You Should Go See Apollo 11

On Friday night last week, my wife and I attended a documentary film at the Collins Road Theatre in Marion—the film “Apollo 11.”

This year is the 50th anniversary of that mission, and it was exhilarating to watch the spectacular footage NASA had a movie company film at the time. There was no narration—just recordings from 1969, plus a few simple animations to explain the plot.

It’s a fantastic film. It’s a reminder of what we can accomplish when we believe in science and commit ourselves to a common goal.



I found the music at times heavy handed, but the film tells a powerful, true story in a simple, straightforward way. The tension it creates was all real.

Of course it took me back to my youth, laying on the carpet in the living room on Seventh Avenue South in Clinton, watching this marvel unfold in real time on a small black-and-white TV screen.

This movie is different—lush, real color. It helps us see that 50 years is not that long a time, that we are not that far removed from our first footprints on the moon.

Even if you don’t recall that “one small step for man,” I think you would enjoy this film. I don’t know how much longer it will be here, and it’s not in that many theaters, so come on down, as soon as you can.

This is one true film that you don’t want to miss.

Vox did a pretty good job of explaining the moon mission in this short video, but go see the longer documentary in the theater.