Apollo 13 (DVD)

...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 ...
...This indifferent complacency changed, however. Apollo 13 was about to be big news too. One of the oxygen tanks onboard the command module had a thermostat which had been designed to run at 28 volts. You wouldn't think they'd stick 65 volts through it would you? I mean - it isn't exactly rocket science.... but they did. The fuse blew. The tank heater registered 100 degrees but it was jammed on. Unknown to anyone, the temperature actually rose to ...

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

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 ...
...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 Space meant that Mattingly could not go and his place was taken by Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). The film charts ...

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

...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 ...

brianbarnes 28.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

...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 ...

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

...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 ...

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

...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 ...

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

...(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 ...

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

...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 ...
...accurate instructions for the disheartened Apollo crew. I first saw this film a few years ago and it also happens to be my boyfriends favourite film of all time so he brought it on DVD. He watches it over and over again and as you can imagine, I too have to endure endless showings. In a way, these multiple viewings have made me look at the film in a different light. I have begun to feel sadness for the astronauts, not just because they ‘lost ...

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

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 ...

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

...gnawing on its fingernails and Apollo 13 certainly did that. With a dignified Tom Hanks delivering the everyman hero riff he’s been trading off ever since. The period recreation is meticulous ‘ catch the fabulous 70s living-room complete with altar-like TV. The script, meanwhile, expertly spouts jargon and then translates it for an audience who become increasingly so involved in the minute by minute drama that they actually forget that they already ...

MarcusPerkins 29.09.2000 · Read full review
Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

What a film. I first saw this a couple of years ago and was really impressed with the photography and acting. Tom Hanks plays an excellent part of Captain Jim Lovell. The basic plot is back in the 60's when going to the moon was new he was scheduled to do a moon landing. However, things did not go to plan as an explosion on the rocket causes major problems. The misson to land on the moon is aborted and needless to say the film gets very intence. ...

tlovell 07.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

..."successful Failure" when 3 American Apollo astronauts battle back to earth in their damaged spacecraft. This film directed by one time Happy Days star, Ron Howard, is a brilliant recollection of the 70's space programme in the USA. It shows thet real story behind the glitz and glamour of ticker tape parades and parties with budget cuts, missions being slashed and the very lax attitude towards what had become a very routine operation. Tom Hanks plays ...
...with rookie spacemen Fred Haise and Jack swigert being played by Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon respectively. They all play their characters very well. The mission is hastily aborted with the crews lives in danger as they suffer an explosion half way to the moon. Using initiative on both the ground and in the air, they manage to limp their spacecraft home to a hero's welcome. It also ended all three men's hopes of landing on the moon as Lovell retired, ...

andycharger 12.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

...beginning, where the tragedy of Apollo 1 is made aware to us as a cloud NASA works under, to the end where there fates of all parties involved in bringing Apollo 13 home, the situation is built up to one of unbelievable tension, made all the more so by the actors understated performances (making it realistic as this is how the astronauts would have behaved. Tom Hanks turns in his usual grade A performance, but he is matched by all of the cast, which ...
...Paxton, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris. The real triumph of this film is that it doesn't soley focues on the three men in the capsule, but on Mission Control, Houston and the Lovell family home, thus giving an all-round picture. My video version contains a documentary which tells you all about the making of the film and the sleeve, when removed, unfolds into notes about the KC - 135, the plane they used to shoot the weightless scenes. What also may escape ...

2Good2BTrue 17.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)

...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 ...
...a spacecraft that is rapidly losing both power and oxygen, the astronauts fight for their lives in a desperate struggle. Meanwhile, back at mission contriol, Mattingley returns to help in a heroic race to bring them home safely. The story is beautifully told and does not feel the need to be sensationalised as the anguish and concern naturally radiates from the screen. This is a brilliant film, well acted and directed, excellently told and with countless ...

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

...lot of doubt surrounding the Apollo missions as a whole. Were they all staged in a giant hangar? Was Apollo 13 just an attempt to get people interested in the missions again? Who knows... However, if it did happen as they show in the film, then this film is magical! It captures the imagination of eager space-goers and then takes you on a rollercoaster ride of "will they make it?" thoughts. Of course they will...we all know the history, this is a ...
...But good films always make you worried about it just in case..that is the mark of a great film...and so it is in this one. Tom Hanks, Bill Pullman, Gary Sinise, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan...they are all here and very good too! The effects are fab, as they should be and the director, Ron Howard from Happy Days, has done a great job. The soundtrack helps enormously to create the whole atmosphere of this film too. Overall, a great ...

poodu 12.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Apollo 13 (DVD)