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Apollo 13 Reviews

1995 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 18,157 members

A vividly rendered dramatisation of Apollo 13's true-life brush with disaster on the way to the Moon in 1971. This mesmerising film combines computer graphics, archive footage and seamless special effects to recreate the adrenalised odyssey of Astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert who battled astronomical odds to .. Read more

Starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise
Director Ron Howard
Genres Drama

Buy From: £5.93

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  • Critics' reviews of Apollo 13

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  • 2 stars out of 4

    A gripping documentary-style recreation of an averted tragedy, excellently done but one that is an uncritical celebration of the American way and which makes no attempt to put the mission into a wider historical context; it settles for simple patriotism.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Apollo 13

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  • 11 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Classic Film

    Apollo 13 directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks is quite simply a classic film. Some of the footage was actually filmed with the actors aboard the 'vomet comet' so the actors are actually experiencing weightlessness. The film accurately depicts the story of the dramatic story of the Apollo astronauts aboard Apollo 13 including Jim Lovell. Often during the film ground control will use techno babble like 'we have a main bus undervault', Its highly unlikely that anyone will know what this means unless you work for NASA but its done in such a way that you know that this is tense and you want to know how these problems are going to get resolved. Great film which even though you know the ending will still give you goose bumps. Essential viewing.

  • 8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Fantastic suspense

    Like the previous reviewer I watched the moon landings when I was a kid on an old black and white TV with my parents.

    Tom Hanks and the rest of the cast are on form in this adventure movie about the disaster that befell the Apollo 13 crew on their way to the moon.

    If you have a surround sound system then listen out for the great sound effects as the Saturn 5 rocket blasts off from the pad. The special visual effects are excellent.

    You will be amazed at the sheer ingenuity of the entire Apollo team at NASA as they work tirelessly to bring the crippled space ship back to earth.

    The final minutes of the film are gripping and I just bet you have a real lump in your throat as the whole world waits to see if they come back alive.

    Loses nothing in the re-viewing either.

      • Ken from Haywards Heath
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    THE space movie!

    To me, the most significant thing about Apollo 13 is the fact that it managed to be such a strikingly realistic film despite the abundance of well-known Hollywood actors. Tom Hanks, can convincingly carry off any characters shoes he is put in, and his role in Apollo 13 is no exception. The true events of the historic Apollo 13 mission are amazingly re-created here, and the results are spectacular.

      • A customer from London
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Apollo 13

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Out of this world!

    Excellent. although long, strong acting from all. 5/5

      • A customer from Not where i want to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    It takes a team

    Apollo 13 is a really well filmed movie about the eponymous space mission, the difficulties it met and the heroic struggles required to return the damaged spaceship to earth with its astronauts intact.

    The acting is good all around, with special mention to Ed Harris and Bill Paxton for convincibly portaying men at the brink of losing control.

    The movie convinces the viewer that space is a dangerous and unfriendly place, and that it can take the ingenuity of many people to succeed even at failing. Intense throughout, this movie portays humanity at its finest.

      • A customer from London, UK
  • 11 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Classic Film

    Apollo 13 directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks is quite simply a classic film. Some of the footage was actually filmed with the actors aboard the 'vomet comet' so the actors are actually experiencing weightlessness. The film accurately depicts the story of the dramatic story of the Apollo astronauts aboard Apollo 13 including Jim Lovell. Often during the film ground control will use techno babble like 'we have a main bus undervault', Its highly unlikely that anyone will know what this means unless you work for NASA but its done in such a way that you know that this is tense and you want to know how these problems are going to get resolved. Great film which even though you know the ending will still give you goose bumps. Essential viewing.

  • 8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Fantastic suspense

    Like the previous reviewer I watched the moon landings when I was a kid on an old black and white TV with my parents.

    Tom Hanks and the rest of the cast are on form in this adventure movie about the disaster that befell the Apollo 13 crew on their way to the moon.

