Review: Apollo 13
When this movie came out I saw it in the theater and was blown away. I still remember the feeling of exhilaration I had during the launch sequence, and the panic of the tense fight for control during the last burn to reaquire the re-entry window as the Earth careened in and out of view. And, though I knew the ending before I went in, I remember the feeling of relief as the parachutes opened after an interminable silence. This movie reignited in me the childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, while at the same time convincing me that I was not fit to be the janitor in mission control.
I just finished watching the Special Edition on DVD, and those same feelings reemerged (though not as strongly - there really is something about the big screen and sound of a movie theater that intensifies everything). This movie is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Even someone with no knowledge of the US Space program would, I’m sure, recognize the authenticity of this film. The screenplay, based on the story as written by Jim Lovell, the mission’s commander, was deftly brought to life by Ron Howard and his cast and crew. The effects frequently mirrored actual NASA footage and were so successful that Buzz Aldrin asked if NASA could use the shots going forward. The focus was balanced perfectly between the danger in space, the frantic efforts of mission control, and the emotion of the families wondering if these three men would return home alive. Absolutely nothing in this film failed in any way.
Heck, even the “making of” documentary was gripping!
This is the very definition of a five star movie. I can’t wait to watch it again with the commentary from Jim and Marilyn Lovell.
Tags: film, Reviews, tom hanks
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