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ENLARGE
There are so many high-quality animated movies out this year, offering endless possibilities when it comes to creating new storylines.
Ani ma ted movies have been very en tertaining so far this year ("Kung Fu Pan da," "WALL-E" and "Horton Hears a Who!"), and when you get to see one in the IMAX format - wow. Couple that with a story based on our quest to land on the moon, and you have another animated feature worth exploring.
In recent weeks, animation has been taking us back into outer space - some pretty good ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars") and some-not-so good ("Space Chimps"). Somewhere in the middle is the 3-D IMAX (where available) production of "Fly Me to the Moon," in which the story centers around the Apollo 11 moon landing.
For many of us who remembered that incredible feat 39 years ago, it was a time that briefly took us away from what was happening here on Earth: We still were in Cold War mode with Russia, there was a war raging in Southeast Asia, and we still were in mourning over the assassinations of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy just a year earlier. President John F. Kennedy first put forth the race to the moon as a challenge back in 1961, and whatever your personal feelings are about our space program and its expense, you can't deny that what we accomplished was an incredible scientific milestone.
Although the idea of three flies catching a ride to the lunar surface via Apollo 11 and saving the mission is farfetched, it is fun getting lessons on the "space race" and some famous flights.
Ani ma ted movies have been very en tertaining so far this year ("Kung Fu Pan da," "WALL-E" and "Horton Hears a Who!"), and when you get to see one in the IMAX format - wow. Couple that with a story based on our quest to land on the moon, and you have another animated feature worth exploring.
In recent weeks, animation has been taking us back into outer space - some pretty good ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars") and some-not-so good ("Space Chimps"). Somewhere in the middle is the 3-D IMAX (where available) production of "Fly Me to the Moon," in which the story centers around the Apollo 11 moon landing.
For many of us who remembered that incredible feat 39 years ago, it was a time that briefly took us away from what was happening here on Earth: We still were in Cold War mode with Russia, there was a war raging in Southeast Asia, and we still were in mourning over the assassinations of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy just a year earlier. President John F. Kennedy first put forth the race to the moon as a challenge back in 1961, and whatever your personal feelings are about our space program and its expense, you can't deny that what we accomplished was an incredible scientific milestone.
Although the idea of three flies catching a ride to the lunar surface via Apollo 11 and saving the mission is farfetched, it is fun getting lessons on the "space race" and some famous flights.
The movie does pay attention to detail, using the actual transcripts and original blueprints from NASA. Trevor Gagnon, Phil Daniel Bolden and David Gore voice the three flies, but I rather enjoyed Christopher Lloyd as the voice of their grandpa, sharing his stories about his flights when he was their age. Of course, this only motivates the threesome to one-up Gramps, inspiring them after some Cold War spy shenanigans enter the picture.
I think the kids will enjoy the animation (especially in 3-D), and the parents will reminisce about being the same age as their kids when they watched the lunar landing July 20, 1969. The adults also will appreciate seeing Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin in real life at the conclusion of the movie, reminding us that this was just a movie. Yeah, like flies really made this journey along with him, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins? I think it's safe to assume that the three of them flew the mission without any bugs on board. Or did they?
The animation is first-rate (again, this is a must-see on the IMAX screen), and the voices are well-cast. The story is a little predictable, but as I mentioned earlier, I think this is a cool way to introduce the kids to the history of space travel.
It may seem archaic nowadays - what with the recent accomplishments of the Phoenix relaying messages from Mars and the successful Voyager missions, not to mention the space shuttle flights, Skylab and the Mir space station - that there were three men crammed like shrimp into a capsule resembling the tip of a bullet who would forever change the path of future space missions.
If you enjoy this movie, check out "The Right Stuff" (1983), "In the Shadow of the Moon" (2007), the incredible HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) and "Mission to Mir" (a 1997 release for IMAX screens). For my fellow conspiracy theorists who don't believe we really landed on the moon, I suggest "Capricorn One" (1978) about our "landing" on Mars (co-starring O.J. Simpson); these are all available on DVD.
I think the kids will enjoy the animation (especially in 3-D), and the parents will reminisce about being the same age as their kids when they watched the lunar landing July 20, 1969. The adults also will appreciate seeing Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin in real life at the conclusion of the movie, reminding us that this was just a movie. Yeah, like flies really made this journey along with him, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins? I think it's safe to assume that the three of them flew the mission without any bugs on board. Or did they?
The animation is first-rate (again, this is a must-see on the IMAX screen), and the voices are well-cast. The story is a little predictable, but as I mentioned earlier, I think this is a cool way to introduce the kids to the history of space travel.
It may seem archaic nowadays - what with the recent accomplishments of the Phoenix relaying messages from Mars and the successful Voyager missions, not to mention the space shuttle flights, Skylab and the Mir space station - that there were three men crammed like shrimp into a capsule resembling the tip of a bullet who would forever change the path of future space missions.
If you enjoy this movie, check out "The Right Stuff" (1983), "In the Shadow of the Moon" (2007), the incredible HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) and "Mission to Mir" (a 1997 release for IMAX screens). For my fellow conspiracy theorists who don't believe we really landed on the moon, I suggest "Capricorn One" (1978) about our "landing" on Mars (co-starring O.J. Simpson); these are all available on DVD.
- Howie Nave is host/manager of The Improv comedy club inside Harveys and reviews films for seven radio stations throughout Northern California and Nevada, including Sirius Radio. He hosts "Howie's Morning Rush" on Tahoe's KRLT radio, and you can see his film reviews on "Howie's Late Night Rush" Monday through Friday at midnight on RSN. For past reviews, blogs and audio clips, visit www.HowieNave.com.
Keepin' it reel:
NOW PLAYING: "Fly Me to the Moon"
STARRING: Tim Curry, Robert Patrick, Kelly Ripa, Buzz Aldrin, Trevor Gagnon, Philip Bolden, Nicollette Sheridan, Ed Begley Jr., David Gore, Christopher Lloyd and Adrienne Barbeau DIRECTED BY: Ben Stassen RATED: G RUNNING TIME: 84 minutes HOWIE GIVES IT: 3.5 out of 5 bagels IMAX SCREENINGS: "Fly Me to the Moon" is playing in 3-D at the Esquire IMAX Theatre in Sacramento. See www.imax.com/sacramento/ for details. |
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