Rating: 
Summary: Eighty-Four Straight Days Without A Fish
Review: Santiago is an aged Cuban fisherman who has not caught any fish for eighty-four straight days. Because he is considered unlucky by the other villagers, the young boy who usually assists Santiago is told by his parents to join a luckier boat which has recently been catching some fish.On the eighty-fifth day Santiago sets out alone and after a while he hooks a huge marlin. Most of the rest of the movie is about Santiago's struggle with the marlin and his battles with attacking sharks which are trying to eat the big fish. The story is also about Santiago's relationship with the boy who cares for the old man both before and after his epic voyage. The boy is indebted to Santiago for all that he has learned from him about fishing. Santiago is a widower and childless. Much of the film shows Santiago alone at sea struggling with the marlin. In other words the movie is mostly focused on Spencer Tracy who does an excellent job of holding the viewer's interest. In spite of Tracy's great performance, however, I still think that Anthony Quinn would have been a better choice for the role of Santiago - except for the fact that Quinn was fifteen years younger than Tracy. The script closely follows Hemingway's novel which makes the movie even more remarkable.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine Hemingway adaptation
Review: Spencer Tracy gives a powerful performance as Santiago, the desperate old fisherman who must struggle to subdue and then keep the giant marlin that represents his salvation. Director John Sturges and screenwriter Peter Viertel retain much of Ernest Hemingway's symbolism, making of Santiago a Christ-like figure. A more apt Biblical analog might be Job; like him, Santiago endures the indignities and strife thrust upon him, but perseveres and endures while retaining his appreciation of nature and simple pleasures.
There is a lot of voice-over narration in this film. In addition to playing Santiago, Tracy reads excerpts from the novel to deepen and comment upon the action. In most cases, I would be annoyed by such pervasive intrusion, but it makes sense here because Santiago spends so much time alone. In addition, since the narration is drawn directly from the novel, it provides the added pleasure of a wonderful actor performing Hemingway's deceptively simple prose.
Rating:
Summary: The Old Man...and the Sea
Review: The title says it all. The most compelling thing to note in the story of Santiago, (the lead character)is the implication that any of his contemporaries would likely have reacted to his plight in the same way. Not through any special courage, but through a plain lack of choice. A simple fisherman on a hard luck streak, he does the only thing he can do, he keeps fishing. The sea is the only thing he has ever known, and so he turns to it day after day despite recent failure.
His protoge' too is no doubt typical; a young boy who loves his mentor and cares for him unconditionally. Any boy who watches will want to help a man, and any man who sees this will want to teach a boy.
The movie is touching enough to have "Hollywood" written across it's face...or to have "real life" written accross it's face. Thanks to Hemmingway, and Tracy, it is decidedly the latter.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful. Return to the meaning of story and spirit.
Review: This is a timeless tale of a passion unbroken by the rust of time. The boy in the movie has a heart so strong in a town so poor. The Old Man, his will greater than any conflict encountered by his past, others or the elements. Two wills from two different worlds, one water and the other the Old Man. Fishing is personal and spiritual as is the feeling you will derive from watching this movie. Enjoy its spirit on your own and share it with all those who believe in the spirit of the hearted people. Great viewing
Rating:
Summary: A great piece of cinema
Review: This movie is a must see. The cimetography is powerful, minus a few outdated special effects during the climax, where some bluescreening is apparent. The film progresses as a Hemmingway novel reads...superbly narrated throughout. Watch it when you're able to devote your full attention to it, and you will find yourself drawn into this great story about hardship, perserverence, and respect. A great tale, with a very human core, set against the great power of Nature...done superbly in movie format. It became an instant favorite on my first viewing.
Rating:
Summary: First Movie with a Saving The Planet Message.
Review: When I first saw this movie, I thought this was an early save the planet movie. Well In addition to Spencer Tracy's powerful performance as a fisherman trying to catch the Marlan, there is also a lot of natural/wildlife photography in it that serves as the background for the movie and it's quite extensive for a 1958 film. I heard that Hemmingway really enjoyed the outdoor world, well this movie certainly had plenty of the natural world to show of.
Rating:
Summary: First Movie with a Saving The Planet Message.
Review: When I first saw this movie, I thought this was an early save the planet movie. Well In addition to Spencer Tracy's powerful performance as a fisherman trying to catch the Marlan, there is also a lot of natural/wildlife photography in it that serves as the background for the movie and it's quite extensive for a 1958 film. I heard that Hemmingway really enjoyed the outdoor world, well this movie certainly had plenty of the natural world to show of.
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