 
Apollo 13 If docudramas are your thing, you can’t beat either of these
two outstanding films that dramatize two major historical events. Apollo
13 is a the gripping story of three American astronauts who barely returned
to earth safely, after their oxygen tanks malfunctioned on their way
to the moon in 1970. Despite knowing the outcome, director Ron Howard
infuses this story with tension, as we see the men of In Hotel Rwanda, Don Cheadle gives a fine, understated performance
as Paul Rusesabagina, manager of a high-class Kigali hotel who was responsible
for saving the lives of 1200 individuals taking refuge there during
the bloody 1994 conflict between warring Hutus and Tutsis tribes that
left nearly a million bodies in its wake. Thanks to his negotiation
skills and existing relationships with the local military leaders, Rusesabagina
was able to avert the slaughter of his guests on several occasions,
as well as providing them with food and shelter. Perhaps the biggest
tragedy in this story occurs when the United Nations and the rest of
the free world turn their backs on the conflict and refuse to interfere
in the growing genocide that threatens to eliminate an entire generation
of young men in the name of ethnic cleansing. Rusesabagina appears on
the commentary track and is the subject of a bonus feature documenting
his return to his native land after escaping to Europe where he now
resides and remains an inspiration and hero to many. - David Bassin
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Hotel Rwanda
Houston’s
mission control scramble to find a solution to a rapidly dwindling oxygen
supply and a shortage of fuel and electrical power that could cause
the spacecraft to be stranded in space. Up in their capsule, the three
astronauts jerryrig a crude filter to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
and attempt to manually set an accurate course for their descent without
the aid of computers. Add to this, the anxiety of the families watching
and waiting at home and you have one excellent flick. The 10th anniversary
edition comes complete with two versions of the film, including the
shorter version created for release in IMAX theaters, along with several
documentaries, commentaries and digitally remastered picture.