Perfect Storm, The (US)
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From the director of `Das Boot` and `Air Force One`
Certificate: PG-13
Running Time: 130 mins
Retail Price: $24.98
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
Atlantic swells form 100-foot walls. Wind shrieks at a maxed-out Force 12. In October 1991 three raging weather fronts, one of them Hurricane Grace, combine to form the greatest storm in recorded history.
George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg lead a talented cast in this harrowing special-effects adventure that intercuts the plight of seafarers struggling to reach safe harbor with the heroics of air/sea rescue crews.
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, The Perfect Storm tosses excitement your way in waves.
Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Feature Length Commentary with Director Wolfgang Petersen
Feature Length Commentary with Author Sebastian Junger
Feature Length Commentary with Visual Effects Supervisor Stefen Fangmeier and Visual Effects Producer Helen Ostenberg Elswit
Behind-the-Scenes Documentaries: HBO First Look: The Perfect Storm and Witness to the Storm
Concept Art Gallery with Commentary by Petersen
Yours Forever Photo Montage
Storyboard Gallery
DVD-ROM Features:
Original Theatrical Web Site
Previsualizing the Storm Gallery of Downloadable Craft Minidocumentaries
Synchromous Online Screenings and Other Web Events
Theatrical Trailer Sample of Other WHV Action/Adventure DVD Titles
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitle Tracks:
CC: English
Directed By:
Wolfgang Petersen
Written By:
William D. Wittliff
Sebastian Junger
Starring:
Karen Allen
William Fichtner
Diane Lane
John C. Reilly
Mark Wahlberg
George Clooney
Casting By:
Jane Jenkins
Janet Hirshenson
Soundtrack By:
James Horner
Director of Photography:
John Seale
Editor:
Richard Francis-Bruce
Costume Designer:
Erica Edell Phillips
Production Designer:
William Sandell
Producer:
Paula Weinstein
Wolfgang Petersen
Brian McNulty
Gail Katz
Alan B. Curtiss
Executive Producer:
Barry Levinson
Duncan Henderson
Distributor:
Warner Bros
Your Opinions and Comments
Well, I personally found this movie dull, cruel, senseless and not very impressive visually (and that`s an understatement).
The plot is really simple - a couple of fish murderers go out to kill lots of fish and end up inside a big storm. How very original (although partially based on a true story). I personally wished each and every one of those killers drowned.
The video transfer is very good with no compression artifacts at all. That is not saying the visual effects are good. They are really too artificial. You can notice the very first CG ocean scene even if you`re half blind. The waves look hilariously CG and are a good example how not to make water look using CG.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is very good, although I was hoping for a "wetter" soundtrack. Well, yeah, the splashes are there and the winds are too, but this is not a mind blowing soundtrack.
The menus are nicely animated with sound.
The extras include 3 commentary tracks (good, but not overwhelming), some behind the scenes look (rather ordinary) and an interesting documentary about the storm of 1991. The extras also include an art gallery and a storyboard gallery.
Bottom line - an average minus movie with a dull script, hilarious CG, a nice soundtrack and some good extras. Nothing special here.
Okay, so these people are fish-killers. Zvi might not eat fish, but plenty of people do, and anyway, it`s no reason to hate a movie. People don`t hate Blade Runner just because Deckard strives to kill androids.
A bad movie is a reason to hate a movie.
And this is a bad movie.
Usually, when purchasing a DVD player, the movie supplied is often a below par Hollywood affair. This was one of *four* films supplied, and is not only below par, but has no intention of ever reaching the green.
The effects are fantastic for what they are, but they are by no means special, always looking for all the world what they are - CGI. With exception to Bugsy, none of the characters pull at the audiences emotions, as the love stories/life stories simply seem forced.
The audio, to me, sounded very good. BUT (and this is a fault of the movie, not the DVD) both myself and my partner felt that there was far too much mood-music. It really feels like the director is trying to thrust an entire library of sheet music through those holes in the side of our heads.
The special features were good, and it was nice to see the pre-shoot drawings, as they alone stir up many feelings.
The DVD is good quality, but the movie itself is one to avoid.