Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Apollo 13 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 25, 2017

Universal has released Director Ron Howard's critically acclaimed, fan favorite, and Oscar-winning film 'Apollo 13' to the UHD format. The release features no new supplements, but it does boast a 2160p/HDR-enhanced video presentation as well as a new DTS:X soundtrack.

Never mind "Houston, we have a problem." The more aptly descriptive line from the movie is "what do we got on the spacecraft that's good?" Apollo 13 dramatizes the real story of a routine -- if there can be said to be such a thing -- mission to the moon that becomes a struggle for survival when the ship malfunctions just about every way it can, leaving the crew and Houston jury-rigging the craft to make it back home. The characters, who must not only follow instructions but devise their own plans while running on fumes and fear, are more than mere astronauts. They are accomplished pilots, engineers, mathematicians, and perfectionists whose lives depend on their foundational knowledge base and ability to intelligently improvise in the void of space. It's a remarkable film that stands up as a classic of its time and one of the great pictures to depict the human spirit. For a full film review, please see the original 2010 Blu-ray.com review here.

Apollo 13 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Apollo 13 was shot on film and the transition to UHD has resulted in a very pleasing, organically filmic image with little room for major complaint. Grain retention lends a satisfying textural grace to the image. Some may find it a hair on the sharp side, but there's no mistaking the picture's cinematic bona fides. Skin textures appear organically complex, featuring a tangible increase in raw definition over the previous Blu-ray. Complex pores, stubble on the astronauts' faces, and wrinkly lines on an older character are amongst the most evident of the boosts to skin's textural bounties. Additionally, the image's boost in clarity and resolution allows for greater command of fine object detailing as well, including space suits, bulky computer consoles at Houston, and the complex array of buttons and electronics in the shuttle. The shuttle interior's cramped size and density allows every scene inside the craft to be a treasure of ultra high definition exploration. The HDR color palette offers another example of tasteful, complimentary boosts. The palette never betrays the movie's color scheme, accentuating and keeping core shades, like the green computer consoles at Houston command or various accents on space suits or clothes -- particularly some of the more period-colored oranges and browns -- true but more naturally adept in presentation. Skin tones are full and healthy, perhaps pushing a little rosy at times. Black levels are fine. This is a very good image; scoring was a bit tough, with 4.0 and 4.5 both reasonable figures. Either way this is a positive upgrade over the previous Blu-ray.

Apollo 13 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Apollo 13 blasts onto Blu-ray with a thunderous DTS:X soundtrack that's also more than capable of delivering nuanced sound elements. This is a movie that benefits from the added surround speakers and overhead layer. Musical placement and stage wrap are wonderful. Clarity is a driving force in the track's excellence, but so too is its organic flow and total engagement, with its complimentary surround and subwoofer usage. The track is awash in small but critical sound effects, including little hums and beeps inside the simulator that spring up from all over the stage. PA announcements following a training session in that simulator early in the film emanate from a clearly defined overhead position. A cacophony of blaring alarms, shattering glass, gusting winds, and other impactful elements completely saturate the stage, top end included, about 13 minutes in. A jet flies distinctly overhead soon thereafter. The shuttle's blast-off sequence is of reference quality. Thunderous gusts of raw power flood the stage with total saturation but pinpoint clarity or highly aggressive details. The subwoofer works overtime to deliver crisp but powerful and balanced bass. Alarms signal the beginning of trouble on the craft after takeoff. The various malfunctions create a serious stir in the listening area, some of which effortlessly encircle the listener to striking, terrifying effect. Small little sonic components both on the ship and at Houston pull the listener into the terror and chaos, and with different sensations both in the tight quarters on the ship and in the more expansive control center. Dialogue is clear and well defined and prioritized with firm center placement for the duration.

Apollo 13 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Apollo 13's UHD release contains no new supplements, but it does carry over the pair of audio commentary tracks from the Blu-ray. All supplements, including those same tracks, can be found on the bundled Blu-ray. For convenience, below is a listing of what's included on that disc. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Apollo 13: Twenty Years Later
• Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
• Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond
• Lucky 13: The Astronauts' Story
• Theatrical Trailer
• U-Control
• Audio Commentary: Director Ron Howard
• Audio Commentary: Jim and Marilyn Lovell

Apollo 13 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Apollo 13 is a fine film that has earned a solid UHD release. The 2160p/HDR-enhanced presentation is stable, the DTS:X soundtrack launches the audio into another stratosphere, and the included extras on the Blu-ray are enjoyable. Highly recommended.