When We Left Earth - The NASA Missions (4-Disc Set) [Blu-ray]

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Studio: Image Entertainment Release Date: 09/30/2008 Run time: 258 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

So near but so far ... October 15, 2008
29 out of 30 found this review helpful

Here's why I like this set:

The image quality is (mostly - see below) very good. Even with the 16mm film source the extra resolution of Blu-Ray is apparent and some of the film is staggeringly effective. As has been stated in another review, the modern interviews are pristine.
The variety and scope of the clips is excellent. The makers have sourced every possible movie from private hands (cine films) and NASA and there's a great deal I've not seen despite 40 years of interest in the subject.
The narration is well written and appropriate. This feels like a story with narrative rather than a straightforward documentary.

Here's why I dislike this set and think it's a wasted opportunity:

Despite the quality of the film clips there are some that have clear and very obvious visible and not just minor anomalies but persistent great big black blobs in the same place on the screen. This 'dirt' persists across clips taken at varied times, even months apart and in very different locations, so it wasn't on the original film. That means, logically, that it's a projection fault and that it wasn't spotted during the HD transfer to Blu-Ray. that's VERY disappointing.
More importantly there's the issue of the music. I'm British and (until recently) our TV documentaries used the original audio soundtrack alone rather than additional music. If music was used then it was sparingly and appropriate and it certainly didn't get in the way of the original audio. During this presentation the music is near permanent. It never stops except for a few seconds here and there. It drowns out narration and more importantly it all but removes the original audio. Subtitles are provided for capcom recordings (voices to and from the spacecraft) but they wouldn't be needed if the infernal music would just shut up! Not only that but the music isn't of good quality and is stupidly over-blown, false drama in every moment. The scenes are dramatic enough, leave them alone please. In the extras there are standalone clips of the astronauts training (etc) and I though at least with these there'd be the original audio but no, the music is even worse and there's NO original audio at all. Shameful. I realize that this is the norm for American TV documentaries (Nothing personal, you make the best TV in the world on the whole) but it ruins the experience and should be resisted.

So, a very very good set partially spoiled by the music and some transfer anomalies. If you can cope with the music then don't let the anomalies put you off. It's probably the best NASA footage on Blu-Ray so far but it could have been the best full stop.

5 out of 5 stars

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." September 4, 2008
18 out of 20 found this review helpful

Excellent documentary on the Space Program.
The older footage has been remastered and looks good.
The HD sequences of the launches look amazing.
The musical score is great.

The Space Race with the Mercury program. Project Gemini.
The Apollo missions with the massive Saturn V rockets.
The Challenger mission segment has candid admissions (Story Musgrave).
Footage of the first untethered EVA by Bruce McCandless is great.
The Hubble Telescope repair mission puts you in the EVAs.
Construction of the International Space Station.
Disc 4 is a Bonus Disc of original NASA films.

My only complaint with this package is the Blu-ray case. They could have used a better center hub for holding the discs. The one they used makes it difficult to remove the discs for viewing.

5 out of 5 stars

Relive the Glory September 18, 2008
6 out of 10 found this review helpful

Forty years ago, men set foot on the moon. This is the definitive story as told by the men who were there, many of them now close to eighty years of age. The DVD set encompasses the science and politics of spaceflight, from project Mercury to Apollo, to the Space Shuttle's triumphs and tragedies. The early films have been enhanced and are visually stunning, especially the incredible Saturn V rocket footage. For those of us who were young during this time, it will rekindle and enrich your childhood experiences of this great historical period. Share this film with your family, as the DVD will make a good primer when America returns to the moon in 2018.

5 out of 5 stars

Amazing October 14, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is an excellent documentary about the history of space flight.
Even though most of the actual footage is not HD (all interviews seem to be as well as some shuttle footage), it's really enjoyable and very interesting.
It covers all the stages , Mercury, Gemini , Apollo, Skylab, the Shuttle and the International Space Station. It also offers some insight into the unfortunate Challenger and Columbia accidents.
Highly recommended for those interested in space exploration, not so much for those looking for the ultimate ultra-sharp images on BD.

5 out of 5 stars

WHEN WE LEFT EARTH - Great! October 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

WHEN WE LEFT EARTH - THE NASA MISSIONS (BLU-RAY) is a very fine four disc DVD set that documents the entire US manned space effort including: the X-15 Program, Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo, the Skylab Space Station, the Shuttle, the Hubble Telescope repair and upgrade mission and the ongoing joint International Space Station program. The quality, scope and modest price make this DVD an excellent buy.

It featured excellent beautifully edited footage, great music, interesting and informative narratives provided by NASA technical staff, and covers virtually every major step of the American manned space effort. This film includes some of the most beautifully recorded sequences I have ever watched on Blu-Ray. Especially good was the job of editing and assembling the many visual sequences. I believe the editors made an effort to mix in high definition footage with low so as to really highlight the difference. NASA astronauts and flight controllers provided the narratives where they had some direct involvement in the sequence.

Spacecraft Films has also produced some excellent and comprehensive productions by offering official footage from the National Archives, US Air Force, and NASA digitally enhanced. However, this collection by the Discovery Channel was superior in every way to anything I have watched to date. I was not dissapointed with this fine feature and feel that every armchair astronaut will enjoy this great DVD available from Amazon for under $40.

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