Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon

As producer, co-writer, and narrator of the breathtaking Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (originally shown in 3-D at IMAX theaters), Tom Hanks plays host to a vision witnessed by only 12 American astronauts. Thanks to painstakingly authentic visual effects, stunning lunar footage from Apollo missions, and astronaut quotes read by a constellation of Hollywood stars (including Paul Newman and Matt Damon), Magnificent Desolation offers the most realistic approximation of a moon visit that earthbound mortals have ever seen. The title comes from Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin's description of the lunar landscape, a vastness reproduced here in vivid detail, along with exacting recreations of lunar modules, rovers, and scientific equipment. The educational content is dryly routine (someone really needs to break IMAX out of its classroom doldrums), but Hanks has a valid point to make: namely, if most children can't remember the names of Apollo pioneers, what is the future of space exploration? The answer is optimistic, as Magnificent Desolation concludes with a persuasive vision of a multipurpose moon base. DVD extras include a "Lunar Exploration Command Center" feature that presents archival footage and stills, moon maps, trivia games, and info on the Apollo missions. Highly recommended. Aud: I. J, H, C, P. (J. Shannon)