One of the spectacular miniseries of all time is 2001’s Band of Brothers. Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanksthe sequence is a compelling conflict drama that portrays the true story of a WWII battalion named Simple Firm. Taking residence 20 Emmy nominations and 7 wins (together with one for Excellent Miniseries), Band of Brothers nonetheless holds up as being an genuine and highly effective depiction of extraordinary historic occasions. However this wasn’t the primary time that Hanks had a hand in producing a present revolving round a real story. Simply three years earlier than, Hanks would additionally produce an HBO miniseries that could be a must-watch in the present day, particularly for sci-fi followers who love the nice past.
What Is HBO’s ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ About?
In 1865, science fiction author Jules Verne penned a novel referred to as From the Earth to the Moon. Greater than a century later, a crew of Hollywood heavyweights would borrow the title for a 12-part tv sequence depicting a few of our nation’s most well-known astronauts. The 1998 sequence was produced by Hanks, Ron Howard, Brian Grazerand Michael Bostick — figures that created a few of essentially the most influential movies of the Nineties. The miniseries tells the story of the Apollo program, which NASA ran throughout the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies.
Though the episodes are dramatized, with gorgeous visuals and particular results by Ernest D. Farinoevery episode explores one of many dangerous missions these astronauts undertook. Hanks introduces every episode, after which the viewer will get to dive into every mission, that are all advised from totally different views. This enables each episode to showcase a wide range of themes. A very good installment is “The Authentic Wives Membership” in Episode 11, which was directed by Oscar winner Sally Discipline. This episode exhibits how the wives of these astronauts lived by way of the Apollo program, resulting in a behind-the-scenes have a look at the stress they endured whereas their husbands had been put at risk, in addition to the strain they skilled in such public-facing positions.
‘From the Earth to the Moon’ Is a Fascinating Have a look at Actual-Life Occasions
From the start phases of the Area Race with the Soviet Union to a pseudo-documentary-style narrative in Episode 12 of the ultimate lunar Mission (Apollo 17), each hour is as gripping because the final. Whereas we’re capable of have fun the triumphs of those astronauts as they journey the place no man has earlier than, From the Earth to the Moon by no means shies away from additionally depicting the tragedies that befell these males. We get to witness the horrific hearth onboard Apollo 1 and the notorious Apollo 13 catastrophe, which ensures that the sequence is all the time sincere in exhibiting how actually harmful these missions had been. Though it is horrible to think about these traumas occurring to actual folks, the genuine storytelling makes the sequence much more harrowing and engaging to look at.
The writers of From the Earth to the Moon had been additionally intent on not simply rehashing occasions that had already been depicted in films previous to its launch. For instance, the 1983 movie The Proper Stuff portrayed the occasions of Venture Mercuryso it is simply briefly summarized in Episode 1. After which there’s 1995’s Apollo 13 film, which was additionally directed by Howard and starring Hanks. To keep away from any repetition, and to make sure viewers nonetheless felt invested within the storytelling, From the Earth to the Moon tells the story of the mission from the eyes of the media overlaying the occasion. This sort of artistic storytelling permits the miniseries to really feel contemporary. Whereas there have been a number of characters invented for the sequence, sufficient well-known real-life figures, together with Jim Lovell (Tim Daly), Buzz Aldrin (Bryan Cranston), Neil Armstrong (Tony Goldwyn), and Alan Shepard (Ted Levine), enable the present to fall into a well-known, but fascinating authenticity.
On the time of its launch, From the Earth to the Moon was a crucial darling, bringing residence 17 Emmy nominations and three winstogether with Excellent Miniseries (similar to Band of Brothers would do a number of years later). It might additionally cement Hanks as somebody who may inform historic tales in a respectful and intriguing means (paving the way in which for future tasks corresponding to The Pacific and Masters of the Air). Together with its elite pedigree, From the Earth to the Moon is an unimaginable masterpiece as a result of it illustrates the fascination all of us have with house and with the astronauts who’re courageous sufficient to enterprise up there.
From the Earth to the Moon is out there to stream on HBO Max within the U.S.