90s Movie Review - Apollo 13

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama/ Adventure
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Ray McKinnon, Clint Howard

Description: NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Review: Jim Lovell is working at NASA, in 1970s America. He wants only one thing and that is to set foot on the moon. He has therefore had to wait a long time, but now it’s finally  happening. Due to illness of the original flight leader, Jim and his team are deployed on Apollo 13. During the flight, which initially goes well, some major problems arise. Jim and his team now have to do everything to get back to Earth safely. Jim, and his team members Fred and Jack must survive in a hostile environment, with a dwindling supply of oxygen.
“Apollo 13” tells the true story of the failed trip to the moon on the thirteenth Apollo mission. This was to be the third time humans would walk on the moon, but during the trip, all sorts of things went wrong. Commander of the ship, Jim Lovell, wrote about his experiences in the book “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13”. This book was the basis for the film, which was directed by Ron Howard. True-life stories van be bogged down quite often in a heavy dose of sentiment and tear-jerking. “Apollo 13” also has several moments where this applies, but overall it is a film that manages to captivate and entertain. the facts told in the story are exciting and dramatic enough in themselves. I actually thought that the whole family drama at home, took the tempo out of the movie a bit. I was more interested in the space part, not the personal lives.
The cast seems to give their all and is extremely empathetic. The roles of the three astronauts are played by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton. Hanks is strong as ever, but Paxton and Bacon manage to hold their own alongside him. The trio manages to convey the desperation and mutual tension well. This makes the whole thing come across as authentic and realistic. Ed Harris and Gary Sinise, in smaller roles, also make  an impression.
“Apollo 13” is clearly created with a lot of love and attention to detail and it looks very realistic. It’s an entertaining movie, even on multiple viewings.

Rating: 4 / 5

Top 5 Thursday: Ron Howard Movies

Ron Howard is one of my favourite movie directors. Who knew that the Richie from “Happy Days” would be such a magnificent filmmaker? Here are my five favourite Ron Howard directed movies.

5. The Da Vinci Code
I know it was discussed when it came out, I was one of the few people that really loved this film. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m actually very sad that Ron Howard isn’t going to direct “The Lost Symbol” which is the next film in the Robert Langdon series.

4. Cinderella Man
One of the best boxing movies and such an amazing story. It’s a movie that people don’t really talk about anymore, but it should never be forgotten.

3. Apollo 13
I’m somehow always intrigued by space and “Apollo 13” is one of the best movies in this genre. Tom Hanks is fantastic as Jim Lovell.

2. Rush
Ron Howard managed to amaze me with this film, even though I don’t like Formula 1 racing. I was drawn into the world and it kept my attention at all times.

1. A Beautiful Mind
This is actually one of my all-time favourite movies. I was so amazed by Russel Crowe’s performance. I just love this movie, it’s so well made.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Frost/ Nixon, The Paper, Ransom, How the Grinch Stole Christmas