Overall Rating Awesome: 31.91% Worth A Look: 53.19% Average: 8.51% Pretty Bad: 2.13% Total Crap: 4.26% 3 reviews, 29 user ratings

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Crimson Tide

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by Ryan Arthur

"Go 'Bama!"

Now everyone who reads comic books knows that the Kirby Silver Surfer is the only TRUE Silver Surfer, now am I right or wrong?

This movie invites comparisons to submarine movies like Das Boot; Run Silent, Run Deep; and the Hunt for Red October. Pretty bold. But it works, and it works because it's not just an action picture, but because of the actors involved.

Lieutenant Commander Hunter (Denzel Washington) joins the crew of a U.S. nuclear submarine under the command of one Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman). The get along, but sparingly. Hunter questions Ramsey's judgment on several fronts, not the least of which is Ramsey's decision to run a weapons drill immediately following a fire in a kitchen where a man died. The sub gets orders to check out Russian activities, but loses contact with the surface. It looks bad: is World War III imminent? Ramsey thinks so; he's all set to launch a strike. But Hunter stages a mutiny. Then things get really tense.

According to the Navy, the mutiny angle is some sort of patent impossibility, but it's still good drama. There's something about seeing two great actors of Washington and Hackman's caliber sharing the scene, and reciting dialogue punched up by Quentin Tarantino, no less. Slick as hell (it is a Tony Scott movie, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and the late Don Simpson) and loaded with strong performances from the supporting roles as well as the principals.

A definite rental.

link directly to this review at http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=702&reviewer=7
originally posted: 10/01/98 00:05:45

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User Comments

2/20/11 Ark Very good. Lots of tension. "I am the commander of this vessel!" Great line! 5 stars

11/12/10 Jeff Wilder Excellent in providing tension. 4 stars

7/20/10 PAUL SHORTT GRIPPING UNDERSEA SUSPENSE DRAMA 4 stars

12/01/06 David Pollastrini very well done 5 stars

8/11/06 Sepi53 Super hyper great film of Gene and Denzel! 5 stars

6/08/06 Peggy Doty Great 5 stars

5/25/06 saw Denzel Washington made Denzel look stupid. see the movie! 5 stars

2/21/05 Captain Craig Two powerful actors face off for and all time ego contest. One of the best ever 5 stars

1/31/05 Lance Wright Best Cold War movie made. Terrific score as well. 5 stars

5/31/04 Gregor Hackman/Denzel great, movie so-so 3 stars

2/25/04 john pretty solid submarine movie clearly elevated by Hackman and Washington 4 stars

3/21/03 Graeme Sutcliffe this movie is fukin crap 1 stars

11/27/02 patrick mighty fine. 4 stars

10/24/02 Jim Boyce On A Par With The Hunt For Red October 5 stars

12/09/01 Mr. Hat (formerly Joe Zappa) Sometimes boring, sometimes good. 3 stars

11/09/01 R.W. Welch Okay Cold War drama; writing sometimes does not ring authentic. 3 stars

10/21/01 Shams Huque Fine film...Great musical score by Hans Zimmer. His best. 5 stars

2/03/01 Not Important This is one of the greats. Along with Hunt for Red October, Das Boot, and U571. 5 stars

12/29/00 Tara Lynn Dosado My absolute favorite movie. 5 stars

11/29/00 Cristopher Revilla intense flick, will keep you in the edge of your seat 5 stars

11/13/00 The EVIL Penguin I love it. The musical score is fabulous 5 stars

6/25/99 David Keech Two great actors are given a fairly compelling script. The result is a fun movie to watch. 4 stars

6/09/99 Elizaveta I LOVE the music! 5 stars

2/18/99 Piz Denzel and Hackman are great...never wanted to see a fight so bad since Rocky! 4 stars

11/22/98 little jerry Best submarine film ever made.Much better than DAS BOOT.Washington & Hackman are superb. 4 stars

10/27/98 Silent Rob How obvious can rewritten chunks of a script be...??? Check this out! 3 stars

9/06/98 Admiral Mung Bean Soda (+/- 12db) I can't remember much about this at all. I always get it confused with Red October. 2 stars

9/05/98 Jon Sucked compared to The Rock 1 stars

9/04/98 Badass A tense and extremely well-acted action movie. 5 stars

IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM, RATE IT!
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USA 12-May-1995 (R) DVD: 16-May-2006 UK N/A Australia 12-Jun-1995 (M)

Directed by Tony Scott Written by Michael Schiffer Richard P. Henrick Quentin Tarantino Cast Denzel Washington Gene Hackman Matt Craven George Dzundza Viggo Mortenson James Gandolfini

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