Originally broadcast in April and May of 1998, From the Earth to the Moon is being reissued as a "Signature Edition" DVD set to coincide with the release of the Tom Hanks-produced IMAX movie Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. Hosted by executive producer Hanks, this Emmy-winning dramatic miniseries—chronicling the entire history of NASA's Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972—was HBO's most expensive production to date, with a budget of $68 million. For the most part, it's a rousing success: each episode is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program (although some sections are flatly chronological, awkwardly wedging an abundance of factual detail into a dramatic narrative), and the cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA's monumental achievement. Buoyed by a superlative cast (including Cary Elwes, Sally Field, and Chris Isaak), consistently fine writing, and a stable of talented directors, the series also benefited from NASA's complete participation, right down to the use of NASA equipment, launch locations, and even spacecraft. The recreation of the lunar landscape is almost as impressive as the real thing (though not as impressive as it is in Magnificent Desolation), and is further enhanced by the invisible use of helium balloons to lighten the actors playing moon-walking astronauts (this and other behind-the-scenes details are revealed in a pair of "making-of" featurette on a bonus fifth disc sporting original promotional shorts and text supplements new to this release). With a fictional, Walter Cronkite-like TV reporter (Lane Smith) serving as the dramatic link for all 12 episodes, this may not be a great work of art, but as a generous and definitive example of nonfiction drama, it nicely captures the awe-inspiring derring-do that led to "one giant leap" in the all-too-short history of 20th-century space exploration. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)
From the Earth to the Moon: The Signature Edition
(1998) 5 discs. 720 min. DVD: $99.98. HBO Video </span>(avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Closed captioned. ISBN: 0-7831-2842-8. November 28, 2005
From the Earth to the Moon: The Signature Edition
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