Max Q (TV 1998)

A shuttle is launched into space to release a new satellite. When an explosion occurs the crew has to think of a way to get back to Earth without atmospheric pressure (max q) crushing the damaged shuttle.

Director:

Michael Shapiro

Writers:

Marty Kaplan (teleplay), Robert J. Avrech (teleplay),

Stars:

Billy Campbell, Paget Brewster, Ned Vaughn

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Campbell	...	Clay Jarvis (as Bill Campbell)
Paget Brewster	...	Rena Winter
Ned Vaughn	...	Scott Hines
Geoffrey Blake	...	Jonah Randall
Tasha Smith	...	Karen Daniels
Denis Arndt	...	Don Mitchum
Christopher John Fields	...	Elliot Henschel
Kevin McNulty	...	Oz Gilbert (as Kevin Mcnulty)
Leslie Horan	...	Melissa Hines
Chris Ellis	...	Bob Matthews
Greg Michaels	...	Rusty Porter
Peter Bryant	...	John Daniels
Tracy New	...	Pierson
BJ Harrison	...	Emily (as B.J. Harrison)
Neil Denis	...	Michael Daniels

Storyline

A shuttle is launched into space to release a new satellite. When an explosion occurs the crew has to think of a way to get back to Earth without atmospheric pressure (max q) crushing the damaged shuttle.

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Plot Keywords:

space shuttle | astronaut | space

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Taglines:

The Ultimate Test of Courage

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Max Q: Emergency Landing

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Touchstone Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Max Q is indeed the point of maximum dynamic pressure on a vehicle during launch. It's also the name of the rock band whose members are all astronauts.

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Goofs

When viewing reentry from inside a space-shuttle, the color of the flame is usually blue or green, not orange. This is due to the specific type of shielding used on the outside of the shuttle.

User Reviews

OK, but not great

A space shuttle mission is partly funded by a television company, using it as a platform to launch a satellite and put a journalist on the shuttle. However when the satellite causes an explosion the crew are forced to try and repair the damage to try a forced landing back on earth.

From the opening use of stock footage and immediate title, you know you're in TV movie land. The story gives rise to plenty of emotional, soapy dialogue but it also creates some genuinely exciting scenes. The effects are mixed – it uses a lot of stock footage, but it also has some good effects. It doesn't compete with the more professional Apollo 13 film, however it's quite good – even if the ending is just absurd, blockbuster-style nonsense.

The cast are pure TV standard and don't sound real when the stress hits, however they do OK with the action stuff. My main problem with them lay with the fact that some of them seemed to be doing impressions of other actors – in particular Blake often looked and sounded like Christian Slater.

Overall, it passed the time – but it's not that great, watch a real film instead!