Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow

Created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of NASA, this Documentary got a brief theatrical release on its way to debuting on the Discovery Channel (who produced it). ABOVE & BEYOND isn't really much different production value-wise than other space shows on the network. Of course, showing 90 minutes of random NASA footage is entertaining in and of itself. Still, Rory Kennedy's Doc is a bit of disappointment. Beginning not with the actual founding of NASA in 1958, ABOVE & BEYOND starts with John F. Kennedy's "we choose to go the moon" speech (not coincidentally, JFK was Rory's uncle). We then get a quick overview of the space program's moon landing heyday. Then, it's on to try and touch upon everything NASA has done - communication satellites, interplanetary travel, the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Telescope, climate science etc. etc.. Without question, it's a lot to cover, but, even considering that, ABOVE & BEYOND is ineffectively organized. One minute we are flying by Pluto, the next we are under the sea looking at coral bleaching. No single Doc can do justice to six decades of scientific exploration, but a more coherent structure would have helped immeasurably. Still, as noted, 90 minutes of NASA footage is 90 minutes of wonder. There are breathtaking clips*, photographs and first person testimonials. Kennedy narrates herself, and even if it's rather sparse (and she doesn't have to the most colorful voice), it gets the story across. The Doc's flaws aside, here's to the next 60 years of NASA.