Good, But Flawed.

Rating: 8/10 (28 March 2007)

Ron Howard is, without doubt, an excellent director. One of the best, in fact. And this film does go a long way towards showing subsequent generations what happened aboard the Apollo 13 in 1970. But while it does chronicle the events, it fails to show the political upheaval which took NASA by storm as a result of this failed mission and instead, chooses to focus on the heart-wrenching and sometimes played-to-death angst of the NASA wives.
The arguments and disagreements which occur within that capsule are documented in the book written by Jim (Hanks's character), and are downplayed something fierce in order to allow Ron Howard his warm and fuzzy feeling; something he seems to need. While I haven't a problem with Ron's warm fuzzies, I do if they interfere with the story, and this time (Sorry Ron), they do.
Other than these oversights (intentional or not), the film adequately depicts the actual events of the Apollo 13 mission. I know, because I was one of the millions who was alive, and remembers it. In spite of ignoring the (understandable and excused) virtual battle our three astronauts waged against one another in space, NASA fallout omissions, and errant warm fuzzies, I still enjoy this film.
It rates a 7.8/10 from...
the Fiend :.