K-19: The Widowmaker
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Movie Reviews of K-19: The Widowmaker
Movie Review: Intelligent, exciting, & inspiring tale of heroism!
Summary: 5 Stars
In a summer movie season full of superheroes, "K-19" tells the tale of some ordinary Russian submariners whose real-life heroics may just have actually saved the world. In a refreshing change, the story is told totally from a Russian point of view. There are no annoying intrusions of an American point of view anywhere in the film. It does take a while to get used to their accents, but Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson both give convincing performances of Soviet submarine captains who have two very different views of how a ship should be run. They both had me so into their performances, that by the time a crucial event occurs late in the film, I was totally on their side. I almost felt like a traitor to my own country, but it gave me a great insight into the loyalty people in the military must feel towards their country. I have been so use to seeing Russians demonized, that perhaps K-19's best accomplishment might be the way it humanizes the Russians. The sailors onboard K-19 are real people with real emotions, just like us.
"K-19" is by no means an easy film to watch. The humor is minimal but befitting of a film whose ultimate villain is nothing to laugh at. If you wonder why nobody wants nuclear waste buried in their backyard, you will have no doubt why after you have seen this film. Perhaps this film would have played better in the greyness of the winter season, but its message cannot be ignored no matter when you see it. Director Kathryn Bigelow and her very talented cast have made a film that not only is worth seeing, but that just might be what I call "good for you." In a season normally reserved for mind-numbing entertainment, "K-19" delivers an intelligent,exciting, and inspiring tale of heroism that is the most powerfully, emotional film I have seen since "Life is Beautiful."
Movie Review: A well-done movie in a non-Hollywood way
Summary: 5 Stars
I wasn't expecting to be enthralled when I went to this movie (it was husband's choice movie night), but after the first five minutes of the film, I was thoroughly hooked. I came out of the theater feeling like I'd actually seen one of the first above-average movies of the year.In this movie, Harrison Ford plays a 1960s Soviet sub captain who is brought in to command the Soviet navy's new nuclear submarine after the original captain (Liam Neeson) is removed from the position for political reasons. Neeson stays on the ship as second in command, and Ford is forced to contend with the crew's loyalty to Neeson. Problems plague the submarine before it even leaves drydock, leading the men to begin calling it "The Widowmaker."
This movie isn't told from an American point of view, and doesn't restrict itself to American ideals. The drama is played out without being biased by Hollywood notions of hero vs. villain or a formulaic plot. It really seems like this movie was true to the historic event it was based on.
The characters were portrayed well by everyone in the cast, including Harrison Ford, who was cast against type. Ford turns out a really good performance as the domineering captain and manages to escape his celebrity and really descend into the character. I actually forgot I was watching a Harrison Ford movie. Liam Neeson is solid as well, and the crewmembers without exception turn out convincing performances.
Director Kathryn Bigelow delivers a strong and well done movie with "K-19: The Widowmaker". In a sea of forgettable fluff, this movie rises above typical Hollywood and achieves something special.
Movie Review: Gripping story with fantastic cast
Summary: 5 Stars
I went into K-19 without many expectiations (I make it a point to see every new Harrison Ford movie), but when I left, I thought it was the best movie I had seen all year.This is a movie about heroism of all different types...heroes both willing and not, heroes both recognized and not. It aks the question...if you were at the brink, and had to face your fears and an almost certain death, what would you do?
The 2 main characters (Liam Neeson as Polenin and Harrison Ford as Vostrikov) are played with a remarkable strength of personality ...they are both patriots and excellent officers, but they have differing styles (which, of course, clash). I ended up empathizing with each man's point of view and decision process, especially as it became clear that their actions could easily start an apocalyptic world war.
I found the Russian accents easy to accept, and they helped the story immensly. Telling the story completely from the Russian point of view helped us focus on their story...we saw their world as they did, rather than as the American "good guys" would see them.
I don't usually go for submarine movies (the last I saw was The Hunt for Red October), but I was riveted for the entire time (over 2 hours). It was suspenseful, with the crew facing multiple enemies: communist beauracracy, americans, nuclear power, the sea, and K-19 itself.
Perhaps you will leave the theater thinking the same thing I did: It is amazing that we (Americans & Russians alike) managed to survuve the cold war and avoid sinking the world into a nuclear holocaust. How often were we at the brink without even knowing it?
Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
K-19 The Widowmaker is an absolutely great movie, depicting actual events. The basic premise: It is the early stages of the cold war. The Soviets have designed, by their measures, the ultimate boomer. Kruschev wants it put to sea earlier than it should be, to launch a test missile and prove to us, the Americans, that they did it. Of course, poor design, followed by poor workmanship hamper this submarine from the beginning. Several people die in various ways, during the construction and even right before it sea trials. Once they finally put to sea, the Captain (Harrison Ford) begins to take the crew through several drills, attempting to make them a more efficient crew. They quickly become a team, which is fortunate, for what they are about to face will test them thoroughly. They experience a coolant leak in one of the reactors. I won't ruin the movie for those who've not seen it yet. Let's just say that this movie has plenty of suspense and that if you like these types of movies, like myself, you'll really enjoy K-19 The Widowmaker. Another great performance by Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson and everybody else involved. Catch this movie before you have to wait a few months for it to hit the DVD rack.Movie Review: Truely breathtaking: view from across the ocean
Summary: 5 Stars
Being Russian myself, I should admit: this movie captures the heroic spirit of Russian submariners pretty well. I was unable to hold my tears a few times along the course of the movie. I was really surprised to discover that this movie pictured Russians in a truthful way, not the usual "drink some vodka - hug a bear" thing that was much overused by Hollywood in the past. That makes me even nevermind the only real pin I noticed (the scene where officers discuss the possibility that Gagarin wasn't the very first man in space).
Watching this movie will be a completely new expierence for you. If you are really willing to know how the events looked from the other side of the iron curtain, give it a try.
A couple clarifications:
* Some people confusedly beleive that the submarine had two captains. It's not true; it comes from the ranking system of USSR fleet. There's First Rank Captain title and Second Rank Captain title; both shortened to "Comrade Captain" in the movie. But only First Rank Captain is actually in command.
* It's pretty unlikely that Russian sailors actually showed their bare butts to the US helicopter pilot. This kind of gesture isn't used in Russia at all.