I will admit, right off, "The Perfect Storm" was the first VHS I ever bought, BEFORE I owned a VCR. AND - I was already past 65 when this happened! Indeed, I am ancient, although I think like a teenager. I was shopping in Ralph's market and saw the VHS on a stand. I had seen the movie in the theater; I didn't hesitate to buy it, and then went right out to a store and bought a VCR. Almost everyone who commented on this movie saw it in a theater.
I digress: I suppose not too many people have seen the ocean when it gets to be as furious like in "The Perfect Storm". I am a native of the Gulf Coast; my friends and I couldn't wait till the "hurricane season" started, because we'd flock to the beach for swimming......such deep water ! That was before the weather went crazy and the hurricanes have become such monsters. So, I have a little more insight about what a perfect storm could be like - I would also like to say you can't get me on the ocean now-a-days - this movie vividly demonstrates "you can't mess with Mother nature" (some folk admitted that). You saw in this film that no matter how large a ship is, the water is stronger and certainly unpredictable. That first ship you saw was a tanker about as big as a football-field - the second, maybe bigger......loaded with containers. If you haven't been to a port to witness how large these ships are, then you certainly have no business trying to critique a movie about the ocean. A lot of people mentioned "The Titanic" - it was a small ship, compared to today's; The Queen Mary is permanently docked at Long Beach, and you'd be surprised how small IT is. The QM-2 recently docked along-side of it (2006), which made it look like a skiff. Not yet, but eventually one of the super cruise-ships will sink ("Poseidon Adventure") and the world will be shown you take your life in your own hands by venturing out onto the oceans. Remember "The Andrea Doria"?
Now, think about people who sail on those boats from the East Coast just about every day to fish for a living. If you think the North Atlantic is bad, the ships that fish in the North Pacific close to Alaska are immense. Yet, they are constantly sinking; the pay is so high for the men who work on these ships, they feel they'll do one season of fishing and make enough money to get on their feet - and they're right.
I suppose those who were so terribly disappointed in the cast of "The Perfect Storm" were expecting some heavy acting, maybe people in evening-clothing, highly emotionally sensational lines. Guess What! The actors/actresses in this film were perfect, because they ARE working, not having a party. The folk left at home are terrified, because they know the danger of sailing on the seas. What ordinary people don't realize is, we've killed all the fishing-grounds along our country's coasts, and the ships DO have to sail halfway to the next continent to make a catch. So, the next time you eat a tasty crab-leg from Alaska, just keep in mind that someone was scared to death catching it.
"The Perfect Storm" story set-up was extremely believable. The fishermen who work on the boats are not always compatible and they do not always get along, except when emergencies surface. The beating the "Andrea Gail" took as soon as the storm began was very believable.
If you'd read "more" of the "trivia" section, you'd know that some of the scenes were shot ON THE FRINGES of hurricane Floyd - all of it wasn't done in that huge tank. The circular motion of winds in a hurricane DO make for huge waves that collide into one another, not long lines of high water. Again, if you haven't actually witnessed a hurricane, don't write like you're an expert - sitting in a theater doesn't give you expertise to do this. Sorry you spent your $8.00 to see the movie, but it was your decision - no one guaranteed you were going to like the movie.......So, folk: you need to give this movie a break. Yes, The Coast Guard does make actual rescues in the ocean; consider how many they've rescued between Florida and Cuba and Haiti. The scene in "The Perfect Storm" was brilliant. And, George Clooney and Wahlberg were perfect for their roles, because they were portraying NORMAL people. Wolfgang Peterson did a great job with William Wittliff's script. I also saw "Das Boot" when it was first released, but I didn't faint when I learned Peterson had directed them both. In fact, there were parts of "Das Boot" I didn't enjoy, like guys puking on themselves - but, that's the way sailors are, huh? I now have "The Boat" and enjoy is thoroughly.
I loved "Murph" and Mastrantonio's character - also "Sully". I just got the DVD for this movie and watched it earlier tonight. It's got my 10, because it never fails to frighten me. Whatever Oscars it won, they were deserved. Folk who know nothing about the ocean and the risks people who sail it daily, they should definitely watch this movie....then give thanks and respect to those who WORK it daily....and gave their lives.....we're on dry land. Bravo! for "The Perfect Storm"....
