APOLLO 13

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Review Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2005

The true story of Apollo 11, the first mission to the Moon, has never been dramatized on film. And when that spacecraft's voyage was repeated for Apollo 12, proving that 11 wasn't a lucky shot, the citizens of Earth began to get the idea that travel to the Moon was likely to become routine hardly the stuff of great drama. Few people today even know that there was an Apollo 17. But Ron Howard's APOLLO 13 is a natural. Everyone knows the ending, but we dread going through the frightening adventure, especially since its probable the general public had no idea how bad things really became.

Opening on a documentary piece recalling the disastrous fire that killed three astronauts aboard Apollo1, the film builds tension from its first scene. As much as any horror film, APOLLO 13 is entertainment based on tension, fear and anxiety. We know something awful is going to happen. Those that pay attention to such things even know exactly when things are going to go wrong. But the great attention to detail shown by Howard, his cast and crew pays great dividends with the audience. We get a sense that we're going to get the straight story here. We'll be taken along and immersed in the danger, and we'll be holding our breath all the way.

Tom Hanks stars as mission leader Jim Lovell, with Tom Paxton as Fred Haise and Gary Sinise as Ken Mattingly. These are very likable actors playing very likable astronauts, and the fine casting continues on down the line. When Mattingly is replaced by backup pilot Jack Swigert a few days before launch, we feel unease not only because we know what's coming, but because Swigert is played by Kevin Bacon, an actor we've seen play both good guys and bad guys. Howard's machinery keeps us glued not only are we wrapped up in the characters and their impending problems, but in a fascinating view of the space program in action. By the time of the explosion onboard the command module, it's almost a relief, but Howard keeps the crises coming. Incredibly, so many things went wrong with the mission that not all of them would fit in the movie several incidents had to be left out or combined. Going through the intense peril experienced by these three men from such an intimate viewpoint as well as seeing all the struggles of family and friends on Earth makes for a first rate movie experience. The only quality points that can be taken off the film come from a slight feeling of over-manipulation, and a sense that the way was paved by THE RIGHT STUFF.


Universal celebrates the 10th anniversary of this great film with a 2-disc DVD set featuring a new digitally remastered transfer. There's also a new Making-Of documentary, and 2 new commentraks on board. The first track is with Howard, who certainly deserves his reputation as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. I'd gladly spend a couple hours with him watching one of his movies anytime, and he gets most of the stories told. The documentary tells some more stories from several viewpoints.

But it's the second commentrak with Jim & Marilyn Lovell that shines. I can't think of another DVD commentrak by the real main characters of the film at hand, and that alone makes it exciting. That one of them has been in space so much, and has actually survived the deadly dangers we're watching - but still reminds you of your grandfather kind of messes with your head.

The second disc serves up a White Elephant. APOLLO 13 was re-edited to 98 minutes for presentation at IMAX theaters, and this version is included here. But since few viewers are likely to have a 70-foot screen at home, and this version is missing 42 minutes, only film students need pay any attention to it. Best to skip on to two feature documentaries on the space program. One gives a fine overview of the American exploration of space, while the other concentrates on Apollo 13 in detail.

A great film getting the great DVD it deserves. It makes me wonder: is there a DVD player on board that shuttle?

Copyright © 2005 Brian Thomas, author of the massive book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS.
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