Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Apollo 13 - Movie Review

The 7th manned mission to the moon, and the third where man was intended to land on the man, Apollo 13 has a story worth telling. Plagued with doubt and intrigue from the beginning - starting with the number 13 - the team that finally blasts off on April 11, 1970 encounter serious trouble when the oxygen tanks explode after two days. The lunar mission is aborted and there is a slim chance that the astronauts can make it back to earth safely. James Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise survive incredible odds and make it back. For the best drama - you cannot beat real life.

The film holds you on the edge of the seat - or whatever you are sitting on. My measure for a great movie is to watch for 10 minutes and then let the movie grab me. If it does its great. If it doesn't its not worth it. For a movie that I spared 30 minutes, Apollo 13 kept me hooked till the end, leaving me wanting more. The scene when James Lovell talks on television about how he survived near death once is brilliant - just as the scene when his wife loses her wedding ring in the shower. The energy shifts totally.

Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris. Gary Sinise. Superb. Eminently repeatable. Many times. Highly recommendable. Classic.

Go for it.

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