Others say...

"Perfect For Everyone (especially Parents & Classrooms)"
This is one of my all-time favorite movies, and for about a million reasons. But I'll just share a few.

Chances are good that you already know the basic premise: Three astronauts embark on a space mission to the moon, but technical complications not only jeopardize the mission, but their lives as well. Back on Earth, the Mission Control team based out of Houston work around the clock to get the astronauts home safely.

Based on real events (and mostly faithful, according to those who lived through them), the story does so many things right that most movies from the "disaster genre" or "rescue genre" to wrong.

First and foremost, we actually care about these characters. Director Ron Howard and the screenwriters dedicate equal time to the people and historical events on Earth as the intense drama that occurs in space. Besides the expected focus on the Mission Control Team who tirelessly work to get the Apollo 13 crew home, there's even a "prologue" of sorts before the April 13th, 1970 launch. Perhaps the most notable moment from these opening scenes is when Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks) must decide whether to stick up for a potentially sick co-pilot (risking his chances of going to space), or to opt for a replacement. Or how about seeing Lovell's youngest daughter almost being too depressed over The Beatles' breakup to go see her father's broadcast from space? APOLLO 13 doesn't just delay the suspenseful scenes like JAWS or ALIEN do. Don't get me wrong, those are great movies, but again, Earth and space are equally important as the other in this story.

What history buffs will most appreciate is the political and historical attention to detail. Our three astronuats (played terrifically by Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon) are portrayed as everyday people with their own ambitions and personalities. These guys like to drink and embrace their women as much as they venture into the unknown. The Houston Mission Control director Gene Kranz (a superb Ed Harris) is introduced in a very unusual way --- a NASA vest arrives in a parcel from his wife; the camera follows the gift box, and once the vest (ridiculed by most of the staff) is worn, then we see Kranz's face. And Jim Lovell's wife Marylin (Kathleen Quinlan in another great role) does way, way more than just sob at home over her husband's danger in space. I've always wondered this question: How does an endangered man's wife keep the family together while they may never see their father again? APOLLO 13 answers this little factoid, among many other pieces of info. Every character contributes to the story, even the forgotten NASA individuals who took every precaution in split-second timing to get their pilots home. The modern equivalent of APOLLO 13 might actually be the TV show 24. Rather than focus on what went wrong, the film wisely just lets the characters say, "Okay, something's wrong, and we better move quick or else..."

The true star of APOLLO 13 isn't even the special effects, which indeed are still impressive. Actually, what becomes the foreground of the picture is all of the scientific detail that goes into solving the horrifying problem of getting three men trapped in a fragile spacecraft back to Earth. APOLLO 13 does a perfect job in helping us understand what's going on at every second of the crisis. News telecasts (some archival footage, some reenacted) show TV experts and old interviews that viewers at home would've seen. The Mission Control crew in Houston speak an unbelievable amount of lingo that I'm not sure I understood everything they said. But then when you see them draw on chalkboards, or put together models. And even if you don't understand what the technicians are saying, their vocal tone & behavior will make it clear. Simply put, anybody can understand what's going on in APOLLO 13, from the cultural events to the space sequences. Rather than insult your intelligence, APOLLO 13 puts it to work, and makes you a smarter person because of it.

I'll leave the rest for you to discover, but I want to give a final recommendation to any educators or concerned parents that are reading this review. In addition to a fabulous wealth of extras that everyone should check out, this 2-disc includes the IMAX version of APOLLO 13. This IMAX features slightly better video & audio quality, but the great thing about this version is that it's about 15 minutes shorter. The scenes that were cut from this IMAX version were mainly the ones that might offend parents, meaning you won't hear any curse words or see couples making out with each other. This film that was released in theaters was originally PG-13 for a couple days, so if you're concerned about the content your kids watch, the IMAX cut isn't going to offend anybody. Plus, this IMAX version removed some of the scenes on Earth that came before the space launch. So, if you just want to get to the "good stuff", then you have an alternative version.

APOLLO 13 is perfect in every way. It's exciting, educational. uplifting, well-crafted, well-acted, and an important chapter in American history. I don't really care about what happens in space, and I personally hate science. But if a film can take a subject I despise and win me over, then I owe it to the filmmakers to share it with every person I possibly can. Decades from now, APOLLO 13 is going to hold up incredibly well with future audiences. There are so many movies coming out that it's hard for new film buffs to know which ones to pick. APOLLO 13 doesn't deserve to be forgotten.

"A very good and realistic movie about APOLLO 13 and human determination"
The movie APOLLO 13 and of course the real odyssey that took place in 1970 are more than just a near space tragedy and an aborted manned flight to the moon. They are about human determination, intelligence, cooperation and the fight for life in time of a very big crisis and challenge which in case of APOLLO 13 created a miracle. Returning safely back to Earth was a miracle because after an oxygen tank exploded in the service module en route to the moon, the spacecraft was so crippled that, not only was the moon landing cancelled, but the astronauts in APOLLO 13 together with staff of Houston mission control had to think and act fast to solve many of the lethal problems that emerged in the spacecraft. The movie has historical value as well because it dramatizes excellently the APOLLO 13 adventure which certainly is a very important event in the history of manned space flights. I highly recommend everybody to watch this DVD, not just to people who are interested in manned space flights but also to people who want to see what miracles human determination and intelligence can achieve.

"Apollo13: The Story of REAL Heroes"
Okay, for you technophiles, Universal did a good job in the transfer to DVD. The colors are vivid and the picture is razor sharp. Sound quality is great and the overall experience is worth the price of admission. Save your money and buy the single disc set. The second disc is an edited IMAX version and the "extras" on the second disc are so so. All of the "good" extras are on the single disc version.

Now for the REAL story. Plain and simple, these guys were heroes in every sense of the word. They risked their lives for what they believed in, without heavenly financial compensation (they got their regular pay, plus flight pay, plus hazardous duty pay) In today's dollars that about $300 flight pay and $125 a month to risk your life. Many of the men in this program had families.

Truly a contrast to today's heroes (Sports Figures) who act like spoiled brats and cry if they get a hang-nail. All this, while collecting a salary the would support 100 families in the US. I'd like to see any of today's heroes maintain their composure while everything around them is failing. If you lose a ball game, there is always next year. If you "lose" in space, you're dead.

I grew up in the 60's with the space program and this film is a true testiment to the courage, skill, dedication, and selflessness of the entire NASA team.

Kind of a interesting closing point. Take note when Tom Hanks (Comm. Jim Lovell) is on the carrier deck after splash down/pick-up. He shakes the hand of a Navy Captain (left side of frame). That is THE Jim Lovell (Captain, USN Retired) and he is wearing HIS original Navy uniform, still fits him after all these years. Nice touch on the part of Director Ron Howard and great tribute film to the men who gave their all for their country and each other.

"WHY THE MISSING SCENES???"
Being a big follower of the space program since the mid-1960s, I was really excited when Apollo 13 was released..first on VHS, then to DVD. But on both the DVD-released versions, why are there scenes missing? One that I noticed right away is when Barbara Lovell(the Lovell's eldest daughter) doesn't want to go to Mission Control to watch the TV broadcast from space. Presumably because she is upset over the Beatle's breakup. Then much of the TV broadcast itself from the VHS version is missing. There were more missing, as well. It was a little disconcerting..especially with the "anniversary" edition. But the essence of the story..the triumph of the human spirit in the face of extraordinary odds...still remains true.

"Apollo 13"
Great movie. Even though you know what i going to happen it is still full of suspense.