Apollo 13

"(An) entertaining, crisply professional film."

"It chronicles one of the most dramatic of all spaceflights... and it does this in a way that's so authentic, so brilliant in its technical details, that it succeeds in putting us on that ship."

"From lift-off to splashdown, Apollo 13 gives one hell of a ride."

"The movie will happily repay multiple viewings."

"(Apollo 13) may be handsome, earnest, well-acted and admirably executed, but it's hardly the heart-pounder Universal promised."

"It's easily Howard's best film."

"Spectacular."

"Its tendency to mimic attitudes of bravery rather than effectively convey them allows a certain hollowness to sink into the inspirational moments."

"(A) meticulous but ultimately rather pedestrian drama..."

"The film, despite its raggedness, is stirring."

"Proves that science history can be just as thrilling as science fiction."

"The film succeeds brilliantly at organising great gobs of information into powerful drama."

"Even if you know how it all turned out... this amazing journey is harrowing and exhilarating."

"Ron Howard's pop-entertainment you-are-there space thriller is easily the most rousing film of the year..."

"(A) compelling look back at the most action-packed American space mission of all time."

"Engrossing account."

"Tom Hanks perfectly embodies white bread goodness as mission leader Jim Lovell and, while we may all know the ending, it's a tribute to Howard's no-frills, focused direction that the story remains undeniably gripping."

"Where it scores is in subtly restating traditional notions of male heroism."

"Playing the tough, commanding Jim Lovell is a substantial stretch for Mr. Hanks, but as usual his seeming ingenuousness overshadows all else about the role."

"A powerful story, one of the year's best films, told with great clarity and remarkable technical detail."

"It may not be the best film of the year, but it's certainly made of the right stuff."

"A definite feel-good movie."