Sweeping and majestic account of the Apollo 13 moon mission that went pear shaped while America had grown weary of another boring moon landing (by 1971) and weren't even watching. Also responsible for depositing another iconic tidbit into the pool of popular culture with the soundbite 'Houston, we have a problem'.

Jim Lovell (Hanks) and his crew are on their way to the moon when an oxygen tank explodes and the craft is crippled. Together with the astronaut that was supposed to be going with them (Sinise, grounded because of sickness fears), and chief of the watch (Harris), they hammer together a motley solution that brings them back alive in a very Hollywood nick of time.

As much a brilliant storyteller as a filmmaker of creative kudos, Ron Howard weaves a great tale and tells it well with a bunch of actors at the top of their game. The special effects - particularly of the rocket launch - were also a standout for the time.