Poseidon

release year: 2006
genre: disaster drama/action
viewing setting: home DVD, 8/26/06

synopsis: A cruise ship is turned upside-down by a big wave, and a small group of survivors must work their way up to the bottom of the ship and find a way out before it sinks.

impressions: This was a pretty good remake, though it moved fast and was over in 90 minutes. There were a few differences between this and the original movie, mainly the lack of a strongly-motivated central character. Kurt Russell and Josh Lucas do good jobs, but it would be hard to top Gene Hackman's performance from the 1972 version. There was more of a sense of urgency in this one, as the ship slowly sank. All in all, I'd say watch both and see what you think as far as which is better.

things to watch for: When the wave hits the ship.

something this movie has that no other movie has: ????

acting: Kurt Russell is the dad who's worried about his daughter (Emmy Rossum) and her secret fiance (Mike Vogel.) All of these were pretty much standard characters. Josh Lucas is a loner, a con man who eventually comes around and decides to help the others. Richard Dreyfuss is a heartbroken architect who joins the group. Mia Maestro is a fairly useless survivor who puts the others in danger, as does the semi-annoying kid who wanders away and causes others to have to go look for him.

final word: Decent remake, worth seeing once.

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