Larry B. Williams Movies
"Houston, we have a problem." Those words were immortalized during the tense days of the Apollo 13 lunar mission crisis, and the suspense, fear, and excitement of those days are captured in Ron Howard's epic recreation of the 1970 crisis. When the commander of the original mission Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), bows out due to possible exposure to measles, astronaut Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) leads command module pilot Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) and lunar module driver Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) on what is slated as NASA's third lunar landing mission. All goes smoothly until the craft is halfway through its mission, when an exploding oxygen tank threatens the crew's oxygen and power supplies. As the courageous astronauts face the dilemma of either suffocating or freezing to death, Mattingly and Mission Control leader Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) struggle to find a way to bring the crew back home, all the while knowing that the spacemen face probable death once the battered ship reenters the Earth's atmosphere. Even though the outcome, in which all three astronauts miraculously survived, is historical fact, the film derives suspense from the situation itself and from the actions of the heroic astronauts and the men on the ground. Howard's taut direction, a solid ensemble of players, and eye-opening special effects all add to the overall impact of the film, which has been hailed as one of Hollywood's best historical dramas. In 2002, the movie was released in IMAX theaters as Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience, with a pared-down running time of 116 minutes in order to meet the technical requirements of the large-screen format. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, (more)
- 1994
- PG
A boy divorces his parents in this comic fantasy for the family. North (Elijah Wood) is the sort of kid most parents dream of -- he's bright, well-behaved, a good student, and a great baseball player. But North's Mom and Dad (Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jason Alexander) are so busy with their lives and careers that they barely have time for him. A man dressed as the Easter Bunny (Bruce Willis) who serves as North's conscience and advisor suggests to him that if he's not happy with his parents, maybe he could do better elsewhere. North hires a lawyer, Arthur Belt (Jon Lovitz), who presents his case to Judge Buckle (Alan Arkin); the judge declares North a free agent, and he gives North two months to find new parents, otherwise he'll be sent to the orphans' home. North finds himself travelling the globe auditioning prospective parents, while a boy named Winchell (Matthew McCurley) thinks that North's legal victory could be the first step in kids taking over the world. North's would-be parents include Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd, Reba McIntire, and Kelly McGillis. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, (more)
- 1988
First comes Scout, followed by Tenderfoot, then Second Class. Next comes First Class -- just three steps away from the coveted Eagle Scout status. For the dedicated Boy Scout recruit, advancement means earning a new rank and a new badge for the uniform. This informative video covers the 12 steps a scout must complete to earn the First Class rank. Required steps include using a compass, planning a patrol camp-out menu, identifying at least ten native plants, and demonstrating the proper wrapping of bandages for injuries to the ankle, head, upper arm, and collarbone. Boy Scout: First Class is one in a series of educational videos produced by the Pennsylvania Association of Scouting. ~ Scott Albright, All Movie Guide
- 1988
The second in a three-part series, Boy Scout Advancement Program: Second Class Scout continues in the tradition of Scout Law, focusing on physical fitness, wilderness training and survival, first aid, and communication skills. Endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America and part of the Boy Scout Advancement Program Series, this video embodies the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared," and illustrates Second Class rank requirements. Instruction on knot tying and emergency stretcher building in case of injury is included, as well as advanced hiking techniques and how to communicate without the use of words. Developed to foster Boy Scout enthusiasm, Boy Scout Advancement Program: Second Class Scout teaches resourcefulness and self-reliance -- cornerstones of Scout Law. Boy Scout Advancement Program: First Class Scout and Boy Scout Advancement Program: Tenderfoot are the first and third installments in the series. ~ Brooke Hodess, All Movie Guide
- 1988
The Boy Scout Advancement Program: The Tenderfoot is the first of three scouting videos in the BSAP series. The rank of Tenderfoot, the first step in scouting, is explained by an 11-year-old troop member. The film explores scouting symbols, scout law, and camp lore, and includes a segment on building campfires. Other tapes in the series include The Boy Scout Advancement Program: The First Class Scout and The Boy Scout Advancement Program: The Second Class Scout. ~ Kathleen Wildasin, All Movie Guide
This is an eerily prescient family adventure starring Kate Capshaw as Andie, a frustrated NASA astronaut who's never actually been into outer space. Her husband, flight controller Zach (Tom Skerritt), is sympathetic, but he can't influence her place in the rotation. Andie is assigned to train a group of intelligent high school students at the summer science camp called Space Camp, which is run by NASA and supervised by her husband. There she meets her campers: Kevin (Tate Donovan), a blasé, horny teenager; Tish (Kelly Preston), an airhead with a photographic memory; Kathryn (Lea Thompson), an arrogant pilot; obnoxious youngster Max (Joaquin Phoenix); and scientist-in-training Rudy (Larry B. Scott). While testing the solid booster rockets aboard a real shuttle, the team is blasted into space accidentally. Without enough air, the discordant team pulls together, each discovering hidden talents. The "Challenger" space shuttle disaster in January 1986 was bizarrely similar to the events depicted in Spacecamp, with far more horrific results. Its release date pushed back several months because of the tragedy, the film was still a painful reminder to the public of the national calamity, and it consequently grossed only about $10 million at the box office. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, (more)
Based on a novel by Ernest Gann and set in 1928, this story starts out focusing on aviation and then flies in another direction at about three feet worth of altitude. Christopher Reeves is Edgar Anscombe, a pilot of a Stearman biplane running a mail route between the states of Washington and Nevada, when he is obliged to accept Tillie Hansen (Rosanna Arquette) as a passenger one day. Introverted at best, sullen and forbidding at worst, Edgar is struggling with his own trauma after surviving a crash that left him with an ugly scar across his face. Tillie personifies all the worse traits commonly attributed to the rich and spoiled -- and the two are set to joust from the beginning. After they take off, an accident occurs and although the dueling pair survive the crash, they are hard put to survive for long in the desolate mountains. Soon Edgar's friend Jerry (Scott Wilson) is out looking for him, and Tillie's obnoxious father is there at the base airport to put pressure on everyone to find her. Needless to say, Edgar and Tillie, in the meantime, are faced with dangers that make their previous problems seem minor. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Reeve, Rosanna Arquette, (more)
Roger Hanover (Dom DeLuise) once enjoyed TV stardom as "Happy the Clown." Now, however, Roger is a has-been, reduced to private parties and store openings. Even so, he remains a hero in the eyes of his adoring son Roger Jr. (played, appropriately enough, by David DeLuise). To prove his true worth to his boy, Roger personally investigates the murder of his partner Bernie Nelson (Jack Gilford), thereby placing himself and his family in dire peril. Virtually a DeLuise family reunion, Happy also featured Dom's wife, comedienne Carol Arthur, and his other two sons, Michael and Peter. Made for television, the film debuted October 26, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
