Apollo 13 is a movie that I remember loving as a teenager. I had always been interested in space, but it was 1995’s Apollo 13 that made me take a real interest in space exploration. One of the best memories I have of this movie actually involves another 1995 movie, Batman Forever!
How to Download Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was released on June 30, 1995. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
The Thrilling True Story of Apollo 13
My friends and I did a back-to-back special one Saturday afternoon. We went to see Batman Forever, and grabbed some food and then an hour or so later we went back to the theatre to watch Apollo 13. It is one of the best movie-going memories that I have from my high school days.
This is another Ron Howard classic and before the movie came out I remember seeing a making of feature on some kind of news program. It showed how they had the actors go up in a plane to shoot the zero gravity scenes. It was a very cool effect and I do think that it adds a lot to the movie. Seeing this made me even more excited to go and check out the movie.
What we have here is a dramatic retelling of the failed Apollo 13 moon landing mission. Commander Jim Lovel and his crew, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert are the crew that will be heading to the moon on the Apollo 13 mission. Jack was actually a last-minute replacement for Ken Mattingly who tested as being sick just before the launch, although when you think about it, he was probably relieved to have this happen to him.
Survival Against All Odds
The mission starts, but in what feels like no time at all, an accident happens, the shuttle is devastated and our astronauts are in a fight for their life. We get to see events from a few different points of view. We see the guys on the shuttle doing what they can with what they have to try and make it so they can limp back to Earth.
We also have the team on the ground, trying to come up with ways that the guys on the shuttle can survive and make the most of what they have. You also have the family of Jim as well being part of things. To be honest with you, I have never been able to warm up to Jim’s wife in this movie. I do not know what it is, but she always comes across as super unlikable to me. Hey, this is kind of interesting because, in Sully, I did not like Tom Hank’s wife in that either!
A Star-Studded Cast Delivers
It is a very exciting movie as we see these brilliant minds try and figure out a way so that these guys can get home. Apollo 13 has a great cast with Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon being the three guys on the shuttle and Gary Sinise being the grounded Ken Mattingly trying to offer advice from the ground. We also have Ed Harris as the man in charge on the ground too. You know, it is crazy that in such a short period of time, Tom Hanks made, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Apollo 13!
A Lasting Legacy in Home Cinema
I will admit I am a 4K shill, but the Apollo 13 4K release left a lot to be desired with a picture quality that is only a very slight upgrade over the Blu-Ray. Still, this is a fantastic movie and even though you know what is going to happen, it is a very exciting ride to get there. You cannot go wrong with having Apollo 13 as your movie for an at home movie night!
