merelyaninnuendo Apollo 13It takes too much of the time to set the plots and the characters (almost the first hour is spent on it) but when it hits, it hits hard and fast with gripping screenplay that keeps the audience engaged until the curtain drops (its second act is thrilling). Ron Howard makes it look like easy and effortless through his brilliant execution skills but unfortunately isn't supported well enough on the editing department. Tom Hanks leads the way with another stellar performance from his side and is supported by a great cast like Ed Harris and Kevin Bacon. Apollo 13 isn't as important or nail biting as the makers think but it surely is witty and thought provoking that was just piled upon by the undercooked emotions like it was essential to install.

paulemzod For those of us who lived through this period, and remember it clearly, perhaps we appreciate the film a bit more, or from a different perspective, but for those who were not yet born, this is the next best thing to having been there. Pretty close to a perfect film, from casting, to cutting, to special effects. Watching Titanic I knew that I was watching CGI, in this film at times it seemed more like a well crafted documentary. As real as the experience can get, through a camera's eye. So many perfect moments, the little boy asking about the fire, and the lost ring. A rather spectacular entertainment, that I could, and have watched again and again, if only for the launch sequence. A terrific film. Opie did good.

Matthew_Capitano Ron 'Opie' Howard wings it again with his patented clumsy direction.Authenticity is thrown out the space window. Examples: having NASA dudes talking politics two feet away from the tonnage-heavy 'wheel tracks' of the 'crawler' (the vehicle which transports the rocket to the launch pad at 1 mile an hour); making astronauts Haise and Swigert argue and point fingers at one another concerning the accident in the spacecraft; mission commander Lovell (Tom Hanks with his squirrelly voice in tow) losing his temper and yelling in a NASA space center meeting; flight director Kranz finding a little corner to sit in so he can sulk; the predictable changing of original verbal transmissions; much more fictional silliness.Like most contemporary Hollywood movies, every actor looks like he's 'acting', including veteran Ed Harris who should know better, though Kathleen Quinlan is adequate as Lovell's wife, Marilyn.Film plays like a TV-movie or a cheap direct-to-video flick. As usual, the trajectory of blame should land right on top of Opie whom has yet to establish himself as a major film director.

Fluke_Skywalker Plot; When an oxygen tank explodes, the crew of Apollo 13 works with NASA in a race against time to find a way to get back to Earth.Ron Howard is a director that I respect more than like. Whatever one thinks of his films, he has to score points for the variety of subjects that he tackles (Outside of his head scratching decision to keep adapting Dan Brown novels). He's tough to pigeonhole, and I like that. That said, I only truly like a small handful of his films, and Apollo 13 is certainly one of them.Howard deftly balances the human and technical drama. In fact, they form a symbiotic relationship that propels it through what feels like a breezy 2hrs. and 20 minutes. With an insanely talented cast at the top of their respective games and a score by James Horner, who could make a guy eating potatoes chips look epic, Apollo 13 is a reminder that real heroes don't wear capes.