Based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon, this film directed by Ron Howard tells how astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert survive America’s failed attempt at a third moon landing.

It's 1970, and America has already achieved two lunar missions, winning the space race against the Soviets, so there's declining national interest in this "routine" flight – that is until things go very wrong. Fuel and oxygen tanks rupture, forcing the crew to use the Lunar Lander as a makeshift lifeboat.

Apollo 13 details the drama of the astronauts, their families and mission control, after a mission that couldn't get TV airtime suddenly grips the American public. This is a tale of human spirit, averted tragedy, heroism and American ingenuity. For example, the astronauts avoid asphyxiation by duct-taping their carbon-dioxide scrubbers to use square filters meant for a round device.

Stranded 205,000 miles from Earth in a crippled spacecraft, the astronauts fight a desperate battle to survive as America holds its breath. Truly an inspirational tale – that just happens to be true.

~ Rob Kerby