The Magic Never Ends: The Life & Works of C.S. Lewis (2001)

This respectful one-hour documentary about C.S. Lewis' achievements aired on PBS. Director Chip Duncan skillfully combines still photos, archival footage and location shooting with interviews with well-known scholars and Lewis' stepson Douglas Gresham.

After being wounded twice during World War I, Lewis returned to Oxford University, where he lived and wrote for the rest of his days. The program chronicles his affiliation with an intellectual group called The Inklings, whose members included J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings), and his “reversion” experience in 1931. We see the circumstances that led up to some of his best writing and learn the facts about his marriage to American writer Joy Davidman Gresham, including his care for her when she was diagnosed with cancer. (The video can be ordered online at www.duncanentertainment.com, or by phone at (414)223-1060).

Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13, based on a memoir by James Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger, recreates the April 1970 NASA moon mission, which the TV networks ignored until an oxygen tank exploded aboard the spacecraft 205,500 miles from earth.

For seven harrowing days, Houston-based Mission Control leader Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) was forced to improvise plans and techniques to save the lives of astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon).

Director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) emphasizes the bravery and ingenuity of everyone involved, including the astronauts' families (Kathleen Quinlan, Tracey Reiner and others).

The convincing special effects and period detail heighten the suspense.

The scenes on the spacecraft were shot on an Air Force plane in actual weightless conditions.