Apollo 17 - On The Shoulders of Giants is a fascinating part of the NASA Video Collection that delves into the journey of one of NASA's most historic missions: Apollo 17. The documentary is a rich visual feast of archival footage, photography, interviews, and comprehensive narration, all compiled together to provide an insightful depiction of humanity's final manned mission to the moon.

In line with the preceding Apollo missions, the film takes its title, 'On The Shoulders Of Giants', from a phrase famously used by physicist Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” The title serves as both an acknowledgment of the scientific advancements that made the mission possible and a tribute to the exceptional men and women who carried out the exploration of space.

Commencing with the launch of the Saturn V rocket on December 7, 1972, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the documentary takes the viewer through the exact sequence of events of Apollo 17. This mission was the eleventh and final crewed mission in NASA's Apollo program and consisted of a three-member crew: Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, who was also a trained geologist.

With the purpose of documenting one of the most pivotal moments in human history, this film brilliantly interlaces technical details, crew activities, and personal anecdotes to provide a balanced and intimate look at this ambitious mission. It captures not just the essence of Apollo 17, but also encapsulates the broader narrative of human exploration and determination - trying to help the viewer comprehend the depth of human perseverance.

The ‘On The Shoulders Of Giants,’ pays particular attention to Apollo 17's importance in science. It dives into the scientific aspects of the mission, including moon rock collection, experiments performed in space, and surface exploration. Viewers will get a glimpse of the unique, orange-colored soil discovered during the mission and hear a discussion about its significance. The narration is keen on translating the broader implications of these findings into layman's terms, making it accessible to viewers with varying levels of knowledge on the subject.

Alongside these scientific discoveries, the film also explores the personal experiences of the astronauts. It paints an evocative picture of their daily routine and life inside the spacecraft, as well as their experiences on the lunar surface. Intimate interviews with the astronauts themselves serve as a narrative spine for the film, offering up recollections of preparation, lift-off, the tense lunar descent, exploration of the moon's surface, and the emotional journey back to Earth.

A captivating segment of the film showcases the famous image, 'The Blue Marble,' taken by the crew of Apollo 17, which presented Earth as a whole for the very first time. This singular image, which changed our perception of our planet, is discussed in detail, framing it in the context of the broader cultural and emotional impact of the moon missions.

One of the documentary's greatest strengths lies in its ability to capture the broader implication of the mission. Not only does it detail the historic journey, but it also reflects on the political complexities of the time, the fervent race to the moon in the backdrop of Cold war, and the wide-ranging impacts of these explorations on human understanding of its own existence in the cosmos.

Furthermore, ‘On The Shoulders Of Giants', presents the entirety of the Apollo 17 mission not just as a singular event, but as a part of human history: a profound representation of our innate curiosity, our thirst to push boundaries, and the constant quest for knowledge.

All considered, On The Shoulders of Giants depicts Apollo 17's full enormity, distilling an enormously complex mission into an engaging visual narrative. It evokes wonder and respects viewers' intelligence, making it a must-see film, not only for space enthusiasts but for anyone intrigued by the scale and ambition of human achievement. The film concludes with Apollo 17, but its core message resonates far beyond, extending an invitation for future space explorations, and a testament to the strength of human spirit and our eternal quest for the unknown.