Rating: 
Summary: Excellent DVD
Review: This is an excellent DVD, one I have purchased for my 12-year-old as a Christmas present. The DVD has three different commentary tracks - for people like me, who love this stuff, this is the most important thing. There is also a really fascinating movie about the making of the movie - I am usually oblivious to special effects for their own sake but I thought these were really interesting.As for the film itself it is more interesting than I had expected. There is something fascinating about the story that goes behind its simple plot. Something I can't articulate. I think it's a great movie.
Rating: 
Summary: The Book--Wow! The Movie--ZZZ.
Review: Book or movie, book or movie. Hmmm. The book is entertaining and informative. Unlike the movie, the characters are developed and you care about them. The book is exciting and suspenseful, and even though you know how it ends, it's quite a ride. On the other hand, the movie has really fantastic computer-generated waves. Lots of them. The boat bobs around and goes under the waves, and the people who occupy the boat get tossed around and mangled. If only they had skipped the perfunctory character development at the beginning of the movie, they could have had a couple more minutes of these fantastic waves. The people in the movie are simply there to make the waves appear dangerous; we don't really need to know about them. If you want a really good read, get the book. If you're the kind of person who gets a thrill out of watching strangers ride roller coasters, check out the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Translation from the Book to the Screen!
Review: Obviously, if you have an interest in the subject you're going to have a better time...I have always loved the ocean; I go to it as often as I can and I have since I was a child. Sea stories fascinate me; everything from the Titanic and Mutiny on the Bounty to Moby Dick and Two Years Before the Mast. I read Sebastian Junger's exquisitely detailed book and then bought the VHS. I loved it...everything rang true, from the locales to the actors, to the personal dramas of each one of those involved. All of the ship's crew are exceptionally good; you believe it all. There are several things going on at once; wonderfully edited from the weather station to the Coast Guard vessel to a small sailboat to the families waiting anxiously at the Crow's Nest (the local gathering place) to the Andrea Gail and each respective drama unfolding with each one. I never knew about rogue waves or that waves could reach such gargantuan heights. You are right there with the doomed men, and it's impossible not to feel their anguish and final thoughts. Very powerful stuff, and unique among tales of they who go down to the sea in ships.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent story and special effects, plus great 'making of'
Review: I love Gloucester - some of my favorite biking trails are out there - so when this movie came out on DVD I grabbed it immediately. The Gloucester scenes are wonderfully done - they made some changes to where buildings were so the plot would work, but in general it really gives a good feel for what a small town fishing community is like. The story itself is enthralling - the special effects of the huge waves is awesome in the true sense of the word. It is amazing what the fishermen and coast guard will do on the ocean, battling the elements and risking their lives. The movie itself is great, but what makes the DVD even better are the multiple commentaries and the making of section. You can listen to the director talk about why scenes were shot in a certain way, or look at the GIGANTIC wave tank where they made some of the rough-water shots. While it can be a bit Ahab-like at times, the movie is a story about the power of nature, and how humans will struggle against it, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. A fantastic tale.
