Apollo 13

Advantages: A tense, suspense filled drama
Disadvantages: None

...As far as space films go, I am not a big fan so it was with some trepidation that I took this one in. After a few minutes, it is clear that this is going to stand head and shoulders above the rest which is due, in large part, to the immense performance of Academy Award Winner Tom Hanks, but also to a tremendous true story of bravery, skill and hope. A year after the epic moon landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 13 was scheduled for a moon landing of its own. The original crew of Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Ken Mattingley (Gary Sinise) are just days away from the launch when Mattingley is pulled from the team due to the belief that he may have been exposed to infection. Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) steps inand after a routine launch, disaster strikes, leading to the immortal line "Houston, we...

kipper54 06.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

Should Have Been Called Apollo 12a

Advantages: Ron Howard has done his homework to bring us a realistic film showing the true events of this sad Apollo mission.
Disadvantages: I cannot see any. This film contains great actors acting at their best!

...This Ron Howard directed film is based on the true events surrounding Apollo 13’s mission to the moon, which sadly had to be aborted due to an explosion in the oxygen tank. It goes into the lives of each of the Astronauts as they build up to mission launch. The astronauts, Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), go through the usual checks and tests. It is found that one of the back-up crew has developed measles and as Ken Mattingly has never had the measles he is told he cannot go, so they bring in reserve astronaut, Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). Take-off goes well as does the LLM extraction (the un-docking and re-docking of the Lunar Landing Module). Suddenly they hear a loud bang and discover they are leaking oxygen. “Houston, we have a problem.” They...

carolinesite 17.02.2001 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

Spaceman the lifeboat!

Advantages: Historically accurate and informative
Disadvantages: Trying to make a drama out of what was actually a crisis

...This is a review of 'Apollo 13' in the HD DVD format The world stood still for Apollo 11 as it descended to the surface of the moon in 1969. I was in a garden shed with a bed, a short-wave radio and a black and white TV. It was the topic on everyone's lips. However, by the time Apollo 13 flew, as is made clear in this movie, everyone had taken our sojourns to the moon for granted. When Lovell sent documentary footage back to earth on his outward journey none of the networks would even show it. Moon missions weren't news any more. This was only one year after we'd all held our breath in the early hours (UK time) watching that 'one small step.' We were quite unimpressed and had seen it all before. This indifferent complacency changed, however. Apollo 13 was about to be big news too. One of the oxygen tanks onboard the command...

FlameDruid 22.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

Houston - we have a problem!

Advantages: wonderful film of a true story
Disadvantages: none

...I remember watching Apollo 13 when it first came out at the cinema in 1995. Base on the real events of the unsuccessful moon mission in 1970, it would have been possible to hear a pin drop as the entire audience watched as the events unfolded - and this was even when we knew what happened. For the purpose of this review I am going to assume that most people know the story of Apollo 13 - if you don't and you are likely to watch the film it's probably best to skip this synopsis! The film is based on the Apollo 13 mission which was intended to be the third moon landing by US astronauts. The mission was led by Commander Jim Lovell (played by Tom hanks) who had already circled the moon on an earlier mission. His crew was meant to be Fred Haise (Bill Paton) and Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) but a threat of contracting the measles while in...

kingfisher111 02.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

'It comes after 12, Hon'

Advantages: Amazing cast, true story
Disadvantages: No proper ones really

...First, a few facts about the film: The film was made in 1995 It was directed by Ron Howard (he also directed 'A beautiful mind', among many other films. He also has produced many and has acted in many) Co-written by many writers including Jim Lovell, who was one of the astronauts (the on the original Apollo 13 mission). The cast includes Tom Hanks (Jim Lovell - astranaut on Apollo 13), Kevin Bacon (Jack Swigert - astronaut on Apollo 13), Bill Paxton (Fred Haise - astronaut on Apollo 13), Ed Harris (Gene Kranz -flight control), Gary Sinise (Ken Mattingly - astronaut supposed to fly on Apollo 13, but did not) and Kathleen Quinlan (Marilyn Lovell - Jim's wife). Running time is approximately 140 minutes. Rated PG. It's an American film. The film won many awards including 2 oscars. So, there's the facts done, now...

