understanding.
one step for man has an interchangeable meaning with one step for mankind, no matter the circumstance.
A step for a man, is about one, singular man . As in, the history of man , or the history of mankind, both are understood as equal, the short version is more popular. The history of a man, very different.
I'm sure you know this, and I understood your point. I spelled it out for those who might not speak english well.
the singular modifier is critical to meaning. and a grammatical error that turned the first words spoken by a man, on behalf mankind, from the moon, into nonsense, went into history.
There was some discussion about it at the time.
There was a glitch in the transmission on "A giant leap for Mankind.
Nasa tried to say that garbled the word "A" in the first sentence.
But that made no sense.
He just said it wrong.
And yes, we know what he meant.
But it was a Story at the time.
Matter of fact I wasn't much interested in seeing it 'till realizing he's in it.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
Great detailed review. Thanks. The stuff in the beginning where characters are defined if you will won't bother me.
ET
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936
I saw it tonight and enjoyed it - I don't think there is a pacing problem so much as everything else seems to cater to ADHD. If something doesn't happen every 6 seconds it will be deemed "slow." Still, they probably could have cut 10 minutes. Not a huge failing.
Spoiler ****
I wonder if the Karen bracelet thing really happened?
FWIW, I thought the pacing was appropriate but I suspect a significant and desired movie going demographic will find some of it slow to the point that word-of-mouth may keep audience down. Also FWIW, I see that RT reviewers give the film a higher rating than does audience.I doubt the bracelet thing actually occurred. Recall during a press conference one of astronauts stated that he planned to take some of his wife's jewelry into orbit. When Armstrong was asked the same question, he indicated he had more important things to do/wanted more fuel more-or-less. The real answer may be researchable: apparently Armstrong's wife was able to contribute to the story before she passed. I liked what I saw in the film so I'll leave that for others.
Edits: 10/13/18
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