Armstrong

source: Armstrong

I remember the entire American space program well. I was getting ready to start my senior year in high school when Armstrong led the Apollo moon landing. I'd been following the space program since the early days of Mercury, through Gemini and on. This is a fantastic look into one of the key members and probably the single most important moments in the American space program, and it shows the human side to these men. You have got to see this documentary. It's truly great.

This is easily the best Armstrong documentary I've ever seen. Well made and easy to follow. Paints a great story his life. Well worth watching and probably will teach you a thing or two about him and his life.

Before starting my latest job, I did a lot of strange writing assignments. One of them was to write questions and answers for teachers as they used movies for their classes. If it wasn't for this work, I would have never discovered this movie, which was narrated by Harrison Ford. We all know of Neil Armstrong, but how many of us can say who he really was? This movie made me stop and imagine what it was like to be one of the first men in the space program as well as the many real life losses that Armstrong endured on the way, such as losing a daughter. The film doesn't shy away from his issues in his marriage or with his family, but presents an all-around bio of a man that not many knew completely. I'm glad I took that job.

Armstrong is a beautiful documentary and Harrison Ford reads the words of beloved astronaut Neil Armstrong perfectly. The film takes you on am adventure of bravery and emotions. I have followed NASA and the journey they have taken this world on for sometime and I can safely say that this is one of the better documentaries on the genre. If you love space, NASA, or are simply just a fan of the legend himself, this film is for you. Buzz Aldrin does not speak and perhaps thats a personal choice on his behalf but other than that this is a beautiful doco and I cannot wait to gift the DVD to my grandfather. It brought tears to my eyes and I generally feel moved. 9.8/10

Solid, warm and emotional documentary which i recommend for anyone that have any interest in space. This would most likely been a 8/10, but because they for some reason intentionally ignored Buzz Aldrin I remove 2 points making it a 6/10 I don't understand how they could not get Buzz on board to talk about Neil Armstrong and the mission to the moon, he is alive and it was such a waste for future generation that might watch this 50-100 years from now....they should have utilized Buzz no matter what.... but it is still a good documentary, even if I waited the whole movie to hear from Buzz, lol

Anticipation can only be either met or missed. It exists for the hopeful, but the hopeful wish for expectation. Armstrong, highly anticipated biography, has reason to be anticipated, but those hoping for a true look at this much sought-after and decent man will have had their expectation missed. Highly anticipated by space nuts and aviation enthusiasts, Armstrong is, for certain, a fine presentation of his words (copies from his verbal interviews and for some reason narrated by Harrison Ford) combined with home video, historical footage and interviews from close family (with his wife the exception) and some NASA royalty, such as Chris Kraft and Frank Borman. It manages to deliver Neil's biography in a warm, close manner, with limited yet revealing statements which give some insight into his personality, abilities, passions and qualities. Truly, this is a revealing that many should find appreciable to say the least. The credits are followed by a beautiful arrangement of small clips of Neil wearing his classic smile as the family man he was, the astronaut, and the friend so many found him to be - truly a relatable man where even those who hadn't met found reason to admire him. The film leaves one feeling he could really have been anyone's friend, and that is perhaps a legacy he would be proud of. Interestingly, Neil's sometime spoken about dream he could voluntarily create of flying around in clouds is referenced to in a closing song written by his family. However, in this final climax of the film we find a leash to restrain a fully comprehensive portrayal of Neil. To criticise a film is often difficult to do in the age of the easily offended throwing criticism straight back like a hot potato, however at times it must be said regardless of what many think. The expectation of Armstrong, in this critic's opinion, has been missed by a large degree. Neil, never one for sensational publicity despite his dignified ability to handle it, may not have been as enthusiastic about the release of Armstrong as one may think. It is, and quite plainly so, an effort of his sons and family to glorify their high achieving father whilst trying to obtain their place in the spotlight. The facts are that this isn't truly a documentary - a reading of the end credits shows that his family have attempted to show Neil the way they desired, and while this is a large claim to make, the evidence shows. Missing from this film were his wife, Carol, a woman who has no problem criticising the behaviour of some of Neil's family since Neil's death in 2012, since they sued the hospital for a large amount of money, a decision she refused to cooperate with and something she feels Neil would not have endorsed, not to mention their auctioning off his personal possessions when she makes clear he wouldn't even sign an autograph for money and criticised those who sold what he had given them. Clearly, her opinion and words would have contributed to a fuller presentation of his life and a revealing more accurate than the actual film delivers, dictated by Mark and Rick. If there is any other regret, it is that a high end celebrity like Harrison Ford copies the already recorded audio of Neil from a much more open interview before his passing. With Neil's actual words in his own voice, it could have been a fantastic film, delivered like a gentle grandfather telling stories of a life of flight. The end result is anticipation not met. It is a limited perspective and almost purely profit driven film for his sons as they try to capitalise in his hero status. Armstrong is a film about a man of whom it could be said was a friend of all, humble and a reluctant hero, often highlighting he was simply standing on the shoulders of giants.

A solid documentary Nice to see family home video and frank interviews. Very nice film. Well worth watching or buying.

Trailer—Armstrong

I found this on DVD from my public library. This year 2019, being the 50th anniversary of the first man landing on the Moon, has brought forth lots of programming commemorating that event. This documentary is one of them, Armstrong's story from birth to death. I have a special attachment to his life, we both came from small towns, both walked the campus, attended classes, and graduated from Purdue University. I came along a few years after he did. But the attachment is there. This is a really good documentary, somewhat dry, but it covers his entire life with a good coverage of the Moon landing itself. Much of it was a repeat of what I had already seen in other programming but all interesting nonetheless. There is a narration by Harrison Ford, most of it Armstrong's own words.