Rating: 
Summary: Petersen's folly
Review: Ah, Wolfgang... you made such an impression on me when I was just 10 years old, "reading" my first foreign film, Das Boot. That movie sticks to you, scares the hooey outta ya, makes you think... but this... this "Storm" this thing... this hideousness.. total lack of subtlety.. makes a guy wanna barf.I didn't read the book, but of course I knew what was going to happen and being from Boston and all there was a certain allure to this film, the local angle and what-not, but what a gigantic let-down! Here's my experience of the movie in an nutshell.. you can send me your heartfelt thanks for saving you the... rental charge: 1. Some fishing guy gets his pride all hurt and has to go out to prove himself a tough fishing guy in front of his crew and a competing lady fishing guy. 2. You don't know anyone's name on the boat, even a good hour into the film. You're saying to yourself, "Is that guy Murph or Eddie? Is there even an Eddie in this film? Does anyone want me to go get popcorn?" 4. In line getting popcorn you find other movie patrons each with a fixed stare, a sense of impending doom. It's "Rime of the Ancient Snack Bar" as the undead who have been watching this film seek respite from it by standing in line as long as possible. I give everyone behind me "cuts" and stare at the Dove Bar poster behind the counter. Twenty minutes pass. 5. I return with popcorn and ask my date, "What happened?" She says, "The storm is coming." I ask, "The fat guy. Is his name Dougie?" No reply. 6. The big wave from the movie poster comes and kills everyone. I think I hear some muted cheering behind me. I sigh in relief. The fat guy says, "This is going to be hard on my boy." Is that what you'd say if you were in frigid salt-water with a boat on top of you? I think a stream of expletives or frantic praying to the deity of your choice is more apropos. I mean, really... What did he expect Micky (or Dougie or whatever) to say? "Yeah, I'll let your son know you said that after I swim back to shore. See ya." I am dying for another box of popcorn, another peek at the Dove Bar poster 7. Wolfgang Petersen, in a move I believe inspired by custom airbrush paintings on the sides of many 1970's cargo vans, superimposes the angelic softly-focused visage of Wahlberg's girlfriend's face on a far and wide shot of Wahlberg floating quietly in the north Atlantic, so much cinematic flotsam. The voice-over reads some corny letter he wrote to the girlfriend. The End. I hate this movie almost as much as I do "Twister"
Rating: 
Summary: JCMICHAELS.COM The Perfect Storm Review
Review: A thrill ride from the very start, The Perfect Storm takes you into a world that many find unfamiliar. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg star in this film as fisherman caught in the 1991 storm that has been called the greatest storm in recorded history. Their adequate performances thankfully don't detract from the overall theme and feel of the movie. Still allowing you to experience the characters overall urgency. If you liked both Titanic and Twister, then this is an amalgamation of both. The disk is loaded with features that allow you to see the different and amazing techniques to make the film so realistic. The visual trickery involved is amazing and probably worth a second viewing. Overall I wouldn't rush out and buy this DVD, the acting is sometimes a little wooden and awkward. But if you happen to receive it accidentally from a DVD club director's selection, I wouldn't return.
Rating: 
Summary: Y A W N !
Review: I could not suspend reality even for a second here. The whole thing is way too contrived. It made me happy my DVD player has a big fast forward button.
Rating:
Summary: The plot is exactly what you imagine it would be.
Review: Decent visual effects, but the plot is exactly what you feared it would be.
Rating: 
Summary: Good effects, bad story line.
Review: I've heard the story of this movie on several television shows before I saw it. I admit the movie was boring (the story line), but I liked it. The special effects were about the best part. I really feel for those poor men. How frightening to be out in the middle of the ocean with no possibility of help coming, knowing the worst thing that could happen is going to happen. Like the title of my summary says, Good effects, bad story-line.