Smiley_Scarly 05.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

A Simple Trip To The Moon

Advantages: Fabulously accurate
Disadvantages: It ends?

...Ok, here comes the admission: I missed Apollo 13. Admittedly so did much of America (such was the American lack of interest to begin with) but I missed it spectacularly. Not only could I not be bothered to show any interest, I couldn't even be bothered to be born for another 4 years. But now it's the 90's and it's not only America that doesn't care for space...no-one does. How would the world react to the resurrection of a story that was getting on for 30 years old? Who would care for a tale that seemed to emanate from a stale and stodgy industry (be honest, space travel has become old hat - since when did see an actual rocket launch on TV? Outside of the NASA channel and when things go BOOM of course). Ok then Mr Howard, wheel in the old gal... With America having safely won the race to the moon with Apollo 11, NASA has tried to push...

TheNeil 06.03.2002 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

Houston We have a Problem

Advantages: Just a great film
Disadvantages: none

...Apollo 13 is an incredible depiction of the real life space drama. It has an all star cast including Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris. They all play their roles perfectly and manage to create the tension and courage that creates the film. It has a great plot which seems awful to say since it is all true but it makes for gripping watching and is highly entertaining. The special effects round it off creating space and all it individual marvels and bring the crippled space craft to life. This is an amazing story and is excellently told. A must see....

elspeth334 29.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

I remember those 7 long days.

Advantages: Superb acting. Great effects.
Disadvantages: We know the ending.

...Many of you youngsters would have watched this film as a piece of entertainment. For an older person like me this is a film of an event that for 7 days gripped the whole world. When space travel started each astronaut was thought of as a hero but by the time of the Apollo 13 launch the public interest in the space race had started to dwindle. It seemed that everything had been done and each mission was just a variant on previous missions. The dramatic events of this mission reminded everyone that space travel was still a terrific challenge to mankind and how vulnerable astronauts were when they were in space. This film captures the whole atmosphere of the 1970 event, from the public apathy to the dedication of the people who were directly involved with the space programme at NASA. Tom Hanks is absolutely brilliant as Jim...

daseaford 15.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

Houston We have a classic

Advantages: Gripping story, excellent supporting roles, sfx, tension, score
Disadvantages: known ending, Hanks just a tad robotic, Quinlann underused

...An excellent space movie based on the true events of the aborted Apollo 13 mission to the Moon back in 70/71. Of course for those of us who are old enough to remember the moon missions we already know the ending. However, Ron Howard does an excellent job of making this "remake" even more breathtaking & astounding than the real event! There was always the risk of Hollywood taking "dramatic" liberties with this movie, but fortunately they resisted temptation for major changes and kept faith with the whole traumatic tale. Never being a keen fan of smug Tom Hanks (Jim Lovell) I was really surprised & delighted with his performance here. In real life Hanks takes a close interest with the Apollo missions and so in the movie he really plays his character with a great deal of enthusiasm & intelligence. He is also ably supported by one...

dreamstar70 05.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

What Problem

Advantages: Tense drama
Disadvantages: None

...This is the ultimate rescue story envisaged by science fiction writers ever since space flight was a writer’s dream that actually happened. The film tells the story of how nigh on thirty years ago astronaut Jim Lovell, played by Tom Hanks, radioed mission control with the now classic understatement of the century, “Houston, we have a problem.” They sure did. En-route to the moon for another landing, Apollo 13 (great choice of number) suffered a minor malfunction that saw an oxygen tank explode taking a chunk of the craft with it into space and leaving the three occupants on the brink of disaster. Being en-route they had to continue as, fabulous as the technology was, it wasn’t capable of slowing down a spacecraft from some 27,000 mph so that it could turn round and return to earth. They had to go around...

jimbuck 27.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)