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In the Shadow of the Moon

(2007, Rated PG, Documentary, Starring Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Alan Bean)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Lofty recap of the Apollo moon program.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The courage, bravery, and potential sacrifice of the Air Force fighter pilots-turned-lunar astronauts and their ground crews is a big topic. Singled out for particular awe is Neil Armstrong's ability to keep a cool head in extreme circumstances. Some astronauts speak of their "born again" religious reactions to setting foot on the moon. Others seem to embrace eco-enlightenment.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    News footage of aircraft crashes, bombing, and combat in Vietnam.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Some "damn"-level cursing and a discussion of urination.
  • Consumerism:

    Vintage clips include commercial sponsors who glommed onto the Apollo program, like Miracle Whip.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some smoking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About In the Shadow of the Moon

Parents need to know that this documentary mentions the riots and upheavals of the 1960s, as well as the dangers of the Apollo moon flights, with much time devoted to the launch-pad fire that killed three astronauts on the ground. There is also Buzz Aldrin's revelation that he urinated inside his space suit on worldwide TV before stepping on the moon.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the documentary's assertion that the American space program somehow transcended its Cold War goal to outdo the Soviets, becoming a more meaningful enterprise. What does the idea of a successful moon landing mean to you? What lessons do you get from the cool-headed "right stuff" attitude of the pilots? The astronauts allude at the end, briefly, to conspiracy theories that the Apollo moon landing was a hoax filmed on a movie set. Why do you think people would believe that?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

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