Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005)

Director:

Mark Cowen

Writers (WGA):

Tom Hanks (written by) and
Mark Cowen (written by) ...

Release Date:

23 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Animation | Short

Tagline:

Only 12 Have Walked On The moon. This Fall, You're Next!

Plot Keywords:

Lunar Lander | 3D In Title | 3 Dimensional | Astronaut | Space

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Narrator (voice)
John Corbett	...	Jack Schmitt (voice)
Andrew Husmann	...	Astronaut Scott
Bryan Cranston	...	Buzz Aldrin (voice)
Aaron White	...	Astronaut Irwin
Matt Damon	...	Al Shepard (voice)
Gary Hershberger	...	Astronaut Grace
Morgan Freeman	...	Neil Armstrong (voice)
Scott Wilder	...	Astronaut Wallace
Brandy Blackledge	...	Future Astronaut
Scott Glenn	...	Charles Duke (voice)
Rick Gomez	...	Alpha Station Commander (voice)
Colin Hanks	...	Conspiracy Neil Armstrong
Bo Stevenson	...	Conspiracy Grip
Frank John Hughes	...	Future Houston Capcom (voice)

Also Known As:

Magnificent Desolation (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:40 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.44 : 1

Sound Mix:

Sonics-DDP

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Australia:G | Malaysia:U

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

IMAX

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the surface emergency sequence, when one astronaut's portable life support system fails, he activates his OPS (Oxygen Purge System), i.e., emergency oxygen supply. But he fails to open the purge valve that lets the oxygen flow through and out of his suit. The valve is unlocked by pulling a pin attached to the red ball ("red apple") hanging from the lower right front of the suit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#35.2)" (2006)

Pretty good IMAX

This movie is a pretty decent IMAX flick. Tom Hanks makes for a great narrator. The content was very interesting and often quite funny. The music is on-par with major Hollywood films (although it got a little sappy at the end, but that's IMAX for you). It did a good job of discussing all the Apollo missions, and not just 11.

I only found out afterwards how many famous voices were involved. I recognized Morgan Freeman, but that was it. This is a Good Thing. The film did not let the "talent" get in the way of the story. In other words, the star of the show was the history and information, and not the voice work.

This movie did NOT need to be in 3D. More than half of it was archive footage, which obviously was not shot with a 3D camera. Often the footage was shrunk down to appear 3D against a generic background. The recreated lunar landing was the only part that took real advantage of the 3D cameras, but it was in no way necessary to be shot in 3D.

That being said, it was a pleasant way to spend an hour. Make sure to sit in a red seat if you see it in the Lockheed-Martin theatre at the Air and Space Museum for optimum 3D viewing.