K-19: The Widowmaker
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Movie Reviews of K-19: The Widowmaker
Movie Review: The best movies are really about something else...
Summary: 5 Stars
and this movie is no exception...Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson stars in the fascinating movie inspired by the events that really happened in 1961, when a nuclear submarine considered the pride of the Soviet Navy developed a leak in the coolant system for one of it's reactors. These reactors must be cooled, and when they are not they can turn into a runaway reaction, much like what happened at the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
It's a great story, adapted into a really good film that will keep you interested.
Once central theme of this movie is just how screwed up the Soviet Union was at this point. It was all about appearances and they did anything they could to look like the all-powerful kingdom that they wanted to be. They literally knew this sub was not ready to be put to sea, but a high placed official had made a promise to the deity-like ruler at the time and that meant anyone who voiced concerns would find their military career over.
Characters on screen made references to failed Soviet space missions in which the history was completely covered over and hidden - men who gave their lives only to be completely forgotten and forbidden to mention. It makes you wonder how many people gave their lives for nothing more than to be considered an embarrassment.
Ultimately, Harrison Ford presented to the audience what it was like to see the Soviets at there best - utilizing teamwork and self-sacrifice for the betterment of all people. This was manifested when he led the crew through a series of safety drills from a stumbling, ineffective beginning to a completely successful end that completed the original goals requested by Moscow. All of this in spite of the gross lack of quality control evident in the mechanical integrity of the sub.
Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actors, so I usually see anything he is in, minus comedies and this movie reaffirmed that. He lends so much credibility to high drama scenes that you cannot imagine anyone else having the role. Ford should avoid comedies and interviews because he does not do well in them.
The submarine dubbed the "widowmaker" claimed almost thirty lives as I counted them, from 1961 and up to twenty years later. The most inspiring deaths come from those who knew they were going to die - those comrades who gave all to save the ship and the crew.
Movie Review: You'll hold your breath, long and often
Summary: 5 Stars
1961. The Russian submarine K19, stocked with nuclear missiles, is about to embark upon its maiden mission: to scare the US by test-firing one of the missiles in the North Atlantic. The mission is complicated by the military's rushed schedule and the K19 is scheduled to sail in less-than-perfect operating condition. Harrison Ford is the star and executive producer in this edge-of-your-seat film. Both Ford and Liam Neeson star as Soviet Navy Captains. Ford relieves Neeson at the helm and the two butt heads, challenging each other for command. Ford drills the crew obsessively to prepare them for potential crisis. Like APOLLO 13, this mission was cursed from the beginning. Ten men were killed before the K19 had even left port. The nickname "Widowmaker" was established before its maiden voyage. After they set sail, everything goes wrong. The nuclear reactor cooling system sprung a leak, threatening to raise the core temperature to 1,000 degrees. This would detonate the nuclear weapons, starting a chain reaction leading to WWIII. The crewmen must go on a suicide rescue mission into the core and repair the leak, exposing themselves to massive doses of radiation.Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Pointe Break and Strange Days), "K19" was inspired by a real-life Cold War incident. The actual crew was sworn to secrecy for 28 years. In 1989, with the fall of communism, the crew of the K19 were finally able to discuss the events of their mission and put it to rest.
Prior to seeing this film, I heard negative reports regarding Harrison Ford's so-called Russian accent. Let's try to see beyond the accents and experience what the film is really about. The K19 is on its maiden voyage and wasn't truly ready to sail. The crew is young, inexperience and scared. Their acting captain and the man they know and trust as their captain are in the showdown of their lives. Ford and Neeson should be proud of their performance that put them in line with the classic showdowns of Clark Gable/Burt Lancaster (1958-"Run Silent, Run Deep") and Denzel Washington/Gene Hackman (1995-"Crimson Tide"). This film has spectacular sound effects and special underwater effects that made me hold my breath like I did with "U-571". Outstanding cinematography, fabulous acting and casting. A wonderfully told story.
Movie Review: Submarines, nuclear power, radiation poisoning. Scary!
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on a true story of a Russian nuclear submarine and an incident that could have sparked an all-out nuclear war, this is a truly exciting film. Five years in the researching and making, it brings the viewer back to 1961 and the world of the Soviet Navy. This was the height of the cold war and the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in an arms race. Both had nuclear power and war was indeed a possibility.Harrison Ford is cast as the strong willed captain of the ship; Liam Neeson is the Executive Officer in charge. Ford is tough and pushes the men hard, exposing them to danger in order to create loyalty and make them a team. Neeson, who was the original captain and was replaced by Neeson, is more cautious. There is constant conflict between these two men regarding command decisions. And then, an accident happens. There's a leak in a nuclear reactor and it has to be repaired.
