The PR was bad, but mostly due to screeching overreaction. They said they didn’t show the flag planting scene. Then Chazelle clarified and said that the flag was there. That told me that they put it there (since it really was there), they just didn’t film an explicit scene of them planting it.
Not having seen the film, I didn’t know if that was a good choice or a bad choice or a necessary or unnecessary one, so I figured I’d check it out and make up my own mind. Oh, man, is THAT the wrong answer, apparently. I saw people all over social media immediately jumping to the conclusion that the flag was completely deleted and wouldn’t be seen at all. Amazingly, people are STILL saying that—people who haven’t even seen it. It boggles my mind.
As I said in my review, they could’ve had a real quick shot of Armstrong and Aldrin unfolding the flag or whatever during the short montage scene after they leave the LEM, but it didn’t ruin the film or turn it into some kind of anti-Amerian travesty by default. The notion that it did—made by people who haven’t even seen the film—is, frankly, insulting.
I don’t like being told what to think, I don’t care if it’s a liberal trying to do it or if it’s a conservative. I’ll make up my own mind, thanks very much, and this is one of those cases where I’m very glad I did.
Excellent points. How about the hundred flags that everyone was waving in Mission Control:
In summary, I think the film willingly limited the American flag in the film. They did this for the international audience. In hindsite I think they should have included the flag ceremony on the moon as it’s still there. Maybe they can in the DVD version of movie. All in all a very pro American film!!