Reinert sifted through 6 million feet of film footage and 80 hours of interviews with astronauts, which serve as humble voice-overs for the lyrical imagery, and he assembled all this into a unique experience which was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar. Brian Eno's lovely, atmospheric score evokes the sense of peace the astronauts say they felt while floating through space; the film's spiritual quality is as affecting as its breathtaking visuals. "There was a great deal of difficulty paying attention to what our job was," admits one astronaut, and you can see why.

A major caveat--while this is mind-blowing on the big screen, it may be less impressive on your TV. Or, you can simply sit up real close. Who would've guessed that NASA was also a training ground for cinematographers? --David Kronke

For All Mankind - Criterion Collection

• In the Shadow of the Moon
• From the Earth to the Moon - The Signature Edition
• Magnificent Desolation - Walking on the Moon (IMAX)
• NOVA - To the Moon
• The Race to the Moon (History Channel)
• Apollo 12 Uncensored
• Apollo 13 (Widescreen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)
• Apollo 13: To the Edge and Back
• The Right Stuff (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• When We Left Earth - The NASA Missions (4-Disc Set in Limited Edition Tin)

The film makers actually dub in audio so it appears the guy says, "God Speed man." I mean, come on. The worst is the faked add in dubbing. For example, Niel, Buzz and Mike are getting on the elevator to the Saturn V and there is some kind of tech standing there. Better yet, go see In the Shadow of the Moon for an outstanding

My advice is turn off the sound and watch the amazing footage. Gees, just show the darn house sized rock clip with the actual audio. Was that necessary. Another example is having Apollo 16 audio regarding the house sized rock juxtaposed with astronauts picking up a 2 pound rock.

I understand the intent of trying to tell a story and wrap it all up, but the effect is to dumb down the history and I simply couldn't get past that. As far as must see's go, this is one of them, however, any student of Apollo will find the mixing and matching of audio to video distracting if not down right annoying. How absurd, corny and dated in such a 70s style of film making.

The director plays fast and loose with chronology and often selects clips to make a point rather than present linear history. The director lets the men who were there tell their own story in their own words. This is a work that leaves the viewer understanding why this was important in a way that none of the documentaries before or after have been able to achieve. People obsessed with the details of history will not like it. What is created is the impression of the greatness of the achievement. Its a shame so few people have seen it or even know about it. There is no better telling of the story of the space program leading up to the moon landings than this film.

And that story is all the more effective because these are real people rather than celebrities doing voiceovers. Rather than a dry linear presentation of the facts, we are given the images and the words of the participants. This is a great piece of work in that it trancends the usual limitations of the documentary format. But in my opinion, the work proves that telling a story results in a much better work than following the modern obsession with "recreating history".

Just a great film. For parts of it you could feel that little tinge of anguish those astronauts felt that just made that voyage and came back without landing. I remember when it happened and as I've grown older and realized how spectacular an achievement this was. This does more to capture the true goals and accomplishments of man in space. This is cinematic art at it's best. I've watched it about 5 times and it still leaves me in awe each time.

Capturing a feeling and conveying it to an audience. Seeing those views of how close they were and how far they were from home.

Some of the footage is incorrect and the sequencing is wrong, but it doesn't matter. because it was there. And wow what a spectacular view.

This is one of the best sudo documentaries ever made. If you have a collection of DVD's and you don't have this one, then your collection is incomplete. Why did we climb the mountain.

Who would have thought of taking footage from all of the Apollo missions (and a couple of the Gemini missions) and combining them with the words of the men who went where no one had (or has since) gone before. This film is about the journey of Apollo, the effect in had on the astronauts, and the effect it had on us all. Does it really matter in the end. Only then can one appreciate both the film and the power of the Apollo legacy. This is one of those scores who really have to hear to believe. Criterion set out not just to present and preserve films, but to give first rate supplementary material as well and in this case at least they have succeeded. But it is my feeling that this mixing was necessary.

Yet the real achievement and meaning has been lost on many of us. For All Mankind, perhaps better then anything else out there, demonstrates the power of humanity in space. This is a film that is truly "For All Mankind". There is also a showcase of Al Bean's paintings on Apollo, footage of launches from the first fifteen years of NASA, and a selection of important audio clips from Al Shepherd's first Mercury flight to Cernan's final steps on the Moon. This is the first film I've seen that I recommend to everyone. It is among the most beautiful and haunting things you will ever here.

They might not be professional actors, but the astronauts don't need to be. There is also an excellent audio commentary done by Reinert and Apollo 10/17 astronaut Gene Cernan. Who else is better qualified. Here, in the film For All Mankind, is a chance to bring some meaning and depth to Apollo. They are a powerful voice in this story. In many reviews I have read, I have seen complaints about the mixing of footage or the use of footage out of its context (a Gemini reentry used for the TLI burn for example).

Brian Eno does a marvelous job of conveying the mystery and majesty of both space and the Moon. It is the power of the events they describe that is the main reason for their presence. The film gets a 5.1 surround sound mix which is amazing, especially for the lift-off and Moon walking sequences. I mean by that this: the film isn't about a single mission to the Moon. Instead of compiling facts on one mission and having a well known actor/actress do the narration, the film lets those who went tell the story.

For one to really appreciate this film it needs to be seen on a large screen in surround sound. Who else could have come up with the brilliant notion behind this film. The only way to get across the story of Apollo's achievement to the average person was to mix the footage. This DVD is first rate and should be for a film of this caliber. No, the power of Apollo lies not in each mission, but in the overall effect of the Apollo program. Yes the mixing is nowhere near subtle and is, thus, blatantly obvious. Needless to say, it is the perhaps the most effective film on the history of space exploration.

(Apologies for paraphrasing Star Trek) The genius of this film is that it shuns away from traditional documentary styling. Part making-of commentary and part interview with Cernan, the commentary is an amazing supplement to the film itself. . One must give the film's director, Al Reinert, at a ton of credit for his work. The Apollo Missions of the late 1960's and early 1970's were perhaps the greatest achievement in the history of humanity. If there is one element of this film that really stayed with men it was the music.