"You be careful..."

THE PERFECT STORM (R)

Reviewed July 4, 2000 - Check out The Perfect Storm Website.

Studio Synopsis: October 1991. It was "the perfect storm" — a tempest that may happen only once in a century — a nor'easter created by so rare a combination of factors that it could not possibly have been worse. Creating waves ten stories high and winds of 120 miles an hour (193 kph), the storm whipped the sea to inconceivable levels few people on Earth have ever witnessed. Few, except the six-man crew of the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing boat headed towards its hellish center.

Fuzzydog Review: Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane and Mary Elizabeth Matrantonio, and directed by Wolfgang Peterson, The Perfect Storm retells the true life story of the ill-fated voyage of the fishing vessel Andrea Gail back in October, 1991.  In the face of one of the most menacing storms in history, it is above all a story about average people up against themselves and the fiercest elements of nature as they pursue their way of life (swordfishing).  At the hands of director Wolfgang Petersen (Air Force One, Das Boot), it also becomes a story of individual courage and heroism.  As dangerous and illogical as all the characters (the fishermen, the Coast Guard rescuers, etc.) may sometimes be, Petersen also infuses each of them with a kind of nobility that, if nothing else, makes you care.  You want these people to be okay...you want them to make it.  You root for them until the end, and in the end you love them for who they are.  For this, The Perfect Storm is easily a worthwhile moviegoing experience.  This is a simple story told in a straightforward manner, with performances and visual effects that will sweep you along and keep you on board.  For those of you who've read the same-titled bestselling novel by Sebastian Junger, here's a little something that I very rarely say: the movie was better.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

rezzee gives this movie  stars: " Jolly good show old chaps! NOT!!!! Talk about tasteless!!! I mean, who in their right mind would wanna watch a loada borng, stupid, senseless trash like this? Welcome 2 the 21st Centuary people! I was practically fallin asleep! (actually, I dropped off within da 1st 15 mins). And 2 think that some prats are given it a 5* rating! Wat iz the damn world comin 2?" (4/5/01)

zeela gives this movie  star: " you call this a movie?!yyeesh!some "taste" u lot ave!!!" (4/5/01)

rfksecond@cs.com gives this movie  stars: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!! George Loon-er, I mean Clooney died! Maybe he should've used his ER skills or something. HAHAHAHAH!!!!! Well, his performance wasn't as bad as it was in Batman and Robin. Hey, I guess he'll be aquaman in his next film! HAHAHHAHAHA!!! Get it, aquaman? He was batman, he drowns, now he's aquaman...funny!! HAHAHA!!!!!  Ok, I have nothing against the guy in reality, but as far as movies go, he su-su-su-su-suuuuuuuucks! Besides, him and his group chose there own fate. I was cracking up at the funeral ceremony, I mean, the whole crew died over money! Stupidity! IQ=0! The film sucked anyway." (8/7/00)

apachy2000@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "It was really good and it looked real life..." (8/1/00)

David gives this movie  stars: "Long, dull and anti-climatic." (7/7/00)