In the era we live in, media plays an important role around the world. The media is intrusive and rude at times; however, without the media, we would not know the events that conspire around us all over the world. The media has been portrayed differently in many movies. The movie Apollo 13, I believe, gives the viewer a good look at the influence, captivation and intrusion the media brings to the lives of the people in front of and behind the camera. There are six functions of the media according to the authors of "American Government and Politics Today" (Schmidt 349). This paper addresses those six functions as related to the movie Apollo 13 and the effect the media played on those who watched or were apart of the horrific and extraordinary events during the days of the Apollo 13 mission. A critique of the movie is also included. Because the movie was based in its entirety on the actual events of the Apollo 13 mission, it gives an imponderable view of the !.
media as well.
Starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, Apollo 13 is based on the book "Lost Moon" by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger (Summary). In the first moments of the movie, footage from the Apollo 11 mission is shown. Neil Armstrong sets foot on the moon and says, "This is one small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind." Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) are the crew assigned to the Apollo 13 spacecraft. Their assignment - to walk on the moon. .
However, two days before launch, Mattingly is scrubbed from the mission because he has been in exposed to the measles a week before. Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) took Mattingly's place with only two days of preparation. Three days into the mission, a routine procedure to stir the oxygen tanks was received by Swigert. Some faulty wiring created an explosion which would cost the crew of Apollo 13 the opportunity to walk on the moon; but far more importantly, it could have cost them their lives.