"Apollo 13" by Ron Howard: a review

This movie has a suspenseful storyline, but what makes it so compelling is the viewer knowing that it is based on a true story. Directed by Ron Howard, Apollo 13 is a 1995 documentary drama that remains faithful to the facts of the mission to the moon that nearly ended in disaster in 1970. The Houston-based mission controllers race against time to get the badly damaged spaceship back to Earth safely from 205,500 miles.

The film relies heavily on real footage shot by NASA and new organizations. The actual recording of Commander Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) telling Houston about the problem is presented. The footage includes dramatic scenes from inside the mission control center and flight footage shot by the astronauts aboard the spacecraft.

This film was nominated for numerous awards; nine Academy Awards, and won two Oscars, best film editing and best sound. The special effects and filmmaking techniques were considered ingenious for the time, and still the film is appreciated by audiences today.