White Squall
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Movie Reviews of White Squall
Movie Review: Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
It's a great movie. Kinda old, but it's fun to watch all the big name actors when they're young and not so great.Movie Review: White Squale
Summary: 4 Stars
Was an ok movie. I really wouldn't go to the movies to see it though.Movie Review: Stunning cinematography and almost no other merits to speak of!
Summary: 3 Stars
I watched Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review this Ridley Scott film. Ebert kept going on and on about how beautiful the boats looked and how extraordinary the storm sequences were. Siskel just listened and then said, "So what?" My sentiments exactly. What does one go to the movies for anyway, you'll have to ask yourself. Because if it's to see stunning visuals then "White Squall" is a must! But if you actually want something more than a screenplay hot off the Hollywood screenplay mass assembly line, then you can pass on this movie. All the cliched ingredients are there. This is basically one of those school boys yearn for adulthood and get taught the ropes on the high seas kind of deal. There is the underdog kid who comes through, there is the arrogant kid who gets taught a lesson and becomes less selfish, there is the skipper who teaches the youngsters and learns a thing or two about himself. I could go on and on. This screenplay seems like it was written by some dude straight out of college who has read every book on screenwriting ever published and decided that a great screenplay is all about how many formulas and cliches a writer can fit together into one movie.
A couple years ago I went through most of Ridley Scott's filmography because he is a one of a kind filmmaker who is all surface content. His style is flamboyant visual decadence, the kind that glossy advertisements are made of. In fact he was an ad man and directed many television ads including the famous "1984" Apple Macintosh commercial. He is a big-budget Hollywood director but since his visual style can be so overwhelming and identifiable, he is sometimes mistaken for an auteur, a genuine artist. He is not but he did hit a few home runs. "Alien" and "Blade Runner" would be at the top of the list. But watch some of his strike out movies to learn more. Movies like "Legend" with Tom Cruise, "Black Rain" with Michael Douglas and here "White Squall" with Jeff Bridges. Astounding visual feasts with little heart or soul beneath the gleaming, glossy veener. This is a director who needs to feed off a strong screenplay because all of his ideas are visual in nature, he does not understand anything else about filmmaking. So when you have a strong screenplay like Blade Runner, you get a modern sci-fi film classic. When you have a lousy, assembly line screenply like White Squall, you get a two hour advertisement for boats and oceanic getaways.
The big climactic storm sequence is a stunning feat of production wizardry. Afterwards I was utterly baffled by the denouement of the movie. It's a courtroom scene and one of some duration at that because that is precisely what a movie about boats, oceans and storms should end with... yes a courtroom scene where the characters recount their experiences with the captain on trial for negligence. But that's Ridley Scott, he is a slave to the screenplay even if it's not a good one.
This DVD of White Squall is not anamorphic, so keep that in mind if you have a widescreen TV. Furthermore a film like this would most certainly benefit from a Blu-ray release. It is definitely worth a watch just for the cinematography and production values alone. You never know, the assembly line screenplay might work for you more than it worked for me or Gene Siskel.
Movie Review: Wishy Washy
Summary: 3 Stars
I, for one, don't understand the loyalty that the kids showed their Captain in the final scenes. Nothing at sea convinced me that there was *any* kind of bonding going on whatsoever between anyone. When bonding issues did arise, they appeared faked, phony, and I didn't buy them for a second.
This is an interesting film to watch if you want to see a bunch of young, attractive boys running around practically naked most of the film. I can't imagine that the *real* cast (as this was based on a true story) was nearly as easy on the eye, so I don't understand why so many pretty faces were cast. What happened to average boys? Fat boys? There was one boy who wore thick glasses, but I ignored him, as he seemed to be the requisite.
This is an interesting film to watch if you want to see the ocean. Ridley Scott may not be the greatest at evoking emotions within the characters he directs, but he shoots one heck of a scene.
About 2/3 of the way through this film I asked myself, "Why am I still watching this? There's no plot, nothing of interest is happening, so what am I doing?" I did stop watching it, in fact, but then finished the last third two days later. At the end of the movie something actually happens, and it's very moving. It has to do with what the film is named for: a white squall. A white squall is a violent tropical or subtropical storm that stirs up the surface of the sea into whitecaps, but is limited to a very localized area, often with no storm clouds present. This was pretty much the case here, although I thought I spotted a few storm clouds. I won't say what happens when the white squall hits the ship, because if I do this review won't be published, but I will say that the film's only moments of quality come during the storm, and on land shortly thereafter (although on land, it's still a tad hoaky). The handling of the two events I write of raised this from a 2 star review to a 3 star review.
Movie Review: Upon further review...
Summary: 3 Stars
I've changed my rating of this film after watching it two more times. Originally, I liked the first part of the film much more than the ending, which features a court scene. I downrated the film on the contrast between the thoroughly entertaining film that features the 'boys on the boat', and the judicial scenes at the end of the film.
After seeing the film on two separate, subsequent occasions, I've changed my mind a bit. The final half hour of the film does match, in my changed viewpoint, the intensity and fine acting that preceded the last scences.
Jeff Bridges gives another excellent performance. His cool, laconic performance is just so right for this film. He hits every note.
Also to be praised is the acting of the rest of the cast. They do an excellent job conveying the melding of a crew out of a disparate group of young men with wildly different backgrounds. And Caroline Goodall gives an equally effective performance as his wife.
Admittedly, the film does follow some familiar paths during the titular storm. Let's say not all bodes well for everyone on the voyage.
Directed by Ridley Scott, who has directed such hits as 'Blackhawk Down' and 'Gladiator'. 'White Squall' is a quieter film than those, but equally as effective.
Recommended. But be sure to wear your life jacket when on one a boat called the 'Albatross'