Rating:
Summary: life, love, lady: the sea
Review: Let me admit something. I went to see this with absolutely NO idea of the story, having never read Junger's book. Now that all the people who expected an intelligent, non-biased review have run away shaking their heads, let me explain. I took my dad to see this for his birthday - in actuality, i was going to see Space Cowboys. I cannot say how glad I am that we saw this instead. The movie begins by introducing us to the fishermen of the Andrea Gail, their motives for going out again two days after a disappointing run, as well as their families. This way, we care about who they are as well as who they leave behind - and the points of view both of the men and their lovers and children. The human scenes are both touching and intriguing, as the sheer fact that they are included tells us that something is not going to go right. Of course not. This is, after all, the Perfect Storm. Three monstrous hurricanes forming together to create 100ft waves, gale winds, and rubber shark attacks. :) By the way, for those scared of blood, the shark chews up Mark Wahlberg's leg - eep. Actually, the special effects were very well done, including the intercut scenes of a stranded sailing yacht - but this sequence served no place in the movie except to make it a little too long. Water get numbing after awhile. Even when you're watching a talented crew, not to mention George Clooney, swim - hey, if I wanted to see gymnastics, I'd watch the Olympics. But I don't mean to be cruel. This WAS good, much better than i expected, and it resonated with me as I'm from Maine. Those of us who live near the ocean know what it can do, as well as what it can undo, and we learn to treat it with respect. That is why it's such a treat when an intelligent film depicting the people who work in tandem with this natural force comes along - you know what they mean. My only big problem is the graphic scenes - no, don't worry, though I'm sure the female contingent isn't "worrying" at that remark, with certain of this cast- in which the dead swordfish are depicted decapitated. However, as it is a fishing boat - you might as well expect that. Still, go see it. For whatever reason. Good male/female film: if the girls don't care that much for the big overblown ocean rescues, they may care about other aspects. ;) The guys - well, disasters are disasters. Have fun. And remember I told you about it. :)
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: To all of the boaters out there be prepared to be insulted. For anyone who has been out in bad seas, this movie will make you laugh. What ever happened to life preservers? How about the plot - WEAK! If you want to see some of the best special effects for waves, than watch it but you will not be able to watch it twice. Oh yeah, they go out in the worst time of the year for weather and never once listen to the weather. Than they drive right into because the fish will spoil. DUH! The real people who were in this situation are turning in their graves.
Rating: 
Summary: A good movie version of a great, very sad story
Review: This movie has some of the most manipulative, Hollywood dialogue and embellishments I've ever seen in any film but, overall, it's an involving and well-made rendering of one of the terrifying and sad stories I've ever come across. In defense of the filmmakers, there's no way of knowing exactly what happened on the Andrea Gail after radio contact was lost, so they had to make up a plausible, acceptable version for movie audiences. Overall, I enjoyed this film. The acting runs from okay tovery good, the effects are impressive, and it was fascinating to see the actual setting onscreen. This makes for a good rental, just try not to wince at some of the lines.
Rating:
Summary: Great special effects, sad story.
Review: A dramatic and compelling story traces the ill fated voyage of the Andrea Gail, a swordboat from Glocester, racing with the unpredictable weather of an New England Autumn. Well told with compelling special effects and dynamic sound, the story is moving, the acting is fine, but the pace of the storytelling and the depth of detail does not compare well with the outstanding book. I won't buy the DVD, but the movie is certainly worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible Movie - Anti-climactic
Review: This movie got so much publicity and such good reviews I was so anxious to see this movie that I purchased a pre-release of the DVD. After receiving it and watching it with my family I was very disappointed in this film. The movie can be summarized as, they go fishing, storms roll in, and they all die. Very little excitement and no heroism. I strongly advise against purchasing this movie. If you are really interested in seeing this movie, I suggest renting it - however, you may also find that renting it is also a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: Testosterone is a wonderful thing.
Review: Remember when *Twister* came out and everyone said the tornado was the star of the show? This is certainly the case here. George Clooney is the captain of a fishing vessel determined to make one last big catch. Unfortunately, this requires him to take his boat and crew to the Flemish Cap, a stretch of sea off Nova Scotia that lies if not exactly the middle of nowhere, then close enough to see it. While Captain Billy Tyne (Clooney) is out there, two storm fronts and a hurricane converge to create a storm of devestating proportions, that blocks his way back to Massachusetts. Billy's response? Why, what all real tough guys do when faced with such a situation: plow right through that sucker! Show that wimpy ol' hurricane who's boss! The crew whoops and cheers ecstatically as the boat is hammered by the giant waves. For some reason, they seem to find a lot to celebrate in being miles from home in the middle of the worst storm of the century, and being driven INTO the belly of the beast by a man with too much johnson to head back to Nova Scotia. It ends badly of course. The funeral features a nice eulogy about good old hell-for-leather Captain Billy, and nobody seems to notice the fact that they might be alive if it wasn't for him. My only kudos are for the truly awesome computer-generated waves and for the fforts of the coast guard rescue teams. This is a great visual story, but the plot is cliched.
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