Thirteen Days (DVD, 2001)

Much has been written and surmised about the Cuban Missile Crisis. This movie takes us inside the oval office, shows us a very realistic, vulnerable JFK, and gives us some sense of just how close we were to nuclear proliferation during those two weeks in October, 1962. Kevin Costner plays Ken O'Donnell, one of JFK's top aides, who was also a college buddy of RFK's. O'Donnell is perhaps shown as more influential in the resolution of the crisis than he was in real life, but I don't think this takes anything away from the overall power of the film.

I have read many books about the Kennedys, including RFK's book 13 days. The only thing the movie really doesn't address, is whether the Kennedys were in fact so "surprised" by the missile buildup in Cuba given their failed invastion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, and their continued plotting with the CIA to rid Cuba of Castro. Aside from this, the movie is riveting. The desire of the Joint Chiefs for a military solution was very real and very intimidating to Kennedy. Curtis LeMay, perhaps the most extreme of the Chiefs, wanted to just go in and bomb the island. He told Kennedy the Soviets wouldn't do a thing if we did. At that point, as the movie shows, Kennedy knows that the Chiefs are living in a world that he doesn't want any part of, and he tries diplomacy with a veneer of toughness - and it ultimately works.

This is a "man's world" in 1962 at the highest levels of government. We see glimpses of Jackie Kennedy, of O'Donnell's wife, but it's all men sitting around tables, chomping cigars, and trying to figure out if we're going to blow up the planet. A truly frightening vision. And more frightening than some of the good "World War Three" movies out there like SEven Days in May or On The Beach because this one is based on a REAL event.

The tension never lets up. As a viewer, you know the ending. You know there isn't a nuclear war. But HOW it gets resolved keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Great acting, great directing, great script - and the actors playing the Kennedy Brothers at first don't feel like them, but about midway through the film I realized I thought I was looking at JFK and RFK. Kevin Costner's accent is bothersome at first (I'm a Bostonian - nobody can do a very good Boston 'accent" in Hollywood) but tones down once the film gets going.

This movie is a pretty decent history lesson for those too young or not born in 1962. This was the event that made JFK a real leader. It's also part of the story (the Cuba story) that led to his downfall, and perhaps to the downfall of his brother - the mixing up of the CIA, organized crime, and disaffected Cubans - a coalition impossible to please and a coalition the Kennedy brothers alienated. But that's for a different movie....

I bought the movie because of the people it represented,the Kennedys.I was
married during the Cuban Crisis and my husband was in the Air Force,so it did
affect us greatly.We had to cancel a church wedding at home and get married on base because no one could leave.It was an emotional time for the U.S. I wanted to
remember how great men and women handled situations that became part of our history.It was done very realistically and professionally and I appreciated that.It is a movie that we all should see,to say the least.

This is a realistic, gripping, and historically accurate presentation of the events leading up to and President Kennedy's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Excellent performances by Bruce Greenwood as the President, Kevin Costner as Kenny O'Donnell, and Steven Culp as the President's brother Bobby make for a riveting drama.

Director Roger Donaldson clearly decided to remain faithful to the historical record and has succeeded in capturing the characters of the principals in the crisis. Dean Acheson and Dean Rusk, along with the protagonists, are crisply drawn vignettes who contribute to the clever mix of historical fact and creativity. Pitted against the wisdom of the President and his brother are the military urgings of the Chiefs of Staff, again with characters well drawn and easily identifiable.

Dominating the production are the implications of failure. These are not over-dramatized but are ever-present. It is in this recreation of the atmosphere of October 1962 that the genius of the film lies. This is an important dramatization that every armchair historian should see.

I served in the Navy during these days off the coast of Cuba. I am a refugee from Communist Hungary, as such, I had a special way of observing this movie. It was well done. The tension then was high. I am not sure if the various General Officers were represented correctly. I don't think they were that gun happy.
Few people know, the Navy destroyer in the show was made on board, and shown from the distance, was actually the USS J. P. Kennedy, Jr., DD850, now in Battleship Cove, in Massachusetts.
Highly recommended for those who are interested what happened in 1962, during the high tension between the Soviets and the US.

Among my favorite movies. This movie keeps me on the edge of my seat even though I've seen it numberous times. It portrays the rising stress levels and sheer exhaustion over the course of the cuban missle crisis as well as the battle between "men of goodwill" and those desiring war. The relationship between Kenny, Bobby, and JKF is also well incorporated, reminding me of loyal school boys who despite personal disputes, let nothing come between them. As far as I know, it also follows the actual events of those 13 days in a historically accurate way, even using some of the actual news clips from that time period of students having missle drills.

I did not live during that period of time, but I would recommend this movie to anyone with an interest in learning about it, those who actually experienced it some way, and even to those that just like a good suspense filled movie with a realistic feel.

The story was well told and was easy to follow. Since the event occured four years before I was born, I appreciated the dramatization to supplement and bring to life what I had read about in history books. However, I found the director's frequent artistic use of launching missles and a firey mushroom cloud completely superflous and boring. I found myself thinking "Ok, we get it - nuclear annihilation - let's move on! What happened next?!" Oh well, I suppose the movie had to include something to appease those macho and shallow viewers who cannot bear to sit through a movie without an explosion every ten minutes.

Excellent History , Really makes you appericate the Kennedys for all they did for humanity !!!! This movie is an inspiration I highly recomend it to schools to teach students the events of the Cuban missle crises.....this movie is a very big part of the United States history .

Excellent review of the period in which the U.S. & Russia almost brought the world to annihilation. Well written, accurate script. Superb well done cinematography. Overflight of Cuba by F-8's exhilarating.

I enjoy true stories and I was especially interested in this incident due to the fact that we are taught so little about it in history at school. I feel that our government only allows us to know what they want us to know and this movie proves that is true. It also proves that the majority of the Washington officials never cared for President Kennedy and even worked in the background to achieve their own goals with no regard for what he wanted. It also proves that Kennedy was a President with the best interest of the people not the government in mind. How sad that we lost such a great man! It also makes you think twice about the conspiracy theories about his death. If you like history you will enjoy this movie.

The case was in great condition. The DVD had no scratches. Very happy with the speediness of receiving the product.

You just gotta see it....Brings back memories of the 60's Costner is great and all the accents are done very well.

The product was what I wanted and there was prompt delivery.
Please forgive the delay in review, however, my daughter is in Afghanistan
and I just simply forgot. I will buy from this seller again. Thank You.

DVD arrived in great condition, and on time. Dvd plays fantastic and was just as was described. The dvd itself was great condition and plays just like new.

It came in good time, it arrived in less than a week, It was the item promised a DVD that was still in the orginal wraping. The DVD was in perfect condition and played great.

I remember those thirteen days very well. This is a good basic story about that time. After watching it, I wouldn't want to re-live them. This is an excellent movie.