    If you have a surround sound system then listen out for the great sound effects as the Saturn 5 rocket blasts off from the pad. The special visual effects are excellent.

    You will be amazed at the sheer ingenuity of the entire Apollo team at NASA as they work tirelessly to bring the crippled space ship back to earth.

    The final minutes of the film are gripping and I just bet you have a real lump in your throat as the whole world waits to see if they come back alive.

    Loses nothing in the re-viewing either.

      • Ken from Haywards Heath
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    THE space movie!

    To me, the most significant thing about Apollo 13 is the fact that it managed to be such a strikingly realistic film despite the abundance of well-known Hollywood actors. Tom Hanks, can convincingly carry off any characters shoes he is put in, and his role in Apollo 13 is no exception. The true events of the historic Apollo 13 mission are amazingly re-created here, and the results are spectacular.

      • A customer from London
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    one of tom's best

    I've watched it numerous times and although I know every part of the film off by heart, I still hold my breath at the end. One of the best films ever based on real events. A must see

      • steve roberts from Manchester , England
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    What a well told story.

    Even though the history of Apollo13 is well known, and we already know they get home safely before we press play on the DVD, this film still manages to give you sweaty palms.

    Very realistic, excellent zero-G footage, and good performances.

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A really good family adventure and true!

    I remember David Bowie controversially singing Major Tom, the moon landings and then suddenly the world stopped for Apollo 13.

    Anyone who lived through it will appreciate reliving the drama, those that didn't would appreciate how tense and exciting space travel can be.

    I hated the God Bless America bit that has to go with anything Tom Hanks appeared in, in his earlier days, but it is a great story and handled very well in this production. Kids are rivetted.

      • Johnneedee from East Sussex
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Out of this world!

    Excellent. although long, strong acting from all. 5/5

      • A customer from Not where i want to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    My Favourite Film

    This has been my favourite film of all time ever since I first watched it.

    I will never get over how unbelievable and unrealistic this film would be if it wasn't based on a true story. Amazing...! I love the actual footage from the original Apollo missions and the cameo appearance of the REAL Jim Lovell.

    It's a must see. Love it.

      • A customer from Wokingham
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    It takes a team

    Apollo 13 is a really well filmed movie about the eponymous space mission, the difficulties it met and the heroic struggles required to return the damaged spaceship to earth with its astronauts intact.

    The acting is good all around, with special mention to Ed Harris and Bill Paxton for convincibly portaying men at the brink of losing control.

    The movie convinces the viewer that space is a dangerous and unfriendly place, and that it can take the ingenuity of many people to succeed even at failing. Intense throughout, this movie portays humanity at its finest.

      • A customer from London, UK
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    TOP CLASS

    ALTHOUGH I HAVE WATCHED IT BEFORE, AS SOON AS IT POPPED THROUGH THE LETTER BOX I PUT IT ON...TOP CLASS AS LONG AS YOU ARE IN TO THIS TYPE OF FILM....I HAVE FOLLOWED THE SPACE MISSIONS FOR YEARS AND FOUND THE ACTING GREAT AND AS CLOSE TO THE TRUTH AS YOU CAN GET....RIVETING FILM FROM START TO FINISH

      • A customer from N. IRELAND
  • Critics' reviews

  • 2 stars out of 4

    A gripping documentary-style recreation of an averted tragedy, excellently done but one that is an uncritical celebration of the American way and which makes no attempt to put the mission into a wider historical context; it settles for simple patriotism.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

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      Drama based on the events of the Apollo 13 space flight which saw three American astronauts stranded in a crippled spacecraft miles from earth....

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    • A vividly rendered dramatisation of Apollo 13's true-life brush with disaster on the way to the Moon in 1971. This mesmerising film combines computer graphics, archive footage and seamless special ...

Rating breakdown

18,157 Member ratings
  • 100
1,889
  • 90
1,814
  • 80
4,289
  • 70
4,069
  • 60
3,283
  • 50
1,485
  • 40
663
  • 30
364
  • 20
203
  • 10
98