THE PERFECT STORM

2000

Here is the most exciting movie of the summer so far! Based on a real event that occurred in 1991, a team of fisherman get caught in the worst storm in recorded history. And even though many of you already know the story, that's all I'm going to say. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and John C. Reilly all give strong performances. The special effects were incredible! Once the storm gets going, this movie just keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. My one problem with the film is the somewhat drawn-out ending and the obvious attempts to bring the audience to tears like 3 or 4 times. But see it and see if you agree with me because this is one of the best films of the summer!

4.5 Stars

CDF

This movie, based on the Sebastian Junger best-seller, is the most exciting film that I've seen in a long time. It's a modern-day Moby Dick, whose captain is every bit as obsessed, and possibly mad, as was Ahab. The object of his obsession is not a whale, but rather a large catch of swordfish, that would translate into big bucks...money that he desperately needs. His obsession recklessly brings about his own death, and the death of everyone on his doomed ship. The true heroes of this film/book are the men and women of the Coast Guard who risk(and in this case lose) their lives to save obsessive fishermen and idiotic pleasure sailors! The few women in the film(Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Diane Lane, Karen Allen, Cherry Jones, and two fat actreses whose names I didn't catch,) do a much better job of acting than do the men. George Clooney who proves in yet another film, that he's a terrible actor, once again uses his two expressions inappropriately! Mark Wahlberg and John C. Reilly do much better with the little they're given. The computer graphics of ILM create the most frightening storm that I've ever seen on film. It's certainly the main character in the film.

5 Stars

NJB