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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 50636
Released: March 16, 1999 |
| Our Price: $12.72 |
| Used Price: $3.49 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
NASA's worst nightmare turned into one of the space agency's most heroic moments in 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew was forced to hobble home in a disabled capsule after an explosion seriously damaged the moon-bound spacecraft. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton play (respectively) astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise in director Ron Howard's intense, painstakingly authentic docudrama. The Apollo 13 crew and Houston-based mission controllers race against time and heavy odds to return the damaged spacecraft safely to Earth from a distance of 205,500 miles. Using state-of-the-art special effects and ingenious filmmaking techniques, Howard and his stellar cast and crew build nail-biting tension while maintaining close fidelity to the facts. The result is a fitting tribute to the Apollo 13 mission and one of the biggest box-office hits of 1995. --Jeff Shannon
Description of Apollo 13 (Widescreen DTS):
Relying primarily on actual footage shot by NASA and by news organizations, this video documents the drama of the aborted Apollo 13 mission, in which three astronauts came close to losing their lives in space. The actual recording of commander Jim Lovell telling Houston about the "problem" made famous in the Hollywood version of Apollo 13 is presented, and the scenes showing distressed engineers in the actual control room in Houston are in some ways much more dramatic than anything seen on the big screen. This is, after all, reality, with real people scrambling under intense pressure to save real lives. Besides the footage inside mission control, the video also showcases invaluable flight footage shot by the astronauts aboard the crippled spaceship. This video takes an essentially chronological approach, but the technique of using the crew's postflight news conference to serve as narration, while it is at first confusing, serves a useful purpose. This is a no-frills production, but the excitement as NASA engineers mobilize and the whole world watches the news about the stricken spaceship is so gripping that any flourishes would only seem to get in the way. --Robert J. McNamara
Apollo 13 (Widescreen DTS) Reviews:
Apollo13: The Story of REAL Heroes 
2008-09-30 - 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??? 
2008-09-06 - 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.
Great
2008-08-17 - I love it. It came complete with different behind the scenes that i didnt expect
Great movie 
2008-07-29 - I purchased this movie because I felt that the HD would do it justice. After watching it, I was not overly impressed with the HD quality. Only some of the scenes seemed sharper than the standard DVD. I am still happy with the movie and glad that I got it.
A peerless coverage of NASA's finest moment!
2008-07-25 - Having worked at and retired from the Kennedy Space Center, this film most definitely satisfied my personal and professional needs for truth, accuracy, and realism in its creation. Ron Howard did a masterful job of directing, and there was an obvious quest for excellence by all who participated in all aspects producing this fine film.
I will not retell the story here, as it has been well-covered by dozens of excellent reviews. But from the perspective of someone who actually is a "rocket scientist," I can assure you of its veracity, which was enhanced by some of the filming locations, and most prominently by the actors who were cast in the various important roles. Tom Hanks was at his finest here - the perfect casting, if you will, As Jim Lovell. But even Tom was slightly upstaged by Kathleen Quinlan, a much under-rated and perhaps under-appreciated actress. Bill Paxton was outstanding, and Kevin Bacon's was low-key excellence. But the show may have been stolen by Ed Harris, whose casting in the role of Gene Kranz was a directorial coup-d'etat, as both his appearance and performance were flawless!
While there was not a true weak link in the entire film, its realism was enough to send chills down the spines of those of us who have functioned at KSC. Yes, there were some creative shots in the film, such as Gary Senise driving his Corvette dangerously close to the launch pad, which was impossible, but such "creativity" was held to an absolute minimum. The entire story is graphic proof that truth is often much more impactful than the finest fiction. Absolutely a keeper!
