Apollo 13: Special Edition DVD Review:

Universal Pictures UK is releasing this two disc special edition set of Apollo 13 to celebrate the film’s 10th anniversary. It’s out to own and rent on 11th April 2005 exactly 35 years after the near disastrous mission. Following an explosion in an oxygen tank, any hopes for landing on the moon were abandoned by the crew Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). In fact merely returning home alive looked unlikely.

For a film where the ending is well known, it is remarkable how Howard manages to maintain a nail biting level of tension throughout. Equally impressive is the fact that the plot is easily followed despite it resting on a lot of technical jargon that would normally be lost on anyone without a NASA trained brain. At no point are we in doubt of the massive odds stacked against their survival. Everything is explained so the average Joe can keep up without resorting to dumbing down or holding up the action.

The cast give strong performances all round, with Hanks as dependable as ever in the lead. The bond between him and Paxton is believable, while Bacon subtly handles being the odd man out as last minute replacement Zwigert. They also have good support from Ed Harris as the flight director and Gary Sinise as Ken Mattingly, the astronaut replaced by Zwigert. On a few occasions Howard almost veers into sentimentality, but overall he convincingly portrays the unbearable wait suffered by friends and family. The sense of a nation holding its breath is captured perfectly and it’s impossible not to be swept along by the wave of feeling during the final moments.

Extras

As well as the obligatory commentary by directory Ron Howard, we also have a stamp of approval from Jim Lovell himself with his wife Marilyn in a separate commentary. This is a really clever addition as it helps you appreciate the level of authenticity achieved and forgive the few liberties taken. It is also touching to hear Marilyn quite clearly moved by reliving the events several times during the film.

Disc two features an hour long documentary that should answer any questions about its making. Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13 includes explanations of the special effects, and comments from not only the cast and Howard, but also the astronauts themselves and some of the minds behind mission control. Hearing Bacon recall his fear of filming the zero gravity sequences in a plane diving toward Earth is a highlight. Also notable is the seemingly unflappable flight director Gene Kranz (played by Harris) breaking down during his recollections.

Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond is for anyone whose appetite has been whet and wants to know more on man’s travels in space. It covers everything from the launch of Sputnik and the moon landing to future missions. There’s also an in depth look at the mission’s events as told by those involved in Lucky 13: The Astronauts’ Story. For those who still want more they’ve thrown in a theatrical trailer for good measure.

Natalie Hunt

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