If you have the previous single-disc release (the Dolby Digital version and not the extras-less DTS one), then you need to consider whether or not the extras on Disc 2 are worth your while.
Disc 1 also has DD 5.1 Spanish DD 5.1 French tracks.
Optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.
--Disc 2--
Disc 2 presents the movie with Dolby Digital 5.1 English and DTS 5.1 English tracks. What Universal really should have done was drop the Spanish and French tracks on Disc 1 and offered a DTS 5.1 English track to go with the 1995 version.
Optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.
Extras:
--Disc 1--
Just about all of the single-disc´s extras have been retained on Disc 1. You get the audio commentary by Ron Howard, and you get the audio commentary by astronaut Jim Lovell and his wife Marilyn Lovell. You get the excellent hour-long "Lost Moon: The Triumph of ´Apollo 13´" making-of featurette. You also get Production Notes (text pages), the "Apollo 13" trailer, and a promo for the upcoming "Cinderella Man".
The only extras that have not been retained are the Main Menu Easter Egg (James Horner´s complete music score with skippable tracks) and Cast-and-Crew bios (text pages).
--Disc 2--
"Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond" is a roughly 45-minute recap of the past 45 years of US space exploration. "Lucky 13: The Astronauts´ Story" is a news piece that played on American TVs back in 1995 around the time of the movie´s release. Of the two, "Conquering Space" is the one that gives viewers a good perspective on where Terrans are in terms of reaching beyond our planet. "Lucky 13" is interesting in that we can see what the movie got right, but that´s about it.
--Miscellaneous--
The two DVDs are housed in a slim double keepcase. An insert advertises other Universal DVDs. A cardboard slipcase duplicates the keepcase cover art.
This release does not have the informative booklet that the previous single-disc edition does.
Movie Value:
"Apollo 13" is not a ground-breaking movie, and you can tell that Ron Howard isn´t the kind of director who is capable of reaching the highest of artistic highs even when making an ambitious epic. Yet, this effort manages to generate tension, suspense, and cathartic emotional reactions of relief, of gratitude, and of respect. "Apollo 13" is worth repeat viewings.
Is the new 2-Disc Anniversary Edition worth your money? Well, if the movie isn´t in your collection yet, then yes. If you have the previous single-disc release (the Dolby Digital version and not the extras-less DTS one), then you need to consider whether or not the extras on Disc 2 are worth your while. I´m not making a recommendation on the basis of the improved picture quality because, as lamentable as the picture quality is, the single-disc release is sufficient to tide you over until an HD-DVD or a Blu-Ray version hits the market.
Optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.
--Disc 2--
Disc 2 presents the movie with Dolby Digital 5.1 English and DTS 5.1 English tracks. What Universal really should have done was drop the Spanish and French tracks on Disc 1 and offered a DTS 5.1 English track to go with the 1995 version.
Optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.
Extras:
--Disc 1--
Just about all of the single-disc´s extras have been retained on Disc 1. You get the audio commentary by Ron Howard, and you get the audio commentary by astronaut Jim Lovell and his wife Marilyn Lovell. You get the excellent hour-long "Lost Moon: The Triumph of ´Apollo 13´" making-of featurette. You also get Production Notes (text pages), the "Apollo 13" trailer, and a promo for the upcoming "Cinderella Man".
The only extras that have not been retained are the Main Menu Easter Egg (James Horner´s complete music score with skippable tracks) and Cast-and-Crew bios (text pages).
--Disc 2--
"Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond" is a roughly 45-minute recap of the past 45 years of US space exploration. "Lucky 13: The Astronauts´ Story" is a news piece that played on American TVs back in 1995 around the time of the movie´s release. Of the two, "Conquering Space" is the one that gives viewers a good perspective on where Terrans are in terms of reaching beyond our planet. "Lucky 13" is interesting in that we can see what the movie got right, but that´s about it.
--Miscellaneous--
The two DVDs are housed in a slim double keepcase. An insert advertises other Universal DVDs. A cardboard slipcase duplicates the keepcase cover art.
This release does not have the informative booklet that the previous single-disc edition does.
Movie Value:
"Apollo 13" is not a ground-breaking movie, and you can tell that Ron Howard isn´t the kind of director who is capable of reaching the highest of artistic highs even when making an ambitious epic. Yet, this effort manages to generate tension, suspense, and cathartic emotional reactions of relief, of gratitude, and of respect. "Apollo 13" is worth repeat viewings.
Is the new 2-Disc Anniversary Edition worth your money? Well, if the movie isn´t in your collection yet, then yes. If you have the previous single-disc release (the Dolby Digital version and not the extras-less DTS one), then you need to consider whether or not the extras on Disc 2 are worth your while. I´m not making a recommendation on the basis of the improved picture quality because, as lamentable as the picture quality is, the single-disc release is sufficient to tide you over until an HD-DVD or a Blu-Ray version hits the market.
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