From the very first frame of the film I was on the edge of my seat. The tension kept getting stronger and never let up. I couldn't stop watching and the 138 minutes of the film just flew. I learned about submarines, nuclear power, and the devastating effects of radiation poisoning. I also got to know the two strong leaders as well as their crew and felt real emotion over their dilemma. It is a story of heroism and courage. And the fact that is true makes it even more exciting.
The only thing that didn't seem authentic was that it was in English and the men spoke with Russian accents. But after I got used to that, I was completely involved in the high drama of the story. The acting was excellent. And I have nothing but praise for the director, Kathryn Bigelow and the special effects and cinematography. I felt I was right there.
Later, I watched all special features. It was fascinating to learn about way an old Russian submarine was actually restored and refitted to match the exact specifications of the real one. It was also fascinating to see all the time and effort it takes to show one short scene of the submarine rising through the ice. These features were a welcome addition to the DVD and really enhanced my experience of the film.
This is a scary film. And there's much to learn from it. I loved it and give it my highest recommendation.
Movie Review: I really enjoyed this movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a big fan of "Hunt of Red October" and evaluate "K19-Widow Maker" equal in value.
Polenin lose command of the K-19 after a failed simulation caused by incorrect amperage components. Captain Vostrikov assumes command of the submarine. Vostrikovs discovers the reactor officer drunk and fires him. A new reactor officer arrives and Vostrikov realizes he has no active experience.
Vostrikov decides to test the crew and submarine and orders the K-19 submerged near crush depth. Crush depth is 300 m below the surface. The crew is nervous but the submarine prevails. Vostrikov orders a rapid ascent to the surface piercing through one meter thick ice cap. Polenin retreats to his cabin beliefing death is eminient. Vostrikov strategy works and he launches a test rocket. Vostrikov is cheered and recognized as a historical hero of the Soviet Union. Polenin tells him that he was lucky.
A reactor coolant leak starts a core melt down. The critical temperature is 1000 degrees and then a thermo nuclear chain reaction starts with the force of the Hiroshima bomb. 30 tons of drinking water is rerouted too the reactor; four sets of men expose themselves to fatal levels of radiation to weld pipes to the damaged coolent injection component. The temperature starts to drop.
Polenin protects Vostrikov from an insurrection.
The weld does not hold. The reactor officer enters the reactor and begins to weld the component. Vostrikov declares that tensions between East and West are strong and they must not allow an explosion. An American destroyer offers assistence, but offer is denied. Radiation levels on the submarine are rising. The men move to the surface of the submarine, in shifts. Vostrikov receives a voluntary consent from the men to move the submarine deeper. The reactor coolant breach is fixed. The submarine surfaces and another Russian sub arrives. Vostrikov is acquitted of all charges by Command but does not Captain another submarine. 20 years later the men of the K-19 gather and provide a toast to their fallen comrades.
Movie Review: My 2 cents . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Firstly, there several are excellent exhaustive reveiews on this wonderful film (Chapulina R did a particularly good job). Read a few of them. My review comments are related to a relevant technical aspect ---
Hollywood NEVER gets it right on things "nuclear", usually muddling comparison and contrast between weapons and power production plants. A loss of coolant (heat sink) to a nuclear powered ship's reactor at sea will NOT give rise to a sustained nuclear chain reaction and absolutely not one that would also involve the weapons aboard . . . even on the shoddily designed/built early Russian boats. It is likely the core would indeed experience some melting (localized or homgenous) and theoretically could eventually melt through the hull of the ship . . . at which point the Atlantic Ocean would provide a superb heat sink.
Other than local bottom feeding sea life, the real threat to anyone other than the crew of a ship at sea is not really mathematically significant. The threat to the crew, however, in a situation as depicted in the film is huge. For the incident as depicted on "K-19", I'm surprised that anyone aboard lived to reach old age. Great peril and heroism were involved. But excessive radiation exposure often involves a slowly developing and non-spectacular demise so, as usual, Hollywood caved in in favor of the "mushroom cloud over the Eastern Seaboard" scenario. A shame.
I believe that challenge for the Captain involved two issues: 1. Saving the lives of his crew from the accumulating radioactive contamination (not an explosion), and 2. Not allowing his ship to fall into American hands. Mammoth tasks under the circumstances in the story.
Overall, a great submarine flick however. Other than these nuclear issues, there is very little submarine technical baggage to keep up with. Much of the film's tension involves the human aspect.
A very nicely done, high dollar production and is great entertainment.