Apollo 13 (Wide Screen)

Advantages: A space film that isn't sci-fi
Disadvantages: Only if you know the ending (true story)

...this accolade. Then along came Apollo 13. Now being space fans we knew our history, so we KNEW how the film would finish. What we didn’t know was just how good this film would be. It seemed that they really did film this presentation in space (which is not too far from the truth in actual fact, but I’ll come to that later). It turns out that with one exception the entire film is based on fact. Everything and I mean everything is authentic. ...
...then take a chance on Apollo 13. The film is incredibly tense, even if you do know the ending. The acting first rate (Hanks, Bacon, Paxton), the effects truly convincing, and the sound track spot on. (The floating in space was just brilliant – achieved by flying the set in a giant air carrier up to the edge of the atmosphere then diving at high speed, making everything which was falling at the same speed appear to be floating, including the ... Read review

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

...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 ...
...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 of Kevin Bacon's best performances and particularly from Bill Paxton. The only troublesome acting comes from Kathleen Quinlann (Lovell's wife). She isn't given much to do throughout the film other than to cry a bit and offer moral support to her family and friends. Quinlann ... Read review

Advantages: Fabulously accurate
Disadvantages: It ends?

...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 ...
...race to the moon with Apollo 11, NASA has tried to push the envelope further with longer and more detailed missions. With the goal achieved though it seems America has become almost blase about going to the moon. Apollo 11 was a success, Apollo 12 was a success, so Apollo 13 is just routine. Or is it? A routine maintenance check results in the three astronauts (Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert) staring death in the face. With their spacecraft ... Read review

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

...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 ...
...other two members of the Apollo 13 crew, but it is Tom Hanks that is the real star of this movie, plus of course the rocket itself. Of course most of us know the ending of the film, but it is the build-up and the changes of fortune that make this such a good film to watch. There is also a lot of personal interest, showing how the whole space programme and individual events affect the astronauts families as much as the men themselves. You do not have ... Read review

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

...(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 ...
...interested in it. So, when Apollo 13 came along, no-one paid much attention (you see this in the film) until it went wrong, when the world became gripped by space flight once again. The characters: Jim Lovell is a great character and takes the lead in the film. He, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise together make the film great, along with Gene Kranz and Marilyn Lovell. Many space films, in my opinion can be fairly boring, as there are a lot of technical ... Read review