Crimson Tide (1995)

Disappointing transfer to DVD

This review refers to the 1998 edition of 'Crimson Tide'. The movie itself is good, worth 5 stars. The transfer to DVD is relatively poor (not horrible, acceptable)for a recenet movie (1998). The format is widescreen, but NOT enhanced for large screen TVs, so you wind up with the "letterbox" picture with large swaths of black on all sides of the picture--not good for an action film like this (why do the studios still issue DVDs with this format? It is so annoying!). The sound is OK--Dolby 5.1, but the picture is somewhat grainy--moreso than it should be. The DVD transfer is mediocre at best. I viewed this on a 46-inch high definition TV, played on my Toshiba 1080p HD DVD. This movie is now available on Blu-ray which is supposed to look great. I'll repurchase the movie in Blu-ray after I decide to get a Blu-ray player. April 30, 2008

In deference to Submarine Sailors who've seen this film

I rented a VHS of this film a few years ago, and my review is based upon that viewing of Crimson Tide.

Having served in the Navy for two years at COMSUBPAC Staff in the early 1970s along with officers and enlisted submarine sailors, I fully respect the thoughts and comments made on this page about Crimson Tide by submarine veterans. And they are right - the public needs to understand that what is portrayed in this movie would not really happen aboard a boomer [U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine] if the reception of missile launch orders is intrerrupted in real life.

Unlike another reviewer on this page who felt that these submarine veterans should "get off their high horse" and wondered what really goes on down in the deep if they don't like the inaccuracy of this movie and "whine about it like a sissy", I will only tactfully say that all people who view this film, be they veterans who have been there - done that, or be they civilians who have no knowledge of the life of a ballistic missile submariner, or the strict regulations and code by which these boomer submariners live, that all should keep in mind - this is only a movie. It's purely a fiction made only for entertainment, and not a documentary intended for the dispersal of truth.

Having said that, I also think that Hollywood needs to seriously review it's way of looking at our brave men and women in the armed forces, even if their product is meant for entertainment, and not for fact.

If you are looking for a film to accurately portray what would really happen on a boomer if it received incomplete radio orders regarding a missile launch, then don't look to Crimson Tide for the truth.

If you are looking for an entertaining story of conflict between strict obedience of orders and the responsibility of reason, then Crimson Tide is a film you want to see.

Somebody else wrote that "The Hunt For Red October" is a "thinking man's action film", and it is.

In a very different way, so is Crimson Tide.

Whether you feel this movie is good or bad, is up to you, really.

Captain Ramsey [Gene Hackman] is the captain of the USS ALABAMA, a real-life ballistic missile submarine. His new Executive officer is Commander Turner [Denzel Washington]. After a former Soviet Republic has fallen under control of a despotic dictator, and gained access to formerly Soviet ballistic missiles, and threatened to launch them against the United States, the ALABAMA is sent to patrol the waters surrounding that country.

While on patrol near this Soviet Republic, the ALABAMA receives an authenticated order to launch missiles, followed by a second order that gets cut off when the ALABAMA is attacked by a Soviet attack submarine.

Captain Ramsey believes it is his duty - and Commmander Turner's - to simply obey the first message, and launch the missiles NOW! Commander Turner believes it is his duty - and Captain Ramsey's - to resume radio contact with the Chain of Command BEFORE taking any further action.

That conflict sets up the drama - and the action - throughout the film.

What would YOU do?

Thought-provoking, and entertaining.

And much of what is portrayed in the film is very different from what it would be like on a real boomer.

Submarine Veterans have posted thier comments here, critical of the film's accuracy, and with good reason. They have been on those missile boats, and the producers and writers of this movie have not. That's the way it is, folks.

The Submarine veterans whom I was fortunate to serve with - and under - at COMSUBPAC were, to a man, fully professional sailors, all. They are men of their word. So when boomer sailors weigh in here to compare this movie with how these circumstances would really be answered on a sub in real life, you can rest assured that they're telling it like it is.

Listen to them.

I recommend this movie only with the caveat that the viewer be fully aware that Crimson Tide is only a well-written fiction, and nothing like what really happens - or would happen - aboard the Navy's ballistic missile submarines.

Listen carefully to what the Submarine Veterans have to say about this movie. Read their comments about it on this page.

Then - Enjoy the movie with your eyes open.




February 18, 2008

Proves that a movie can be great...

...even without gratuitous sex and graphic violence. It has been almost 12 years since I first saw this movie, and I can still watch it today with great interest. The acting is superb, the dialogue convincing, and the plot intriguing. Director Tony Scott sets up the antagonism/contrast between the two main characters from the beginning. And each subsequent scene advances the building conflict until it reaches a boiling point when they disagree on how to handle an incomplete communique. Washington and Hackman give Oscar-worthy performances as Executive Officer and Captain. One of the most believable performances I have ever seen in a movie occurs just before the Captain is first relieved from duty. The movie is worth buying just to witness this confrontation!

And the co-stars are no acting slouches either. Stellar performances are given by James Gadofini (sp?), Matt Craven, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, Rocky Carroll and Danny Nucci. There are not many movies my husband and I agree on -- he likes action and violence while I like action but not 'graphic' violence -- but Crimson Tide is one that we have both enjoyed over the years. October 21, 2007

Newer submarine movies

Probably the 2nd best of the newer sub moview. I was not a big Denzel fan.
Just did not care for the roles he chooses to play. But he is a great actor and built a new wing for the army hospital in Texas a few years ago.
Plus he has played a few roles now where the race is not a main issue.
Good DVD quality. July 26, 2007

Washington and Hackman battle it out , and we win

This is a very smart and tense "thriller" with great action and a very strong script about a sub out of contact with base and orders to fire or not fire nukes. Hackman is the captain and thinks they were ordered to Washington is his second and thinks they shouldn't. the drama and action flow from ideas instead of just mindless action. A great movie for people who like a little meat with their action. March 9, 2007

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