The Right Stuff (Two-Disc Special Edition) | Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn

The Right Stuff (Two-Disc Special Edition) | Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn | The Stuff of Legends

DVDs:

The Right Stuff (T...

	The Right Stuff (Two-Disc Special Edition) Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn Warner Home Video, 2003 average customer review:based on 144 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Absolutely exhilarating!

This review is for the 2003 two-disc special edition released by Warner Brothers.

The movie, based on Tom Wolfe's book of the same title is a well-crafted mix of epically informative, comically insightful, poignantly tragic, and shamefully melodramatic story-telling of America's aeronautics programs. First it starts with the development of the ultra-sonic jet plane and later with NASA's Mercury space program. All the essential characters are covered in adequate detail including jet test pilot Chuck Yeager, plus Mercury astronauts John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom and Scott Carpenter and there's even an impressive LBJ lookalike.

The film is three hours long and it flies by quickly (sorry, no pun intended). I've seen this film now 4 or 5 times and there are still scenes that give me chills down my spine. There's plenty of actual historical footage mixed in inconspicuously with reenacted sequences with these modern actors and rarely are there any wasted moments. Even though it may paint some of the astronauts as womanizing, hell-raising rebels, while portraying John Glenn as Mr. Perfect, the overall sediment is that these men are America's last true pioneers.

The two disc version is excellent since it offers quite a few extra bonuses including deleted scenes, interviews with Mercury astronauts and Chuck Yeager and a historical overview of the life of John Glenn. The widescreen color picture is near perfect as it should be for a film made in 1984 and the sound is fantastic. Anyone who appreciates American history or like me, thoroughly enjoys insights into America's greatest scientific achievement: the space program should buy this special edition for their DVD library.

Movie: A+

DVD Quality: A

for more information click here

The Stuff of Legends

This movie has it all. It captures the independent spirit of Americans during the race to explore outerspace; the humor, the intelligence, the feistiness and pioneering spirit of the original seven astronauts; superb acting and well-written, well thought-out scenes. Though the movie is long, it seems like it's over in a blink of an eye. The additional information, such as the commentaries and behind-the-scenes footage, is also interesting. It should make all Americans proud of all that was accomplished in such a short period of time.

A great gift for a little boy!

My 4-year old son loves watching this movie with his Dad. This movie is heaven for boys of all ages. Space ships and all-American heroes. What can be more fascinating? And the sound track is very upbeat and romantic at the same time. My "boys" keep humming the melody.

for more information click here

THE WILD BLUE YONDER

Lavishly praised by critics and nominated for several Oscars, THE RIGHT STUFF is the perfect movie for those gung ho, flag waving patriotic gents who beatified the US space program's birth and eventual domination of the skies.
Writer/director Philip Kaufman, working from Tom Wolfe's novel, certainly had the right stuff in terms of casting, visuals, editing and the capturing of time periods from 1947-1963. The rigorous training of these seven astronauts is also expertly displayed, as is the quest of Chuck Yaeger to be the fastest man on earth. With the exception of Donald Moffat in a too cartoonish impersonation of Lyndon Johnson, the cast is exemplary with standout turns from Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Fred Ward, Pamela Reed and Annie Deschanel particularly. Sam Shepard and Barbara Hershey are also dynamite in their roles as Yeagar and his wife. The movie's length can be frustrating, as is the ending, which seems to come out of nowhere, but THE RIGHT STUFF is good moviemaking.

for more information click here

Good film, not great

I think "Jabberwok"'s review (August 2005, see below) was pretty much right on the mark, noting the two main flaws with the film: It tried but failed to capture the excellence of Wolfe's written words, and it was too long. I would add that it goes a bit over the top in trying to be funny (the LBJ scenes come to mind). But it is entertaining and features some great performances, and very good special effects (a nice touch that can be missed if you're not paying attention is the views of clouds, the earth's surface as seen from space, and a capsule's opening parachute -- all appearing in mirrors on the chests of the astronauts. Really adds a brilliant illusion of reality, considering the actors are in a fake capsule on a movie set).
One element that has taken on some irony over the years is the iconic image of John Glenn that is presented. It no longer rings true, since Glenn, several years later, acted unethically in supporting Bill Clinton in exchange for a ride on the space shuttle (yes, I know, this is just my opinion. But it happens to be the opinion of Chuck Yeager, too, and he stated as much for public consumption).

for more information click here