ROCKETRY FILMS

'THE ASTRONAUT FARMER' 2007 - Have just seen this movie having read a multitude of reviews. We absolutely loved it. Again I know there are the 'nitpickers' but the important thing about this film was its inspirational message. Charles Farmer has to give up his 'Dream' Space Career though he has put a lifetime's effort towards it in studying and becoming a NASA Engineer simply because his father gave up on his own dream and ended his life over it. Pressured by debts and outside influences trying to stop him from actively pursuing his dream of launching his own home-built rocket, he makes the mistake of launching prematurely with horrendous results, realistically showing us the downside of 'big dreams' and the flakk thrown up by the 'I shouldn't' mentality from a variety of quarters that rises up whenever something bold is attempted. Fortunately his wife understands the importance of this dream fulfillment not just for her husband but for their children who she doesn't want growing up believing it is okay to 'give up'. Her money and support finally lift him up where he belongs. It echoed all the things my own parents taught me and brought me up to believe so naturally I thought it wonderful.

'THE ROCKET POST' 2001 released 2006 Based on Gerhard Zucker, the German Cheesemaker whose dream it was to establish a Rocket Postal Delivery Service in the early 1930-s, the film concentrates on his time working on his rocket post between the Scottish Islands of Scarp and Harris. There is 'romance' with a local girl, orphaned by the First World War perhaps as a reminder of the war still fresh in people's memories and a reminder of what is happening in Germany at this time and the war to come is represented through the character of Zucker's Nazi assistant. Ignoring certain inaccuracies, this is a good film well-acted and well worth a look.

OCTOBER SKY' - 1999 A Must-See for Amateur Rocketeers, this award-winner is a very uplifting, inspirational film about following your dream. Based on and closely following the true story of West Virginian teenagers in a Coal-Mining Community, who, after seeing Sputnik in 1957, decide to try and build their own rocket. Encouraged by a selfless and dedicated teacher and other members of their community, they continue to work towards this goal despite some opposition and go on to win the National Science Fair which in turn opens further opportunities in their lives. Atmospheric, carefully-crafted, well-acted with a truly uplifting finale.

BEYOND THE STARS - 1989 - Set between the Apollo Missions and the Shuttle, an embittered ex- Ground Support worker is dismayed when his teenage son shows passion for Rocketry and Space especially when a troubled ex-astronaut who went to the Moon fires his son's enthusiasm even more. Uplifting movie about following your dream !

SPACEFLIGHT FILMS

'THE RIGHT STUFF' - 1983 There are some outstanding films that stick in the memory and this is an example ! Award-winning film charting the early days of Spaceflight including Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier up to the early astronauts of the Mercury 7 mission. From the Tom Wolfe book. Rivetting stuff !

'APOLLO 13' - 1995 Movie about the Moon Mission that went wrong and the skill that saved the lives of the astronauts and brought them home. Gripping, edge-of-the-seat stuff.

'APOLLO 11' - 1996 TV Movie depicting the first successful mission to land a man on the Moon and in particular the astronauts involved and their families.

DOCUMENTARIES - SPACE, ROCKETRY & ASTRONOMY

FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON - ( review by John Parratt) - After starring in Apollo 13, actor Tom Hanks (being a Space Flight enthusiast) decided to produce a film on the story of NASA, taken partly from a book 'A Man On The Moon' and Apollo 13. It is called 'From The Earth To The Moon' and altogether there are 12 episodes on 5 discs ( 12hours) starting from the Mercury flights right up to the very last Apollo Moon landing. Stories are about astronauts, their training, their flights and one episode is a story about the wives of the astronauts at a get-together. I have watched the film twice and think it is fantastic. I first saw the DVD Box Set when I went to NASA in September 2004. I got it for my birthday present last year. You can get it from Play. Com for £17-99

'SPACE STATION' - 2002 first IMAX 3D documentary narrated by Tom Cruise. If you ever wanted to know what it is like to literally have the World at your feet from the comfort of your armchair this is for you !! Some awesome footage of the Space Station, space walking and the World 250 miles below.

MISSION TO MIR - 1997 History of the Space Station Mir filmed by cosmonauts - amazing footage of launches and the space station itself.

