Product Description

Universal Apollo 13 (HD-DVD)
Nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, "Apollo 13" is now available in incredible High-Definition DVD. Produced by Academy Award winner Brian Grazer and directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard, "Apollo 13" stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris in the inspiring and riveting story of the real-life space flight that gripped a nationand changed the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10351 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2006-04-25
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Spanish, French
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 2.00 pounds
• Running time: 140 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
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

Amazon.com
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

From The New Yorker
Ron Howard's movie is the true story of the manned lunar mission in which almost everything went wrong-so wrong that there was a real possibility that the spacecraft wouldn't make it back to Earth. The movie, like the 1970 mission itself, gets home safely only by the skin of its teeth. Dean Cundey's cinematography is drab, James Horner's score is unbearable, and Howard retards the momentum with frequent cutaways to the astronauts' families, who are, unsurprisingly, mighty worried. But the acting-especially by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton (as the imperilled astronauts), and Ed Harris (as a fiercely determined NASA flight controller in Houston)-is sharp and persuasive. And the screenplay, by William Broyles, Jr., and Al Reinert, makes the scientific details both comprehensible and exciting. The film, despite its raggedness, is stirring. In the end, this failed mission seems like the most impressive achievement of the entire space program: a triumph not of planning but of inspired improvisation. Also with Gary Sinise and Kathleen Quinlan. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Apollo13: The Story of REAL Heroes
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???
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
I love it. It came complete with different behind the scenes that i didnt expect