Saturday, May 25, 2019

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies: Apollo 13


My internet friends CJ and Kathy are part of this meme where you post your all time favorite films.   I'm not sure I have more than about FOUR favorite films, but I have films I have seen that I can share.  However, unlike CJ, who says the meme cites there is no need to explain why you like the film, I prefer the way my internet friend Birgit reviews films (often hilarious, many times irreverent, but always in a polite and kind way).  Her synopses are not to be missed. If you aren't familiar with her movie reviews, please check out her blog.

One thing you should know about my choice is you won't find any "chick flicks" here and any romance is simply a side effect of the major overall film. 

Today, my choice is Apollo 13.  Released June 30th, 1995, Apollo 13 stars Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Sinise.  It is one of the few films I saw in a first release movie theater.

This is based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon. Astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) were scheduled to fly Apollo 14, but were moved up to 13. It was 1970, and the US had already achieved their lunar landing goal, so there was little interest in this "routine" flight, until that is, things went very wrong, and prospects of a safe return faded like a setting sun. 

Everything was going according to plan after leaving Earth's orbit according to astronauts Lovell, Haise, and Swigert.  However, when an oxygen tank exploded, the scheduled moon landing was called off.  Subsequent tensions within the crew and numerous technical problems threatened both the astronauts' survival and their safe return to Earth.

What I loved about this film was when the three men isolated themselves in the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) and realized they would run out of oxygen faster than anticipated, since only two people were originally supposed to fit in the LEM.  When the ground team realized the LEM filters were round, and the Command Module filters on the craft were square, a team was put together to create a filtration system from the limited supplies found on the craft itself.  This was truly a human factors problem (my area of expertise), and it made the film even more realistic to me.  

My date was sitting on the edge of his seat and told me it was a thriller and amazed that it was based on real events.  Even Hollywood couldn't make this one up.  The irony is, when Apollo 13 took off, there was practically no interest to show photos of the craft headed to space.  The news outlets didn't even take an interest when the crew sent a video back to earth.  However, once the problem was known, the entire world was watching in anticipation and bated breath.

Although it's often called a docudrama, to me it's really a heart pounding thriller even though you know how it ends.

You can catch this film on Netflix or you can rent it on YouTube. 

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies will be on hiatus next Saturday, since I will be welcoming our new host at Art Journal Journey.
 

16 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

This is a film I saw on TV, and although not a fan of space movies, I found it very compelling and enjoyed it through to the end. Have a great weekend, the sun is shining here so I'll be heading out again. Valerie

Marfi-topia said...

thanks for this review..I've never watched it before...I'll be sure to watch it next time it's on.

Anne (cornucopia) said...

This was a good, tense, thriller of a movie, and it was fascinating to know it was based on real events.

froebelsternchen said...

Oh yes - this is a greta film indeed!
Happy Saturday dear Elizabeth!

kathyinozarks said...

this was a good one and wow fun that we both chose Bill Paxton-Happy Saturday

CJ Kennedy said...

Good choice. No matter how many time I see this, like your date, I'm always on the edge of my seat. I love the ingenuity of the engineers to take things the astronauts had to make an air filtration system and make it work. A sock of all things!

Sami said...

I remember seeing this great movie. Will watch it again on Netflix. Have a lovely weekend Elizabeth.

Birgit said...

This is an excellent film and glad you showcase and I love it. It’s well acted and it is a tense, butt on the edge of the chair movie. That there was not much news coverage a5 first is typical. When the space shuttles first took off , it was a huge event but, as time passed, it was just mentioned that another one took off, nobody cared until the Challenger blew up. How sad that it takes something horrible for the world to take notice

Divers and Sundry said...

This is a good one! Since I remember this happening, I like that by-and-large it's faithful to the history.

Caty said...

This is a very good film Elizabeth !! Suspense and waiting to see the how they manage the situation. I live ficcions movies.
I hope the rain has stopped yet, and also that you are enjoying this weekend,
Big hugssss, Caty

Sandra said...

"Houston, we have a problem." Creative license for "Houston, we've had a problem here." :)
Excellent pick. Loved Tom Hanks.

My name is Erika. said...

I also like this film. It may not be one of my all time favorites, but it definitely ranks up there as one I enjoyed seeing, more than once on my part. I didn't realize when I first saw it that that mission was so flawed. That must have been scary, although those astronauts were (an are) made of steelier stuff than I. Thanks for sharing this movie. Hope you are having a nice Memorial Day Weekend. hugs-Erika

Sharon Madson said...

One of my favorites, too, Elizabeth! Are you dry over there? Have a great weekend!

Rita said...

Great film. Had you on the edge of your seat even when you already knew the outcome. :)

Lowcarb team member said...

Apollo 13 is one of my favourite films :)
Super choice.

All the best Jan

pearshapedcrafting said...

I remember seeing this and enjoying it but I don't think I could recall anything specific about it now! Hugs, Chrisx