Space Cowboys is a 2000 film that follows four retired test pilots who are called back into service by NASA to repair an old satellite. The aging pilots embark on a mission to space to fix the machine. During the mission, one of the pilots sacrifices himself to save the Earth. The film explores themes of aging, friendship, and humanity's relationship with technology and space exploration. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the comedy and acting but felt the second half of the film was less successful.

1. Space Cowboys
Diogo Carvalho Nº412, Miguel Pimenta Nº 495, Pedro Amado Nº521,
Danilo Fernandes Nº870, Tiago Monteiro Nº 890
10º A CAIC, 2011/2012
Inglês

2. Index:
 Factual facts
 Plot summary (storyline)
 The film’s weaknesses
 What we enjoyed best
 Points of view towards science
 Media criticism on the film
 The movie messages and quotes
 Space Exploration: Advantages and Disadvantages

3. Factual Facts:
• Name: Space Cowboys
• Year: 2000
• Actors: Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald
Sutherland and James Garner
• Director: Clint Eastwood
• Category: Action, adventure, thriller

4. Plot summary:
•The film starts in 1958 when Team Dedalus were working in experiences for
NASA and preparing to go to space.
•Years later, in 2000, a problem in a machine that Frank created appears, and
he is the only who can solve it so, when NASA asks for his help, he requests
team Dedalus to join him.
•Then, they go to space and, when something goes wrong, one of them offers
to save the Earth by going to the moon with dangerous material.
•The other three return to Earth while he dies, with his dream of steping the
moon coming true.

5. The film’s weaknesses:
Movie ends with an open set.

6. What we enjoyed best
•The special effects
•Their friendship

7. Points of view towards science
Technology is connected with NASA and space
exploration

8. Media criticism:
•“The good news about Space Cowboys is that Clint Eastwood proves to be a skilled
comedic director. The bad news is that only the first half of the movie is a comedy -
the second half is a sloppy attempt at a heart-pounding. And there's even more
that could've been done about respect of an older generation, and the fact that
mistakes and lessons can be learned at any age. Instead, it's all generally ignored
as Space Cowboys opts for an easier, less demanding path.” Norm Schrager
•“Mr. Eastwood is ordinarily a rather earthbound director, more interested in the
efficient (and sometimes graceless) conveyance of story and character than in
visual. His films explore the possibility that the best parts of the old code of manly
virtue (loyalty, good humor, etc) might be retained even as its less attractive
features are abandoned. This time, without succumbing to bitterness, nostalgia or
overstating the case for one generation's virtues, he and his coworkers mount a
vigorous and funny defense of maturity. That’s the last thing you might expect
from a summer action picture, and it’s one of the reasons Space Cowboys is one of
the best entertainments this season has yet offered.”

9. The movie messages:
•Machines and technology will never be as good
as humans;
•Even if we are old, we are never useless;
•Technology is good, but at the same time
is bad too.

10. Quote
“Have you noticed how everybody
seems to be dead lately?”

11. Space Exploration: Advantages
and Disadvantages
Advantages:
• Know other worlds;
• Knowledge about our planet’s future;
• Discover the mysteries of Universe (other kinds of life);
• Discover planets similar to Earth, in case we need a new
place to call “home”

12. Space Exploration: Advantages
and Disadvantages
Disadvantages:
 Very expensive;
 Sometimes space exploration has no good results;
 The money should be invested in humanitarian actions;
 It’s dangerous.