'In The Shadow of the Moon.'

Liz · #1 27-08-2012, 06:54 PM

SBS have just had a segment on Neil Armstrong, then announced that they will show the Ron Howard movie on Sunday night .... 9.30 i think. I havent seen it, so am really looking forward to it.

Astro_Bot · #2 27-08-2012, 06:57 PM

I saw it on DVD a couple of years ago. Very worth while. I expect I'll watch it again on Sunday.

Russ59 · #3 27-08-2012, 07:50 PM

'In the Shadow of the Moon' is an outstanding documentary and I have it on DVD and watched it many times. I have also recorded the full audio and created an audio "book" and play it in my car from time to time.

Hi Liz, to my knowledge Ron Howard had no involvement in 'In the Shadow of the Moon' however he may have presented an introduction to it for the TV broadcast version, but there is no mention of him on my DVD version.

Edit: sorry Liz are you referring to Apollo 13?

Russ

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #4 27-08-2012, 07:51 PM

I have this on DVD and it is worth watching but I do prefer When We Left Earth

There is a segment in Shadow of the Moon with Buzz Aldrin that cements why I dislike the guy.

alocky (Andrew lockwood) · #5 27-08-2012, 08:54 PM

Oddly enough, I think I know where you're coming from. I read Aldrin's autobiography and lost all respect for him. Then I realised how much courage it would take to write an autobiography that honest. It also occurred to me that he has actually walked on the moon, and done many absolutely amazing things - despite all the shortcomings he freely admits to.
On the other hand, the anecdotes he provides about Neil Armstrong just reinforce the impression that he (Armstrong) was one of the most exceptional people who ever lived.
cheers,
Andrew.

norm · #6 27-08-2012, 10:28 PM

Oddly enough, I was hoping to get a close encounter with Buzz Aldrin a few years ago when Microsoft were launching Halo Reach on XBOX at UTS.

I sat 3 chairs away from him before he came on stage to do a speech on Halo, technology and its similarity to the Apollo missions..... Anyway to cut a long story short, there were a number of people, nerdier than me hoping to maybe, just maybe get an autograph or even a photo next to him.

The guy had absolutely no bar of it, nor his P#@#s hand entourage, made up of his wife and step daughter. It was quite sad really. Not so much not getting an autograph or even photo, but their whole attitude. It was almost like, unless you pay us....go away.

That said, he had no problems doing it with the sponsors/hosts.

I felt sorry for the other people wanting to meet/greet him.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh, who knows...... after that, I'll always see him as the bloke who came 2nd

Norm

Astro_Bot · #7 27-08-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norm

... Not so much not getting an autograph or even photo, but their whole attitude. It was almost like, unless you pay us....go away.

That said, he had no problems doing it with the sponsors/hosts.

Keep in mind his contract with the sponsors was most likely exclusive, that is, the only photos/autographs permitted would have been arranged through the sponsor(s). He may not have minded photos/autographs but it was probably forbidden by the contract.

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #8 27-08-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norm

Oddly enough, I was hoping to get a close encounter with Buzz Aldrin a few years ago when Microsoft were launching Halo Reach on XBOX at UTS.

I sat 3 chairs away from him before he came on stage to do a speech on Halo, technology and its similarity to the Apollo missions..... Anyway to cut a long story short, there were a number of people, nerdier than me hoping to maybe, just maybe get an autograph or even a photo next to him.

The guy had absolutely no bar of it, nor his P#@#s hand entourage, made up of his wife and step daughter. It was quite sad really. Not so much not getting an autograph or even photo, but their whole attitude. It was almost like, unless you pay us....go away.

That said, he had no problems doing it with the sponsors/hosts.

I felt sorry for the other people wanting to meet/greet him.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh, who knows...... after that, I'll always see him as the bloke who came 2nd

Norm

That really disappointing to hear, I always get the impression that he never got over not being selected to command Apollo 11 and be the first to walk on the moon. I spent 8 years at the RAAF Flight TRaining School at Pearce WA...Aldrin reminds me of some of the up and coming pilots I had the misfortune of strapping into an aircraft.

On a plus side I nearly got to meet one of my so called hero's...Sir Douglas Bader...but that was so many years ago.

norm · #9 27-08-2012, 11:12 PM

Hi Rg,

You're probably right about exclusive rights etc..... It does appear he spends most of his life these days doing circuit speeches, appearances and milking it for what its worth.....

Its also well known his suffered depression and alcholism for a number of years after the Apollo missions. No doubt when you reach a high in your life, then literally come back down to earth, it must be hard to cope.

It would be interesting how the media will judge him when his time will come. As morbid as that may sound.

Norm

Zhou (Mick) · #10 28-08-2012, 12:27 AM

Of all the astronauts that landed on the Moon, Neil Armstrong would easily be my favourite. He was generally non-political and very humble but also had an incredible intellect.

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #11 28-08-2012, 01:04 AM

ITSOTM is an outstanding look at the space program in it's glory days.
Even my wife loved it.
Well worth watching.

Liz · #12 28-08-2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ59

Hi Liz, to my knowledge Ron Howard had no involvement in 'In the Shadow of the Moon' however he may have presented an introduction to it for the TV broadcast version, but there is no mention of him on my DVD version.

Edit: sorry Liz are you referring to Apollo 13?

Russ

oops, sorry Russ, though it was what SBS said, but no,(after a google search) he didnt direct it, though does the introduction.

spacezebra (Petra) · #13 28-08-2012, 10:19 AM

I have it on DVD... Love it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

ITSOTM is an outstanding look at the space program in it's glory days.
Even my wife loved it.
Well worth watching.

cheers petra d.

ZeroID (Brent) · #14 28-08-2012, 12:04 PM

Got it on DVD also, well worth watching. Some lovely personal insights from the people involved in something quite extraordinary.

Auspom (Scott) · #15 29-08-2012, 10:13 PM

regardless as to whether buzz is amiable or not, the fact remains that he had the guts to get in that craft and head to the moon. i've heard it quoted that they estimated a 50% (or there abouts) chance of success. whether or not these estimates are accurate or not, it takes a brave man to do that. To be able to say you're the second man on the moon is surely not a bad thing is it? I can't bring myself to skydive or bungie jump so to think what must have been going through ALL the minds of those who space travel as they heard 5...4....3...2...1, well its just beyond me. I mean no disrespect to previous comments (thats what forums are for), I just happen to think they're all pretty special.

Scott

RobF (Rob) · #16 29-08-2012, 10:41 PM

I love the part where someone says Neil Armstrong had to eject from the lunar trainer earlier in the day and no-one believed it. He was busy doing paperwork. When quized, he admited "yep", or some such thing, then went back to work. Seconds from death, but just "another day at the office"

I guess the guys were topshot test pilots usually before getting into NASA.
Excellent documentary, and well worth a watch especially now Neil has just left us.