Rating:
Summary: Not Quite Perfect
Review: The Perfect Storm pits men against nature in this mediocre film adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name. It begins with the glorious home-coming of the fishing vessel The Andrea Gail after a poor catch. Any sailor will immeadietely begin to feel a little nostalgic at this point, remembering times when they pulled in to port. How nice. However, the story failed to really grab me, and make me believe the story, as the book did, despite the fact I knew the movie was based on the real experiences. The movie deals with some romantic plots (A character by the name of Bugsy had the most realistic) and a brief fight between a couple of shipmates, and finally the doomed ship gets underway. Unfortunately, I still had to wait for the storm. Of course, there was a shark attack, which I couldn't believe was included in the movie. And then one of the two shipmates who got in a fight gets pulled overboard, and other one saves him in a beautiful example of a classic Hollywood cliche. Then the storm comes in all it's horrifying glory. Finally, the part I had been waiting for. It brought flashbacks from my own experiences sailing in inclement weather. It sort of justified the shark attack and the scene with the sailor being pulled overboard. The actors mostly did a fine job, considering the material they were working with. George Clooney did great as a grizzled fishing captian, and Mark Wahlberg was a pretty boy with a pretty girlfriend. Surprisingly, everyone was able to maintain their New England accents, which made the scenes in port a little more believable. The movie had some strong points, but unfortunately, some very weak, cliched, points. It had a lot of potential, but it didn't live up to it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: Whoa, what's with all of the negative reviews?? In a time when dumb action movies rule the silver screen (M:I 2, etc.), along comes this 'perfectly' crafted thriller by Wolfgang Peterson ("Outbreak", "In the line of fire", "Das Boot", "Air Force One") with emotion and intensity. With a gigantic score by James Horner, this is the summer's 2nd best movie (after GLADIATOR). And the negative reviews really don't make any sense at all
Rating:
Summary: Give Em A Break!
Review: I think many of the other reviewers were unduly harsh in their ratings. This was a mildly entertaining movie, and not at all a bad way to spend a night at home. I did give it 3 stars because I doubt I'll watch it again(plan to give it away)... maybe this is a better one to just rent, enjoy, and return.
Rating:
Summary: The book was by far much better
Review: I have to agree with some previous reviews that this movie wasn't great. I first read the book, which was absolutely spectuacular, then decided to watch the movie. Wrong choice. This movie chose to simply skim the surface of the characters and situations. If you read the book, which surprisingly isn't all that long, it tells very in depth information about the fisherman's lives and such. I do, however, have to point out to some of the previous reviewers that this is a true story and contrary to your disappointment, there isn't a "story-line" per say, but simply the telling of events leading up to the terrible tragedy. As for the visual effects, they were unextraordinary. I am studying to become a meteorologist, so I know what truly massive waves, violent storm clouds and hurricane force winds look and act like, and it really wasn't what they had in the movie. To sum up, I simply feel that if the director of this movie had stuck with the book as closely as possible (which was written with almost 100% accuracy), then the movie would not have been nearly as disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Book Was A Lot Better
Review: I know that movies rarely live up to the status of the accompanying book, but this one wasn't even close. This film was pretty far from "perfect." The Perfect Storm tells the tragic story of the crew of the fishing boat, the Andrea Gail. George Clooney plays the captain of this ragged crew that has not carried its load as of late. They set off and bring in the largest haul of their careers only to meet up with a fierce storm. If you see this film to see the special effects, you will be sadly disappointed. If you see this movie for a good storyline, you will be even more disappointed. This film didn't have anything mesh together well. The plot didn't allow for any character development, except for the very beginning of the movie where we are briefly introduced to the families. This made it really hard to feel for the characters, which is where this film really goes wrong. It did not do justice to the real men who died in this tragedy. Even more troublesome, the intense action scenes, which probably was the main selling point for the film, were severely damaged due to the most inappropriate music that could have ever been chosen. The one true bright spot was Mark Wahlberg. Not only did he truly look the part of his character, but he continued to impress me with his seemingly good acting ability. His timing was perfect, and his on-screen candor was excellent. Unfortunately, the script's dialogue was loaded with so many cliches, it took away from his stellar performance, as well as the other actor's. This movie was quite a disappointment. Simply put, if you have ever read the book, please don't tarnish it with this film.
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