‘Apollo 11’ stirs the pride of accomplishment

“Apollo 11” (2019). Cast (Archive Footage): Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, President Richard Nixon, President Lyndon Johnson, President John F. Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, Gene Kranz, Clifford E. Charlesworth, Charles Duke, Deke Slayton, Bruce McCandless II, Jim Lovell, Janet Armstrong. Director: Todd Douglas Miller. Web site. Trailer.

There was a time when the idea of reaching for the stars was a goal that was being pursued literally. It filled us with a pride, enthusiasm and a spirit of adventure. It’s also something we seem to have lost in the years since then. Thankfully, though, there’s a new documentary that reminds us of that time, reigniting those feelings, at least for the time we’re seated in the movie theater, the stirring account of a truly historic space flight, “Apollo 11.”

In 1961, when President John F. Kennedy proposed the goal of sending a man to the moon and safely returning him to the Earth, the nation zealously rallied behind this ambitious initiative in a way rarely seen in the country’s history. It was looked upon as an enormous challenge, one full of unknowns and risks. But it was embraced with tremendous enthusiasm and an irrepressible “can do” attitude. And, after years of effort, determination and sacrifice, that noble prospect was about to be realized in 1969 with the historic launch of the Apollo 11 mission.

In July of that year, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins embarked on their epic journey, backed by an army of flight engineers and technical and support staff, along with the collective encouragement of the American people and the citizens of the world. The pre-launch fervor was palpable and infectious. The fate of the intrepid trio was on everyone’s mind, with countless spectators assembled at the Kennedy Space Center and in front of their TV sets to witness the much-anticipated start of this incredible expedition, arguably the most significant event in the history of mankind.

[caption id="attachment_10593" align="aligncenter" width="300"]As it lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center, the Saturn V rocket carrying the crew of the first manned mission to the moon soars into the heavens as seen in the excellent new documentary, “Apollo 11.” Photo courtesy of Neon.[/caption]

Amidst great fanfare and set against the backdrop of a pristine azure sky on July 16, the enormous Saturn V rocket carrying the Apollo 11 crew blasted off into the cosmos. Onlookers stared in awe as the craft soared into the heavens. Thus began the heroic saga that a generation had awaited, its fulfillment nearly at hand.

Over the next four days, Apollo 11 made its way toward a rendezvous with its destiny. On July 20, the Eagle lunar lander separated from the spacecraft’s command module for its descent to the moon, where astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin took humanity’s first steps onto the surface of another world, truly a giant leap for mankind.

This remarkable documentary chronicles the moment-by-moment events that made up this legendary mission. Relying only on footage and audio recordings from the time, the film shows viewers what happened exclusively through the accounts of witnesses to the saga. Some of these materials will no doubt appear familiar, but others present details less known or not seen before. But, as impressive as this film is, what’s equally extraordinary is what’s shown and not told – the boundless captivation associated with this grand undertaking.

“Apollo 11” depicts this venture as the great endeavor it truly was, one whose occurrence resulted from an unparalleled effort by those directly involved in it and those who lent their backing to see it happen. This collectively inspired and manifested event is, arguably, the pinnacle of mankind’s accomplishments. It’s also a shining example of the conscious creation process at work, the philosophy that maintains we materialize the reality we experience through the power of our thoughts, beliefs and intents. And, given the joint nature of this undertaking, it shows the enormous power of co-creation, one that shows what we as a species are capable of when we pool our resources, both materially and metaphysically.

[caption id="attachment_10594" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Standing on the surface of the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong takes in the magnitude of this giant leap for mankind in the riveting new documentary, “Apollo 11.” Photo courtesy of Neon.[/caption]

Given the magnitude of this mission and the larger program of which it was a part, it’s indeed remarkable to see what was accomplished, especially in light of the limited and far less sophisticated technology of the time. However, what’s even more astonishing is that this tremendous attainment originated with an idea, an intangible notion far removed from the physical fulfillment of this sought-after goal. In fact, that this accomplishment was eventually realized at all is truly mind-blowing, but, then, that also demonstrates the tremendous power inherent in our beliefs. If we can harness them to achieve something as astounding as this, imagine what else we might use them for. Such a realization, if employed routinely and jointly, could be used to solve the world’s problems and create grand new conceptions, leading us to other accomplishments as enviable as any footstep taken on the lunar surface.

The effort was not without its potential pitfalls, though. One of the chief hurdles for program participants was to overcome any fears they might have. With many having been test pilots, they were generally accustomed to taking envelope-pushing risks. However, given that this program’s undertakings involved largely untried technology, there were ample uncertainties going in, as evidenced by the various failures and tragedies that occurred along the way. To maintain forward momentum, those incidents had to be seen for what they were – learning experiences from which mistakes were to be ascertained and eliminated for the future. But confirmed beliefs in personal courage were essential in paving the way for such an outlook, an essential ingredient in the run-up to the Apollo 11 mission.

[caption id="attachment_10595" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Astronaut Neil Armstrong prepares for his epic journey to the moon in the superb new documentary of this historic event, “Apollo 11.” Photo courtesy of Neon.[/caption]

Of course, overcoming fears means overcoming a limitation, something that everyone associated with the space program and the Apollo 11 mission needed to do on a regular basis on a number of fronts. Getting to the moon wasn’t going to happen by playing it safe or thinking conventionally; it took fresh ideas and the implementation of never-before-tried conceptions, both of which called for pushing the boundaries of imagination and belief formation to come up with the means to make this cherished dream possible.

As noted before, though, the most significant element that made this venture work was everyone pulling together as a team. Having a collective goal can work wonders in uniting people, bringing them together for a jointly shared vision. Landing a man on the moon was perhaps one of the greatest examples of such a grand pooling of efforts. For those of us old enough to remember that time, it was something in which we all took pride, the kind of mutual undertaking we haven’t seen since – and that we could use today. Initiatives like building a border wall just aren’t in the same league as something as audacious as planting ourselves on another world.

This expertly crafted account of this epic mission is quite a film. It effectively captures the look and feel not only of the event, but also of the times in which it took place, effectively evoking feelings that are both nostalgic and prideful. It reminds viewers of a time when the country truly was great and its people had something to believe in, words to the wise for those of us living in a time that’s a mere shadow of what it once was.



Inspiration can be a tremendous motivator. Let’s hope that the encouraging example set in “Apollo 11” helps to restore those feelings, emboldening us to think, live and believe audaciously once again. And, this time, maybe we’ll reach those stars after all.

Copyright © 2019, by Brent Marchant. All rights reserved.