If you want to see a great NASA-propaganda-movie, this is it! Pretty long, the story of the Mercury program would have been enough, the Yeager-story does not really add up to it. Otherwise interesting for somebody for knows not so much about the time before 1969 and Armstrong & Co.

465

Good film, but went a bit long to maintain my interest throughout.

I don't have any superlatives for this film, but it gets the job done without any major screwups. For a 193-minute movie, it moves pretty swiftly, although there is certainly some stuff that could have been cut (like, um, the Aborigine nonsense). In fact, all of the Chuck Yeager business arguably could have been a separate film, especially as he's one of the most charismatic characters, but his story does lend something to the overall picture.

There's so much going on in this film, but it doesn't feel nearly as long as it really is (3 hours plus). I liked how smooth the progression went from the early test pilots like Chuck Yaeger to the full-on missions with Shepherd, Grissom, Glenn, and the rest. I liked how graceful the characters were handled, while also keeping up the thrill of the missions. Great cast and an overall "fuckin' A" movie.

Feels more than anything like a glossy commercial.

the last 45 minutes are heavenly

This well written film captures the early days of NASA and it's precursor from the pilot's and astronouts point-of-view. There all multipile characters involved and all played fine by good character actors like Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn and Ed Harris in the more prominent roles. Somehow the last part of the film loses concentration little bit and fast-forwards the space flights too quickly. Despite that the film holds together well and captures the 15 years of history in over three hours.

#431

Pretty standard boys and their toys material. If you're American, or an engineer, or into the whole mythos surrounding pilots you'll probably dig it. Didn't really like how the scientists and politicians were reduced to obstacles and comic relief, but I suppose you need some sort of antagonist in these kind of stories.