FICTIONAL SPACEFLIGHT MOVIES

'SUNSHINE' -2007 - if you don't 'nitpick', this is a rollercoaster action movie with effects so stunning that at times I was distracted from the plot. I liked the characters, thought all the acting (but especially Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy) spot-on. I enjoyed the ride though James wanted to see more about the effects on Earth and he did question some things! At the end of the day though, it's not fact---it's fiction and enjoyable fiction !

'2001 - A SPACE ODYSSEY' - 1968 Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece from a story by Arthur.C.Clarke about a mission to the stars to discover the truth behind a mysterious monolith found on the Moon. Exceptional film later followed up by a sequel '2010' in 1984. No sign yet of a follow-up of the book '2064'

'SILENT RUNNING' - 1972 Visionary eco-movie about the protection of plantlife in Space after the planet has been decimated.

'ARMAGEDDON' - 1998 and 'DEEP IMPACT' - 1998 - two movies in the same year both dealing with response to threatening asteroids. Both good films each in their own way. In 'Armageddon' mining engineers are given astronaut training and sent off on a mission to deal with the asteroid. In 'Deep Impact' the story unfolds through the eyes of a junior astronomer; an ambitious young news researcher and the astronauts sent to heroically deal with the threat.

'RED PLANET' -2000 Mentioned because it revolves round the idea of seeding Mars with algae for terraforming purposes. It goes wrong and a mission is sent to investigate with tragic results.

'THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES' - 1979 Re-visited these based on Ray Bradbury's stories now on DVD. Occasionally dated but terrific stories about the colonisation of Mars and the way humans cannot seem to avoid taking their inherent problems with them wherever they go with inevitable results.

MISSION TO MARS - ( review by John Parratt) I first saw this film when it came out on DVD. It's a film you have got to watch several times to get the full effect of the story set in 2020. The first manned mission to Mars commanded by Luke Graham ( Don Cheadle) lands safely but the Martian surface harbours a bizarre and shocking secret which leads to a disaster so catastrophic that it nearly wipes out the crew. NASA launches a rescue mission after receiving a cryptic message from Graham. When the team finally lands on Mars, they make a discovery that is so amazing, it takes their breath away. It is a great film to watch and action-packed right to the end. From Play.Com £5-99

'SERENITY' - (recommended by Nigel) - a good space sci-fi film (this film topped a 'Best Sci-Fi' movie poll recently)

'SUPERNOVA' - 2000 Mentioned because it was an interesting idea having a 'Space Air-Ambulance' / Space Hospital Ship dedicated to answering distress calls.

SPACE HORROR

'ALIEN' - 1979 After films where spacecraft looked immaculate, sparkling and shiny and crews cleanly uniformed and heroic, here was a film where the ship and its crew looked real in that things were dirty, worn, greasy and patched up especially in the engine room - the crew were in casual, worn and patched clothes, seemed overworked, tetchy and more interested in their bonus than in the distress signal. This was a warning that Space might hold some nasty surprises for the space explorer. Three sequels followed and this led the way to a whole host of other movies of the same genre.

'PITCH PLACK' -2000 One of the best all-action Sci-fi horrors I think - stranded space-travellers have to depend on Riddick, a shackled killer described as the 'worst criminal in the Universe' as the planet they crash on moves from the bright daylight of three suns to pitch darkness when swarms of terrifying aliens come out on a feeding frenzy. Riddick is an alien without feelings nor any understanding of emotions who methodically does what it takes to survive. During the film the only surviving ship's officer,Carolyn, admits she was going to sacrifice all the passengers in order to ensure her own survival. The message of the film is in the question Riddick asks her.Initially unanswered the film moves towards the climax when the answer finally comes with profound effects. A sequel 'The Chronicles of Riddick' followed 4 years later.

'THE DARK HOUR'(La Hora Fria' ) - 2006 Once in a while a film comes along that makes you sit up & take notice and this Spanish film certainly did this! The ending gave me nightmares. A group of survivors have eked out a meagre existence below ground for nine years including an astronomer and a couple of children born in that underground hell. They are running out of everything but must avoid contact with the infectious 'Strangers' and the even worse ' Invisibles' who come in the 'Cold Hour' ( which is actually the title of this film). Seen through the eyes of the youngest. What a shocker !!!!

'SCREAMERS' - 1995 From favourite author Philip.K.Dick's story 'Second Variety' we find a man having to face up to and deal with the super-smart, ever-mutating, self-replicating weapons he helped design and produce in an effort to achieve an end to seemingly endless hostilities whilst lured away from Earth on a mission to a distant planet's mining community.