9/28/06 - I watched "the special features" tonight: to those who made comments about 'throwing a little water on them" should really watch them. Most of those scenes were shot on a fantastic stage with a huge tank of water, with machines that make the boats pitch, etc. So, all of the cast who were on the Andrea Gail were in great danger, not just one time but for the duration of the filming. Bravo to all !
I digress: I suppose not too many people have seen the ocean when it gets to be as furious like in "The Perfect Storm". I am a native of the Gulf Coast; my friends and I couldn't wait till the "hurricane season" started, because we'd flock to the beach for swimming......such deep water ! That was before the weather went crazy and the hurricanes have become such monsters. So, I have a little more insight about what a perfect storm could be like - I would also like to say you can't get me on the ocean now-a-days - this movie vividly demonstrates "you can't mess with Mother nature" (some folk admitted that). You saw in this film that no matter how large a ship is, the water is stronger and certainly unpredictable. That first ship you saw was a tanker about as big as a football-field - the second, maybe bigger......loaded with containers. If you haven't been to a port to witness how large these ships are, then you certainly have no business trying to critique a movie about the ocean. A lot of people mentioned "The Titanic" - it was a small ship, compared to today's; The Queen Mary is permanently docked at Long Beach, and you'd be surprised how small IT is. The QM-2 recently docked along-side of it (2006), which made it look like a skiff. Not yet, but eventually one of the super cruise-ships will sink ("Poseidon Adventure") and the world will be shown you take your life in your own hands by venturing out onto the oceans. Remember "The Andrea Doria"?
Now, think about people who sail on those boats from the East Coast just about every day to fish for a living. If you think the North Atlantic is bad, the ships that fish in the North Pacific close to Alaska are immense. Yet, they are constantly sinking; the pay is so high for the men who work on these ships, they feel they'll do one season of fishing and make enough money to get on their feet - and they're right.
I suppose those who were so terribly disappointed in the cast of "The Perfect Storm" were expecting some heavy acting, maybe people in evening-clothing, highly emotionally sensational lines. Guess What! The actors/actresses in this film were perfect, because they ARE working, not having a party. The folk left at home are terrified, because they know the danger of sailing on the seas. What ordinary people don't realize is, we've killed all the fishing-grounds along our country's coasts, and the ships DO have to sail halfway to the next continent to make a catch. So, the next time you eat a tasty crab-leg from Alaska, just keep in mind that someone was scared to death catching it.
"The Perfect Storm" story set-up was extremely believable. The fishermen who work on the boats are not always compatible and they do not always get along, except when emergencies surface. The beating the "Andrea Gail" took as soon as the storm began was very believable.
If you'd read "more" of the "trivia" section, you'd know that some of the scenes were shot ON THE FRINGES of hurricane Floyd - all of it wasn't done in that huge tank. The circular motion of winds in a hurricane DO make for huge waves that collide into one another, not long lines of high water. Again, if you haven't actually witnessed a hurricane, don't write like you're an expert - sitting in a theater doesn't give you expertise to do this. Sorry you spent your $8.00 to see the movie, but it was your decision - no one guaranteed you were going to like the movie.......So, folk: you need to give this movie a break. Yes, The Coast Guard does make actual rescues in the ocean; consider how many they've rescued between Florida and Cuba and Haiti. The scene in "The Perfect Storm" was brilliant. And, George Clooney and Wahlberg were perfect for their roles, because they were portraying NORMAL people. Wolfgang Peterson did a great job with William Wittliff's script. I also saw "Das Boot" when it was first released, but I didn't faint when I learned Peterson had directed them both. In fact, there were parts of "Das Boot" I didn't enjoy, like guys puking on themselves - but, that's the way sailors are, huh? I now have "The Boat" and enjoy is thoroughly.
I loved "Murph" and Mastrantonio's character - also "Sully". I just got the DVD for this movie and watched it earlier tonight. It's got my 10, because it never fails to frighten me. Whatever Oscars it won, they were deserved. Folk who know nothing about the ocean and the risks people who sail it daily, they should definitely watch this movie....then give thanks and respect to those who WORK it daily....and gave their lives.....we're on dry land. Bravo! for "The Perfect Storm"....
9/28/06 - I watched "the special features" tonight: to those who made comments about 'throwing a little water on them" should really watch them. Most of those scenes were shot on a fantastic stage with a huge tank of water, with machines that make the boats pitch, etc. So, all of the cast who were on the Andrea Gail were in great danger, not just one time but for the duration of the filming. Bravo to all !