the audience applauded

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

This film, based on true events, tells the story of a swordfish fishing vessel who's caught in the middle of a colossal storm. It's a cinematic approach to the dangers of Grand Banks fishermen's face in real life. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, has screenplay by William D. Wittliff, based on the book by Sebastian Junger. The cast is headed by George Clooney (in the role of Billy Tyne, master of the fishing vessel) and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (in the role of Linda Greenlaw, captain of another ship), but also has other very talented actors like Bob Gunton, William Fichtner, John C. Reilly, Mark Wahlberg and Diane Lane.Since the beginning of time that the sailors and fishermen were subject to the dangers of sea and storms. This film talks about it, and a particular case that led to the loss of several lives when a storm of rare proportions explodes on the waters off of Gloucester, US. The script is well written and the story is touching. The sets and photography are blameless and the visual and sound effects are excellent, especially portraying the storm (indeed deserved the Oscar nomination precisely for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects). George Clooney was wonderfully in his role, giving him a huge personality, an old sailor soul who loves the sea, even with all the dangers of it. The cast, however, was all at a great level and manages to capture the sympathy of the audience, who suffers with them and go with them to the sea, eager to return to earth and get away from that cruel and rough waters.Although this movie has passed quietly and still be a film that is not much remembered, its an excellent disaster film (much better than others, showing disasters that never happen) that deals with facts that cost the lives of hundreds of fishermen and sailors every year. So, apart from a great movie, it's a beautiful tribute to these men and their families.

I really enjoyed Perfect Storm and I thought it was a thrillingly mesmerizing and suspenseful ride from beginning to end. What I'm particularly glad about having experienced from this movie is that I was able to feel the waves, waves splashing against the boat and the rain and felt as if I was in the middle of it all. A few other great things from this movie include the fact that the acting is excellent, that the film doesn't drive away from some of the characters' personal conflicts and problems, that you could feel the American essence in this movie and that the computerized waves are visually well designed and dark and designed in such a way that you can feel as if you were close to them. One flaw however is that the movie focuses a bit too much on the action and lacks any felt dramatization during the big main middle parts of the film's viewing. That's the one crucial element that I felt the movie was badly missing, unfortunately. Nevertheless the movie's positive points that I've listed in my review manage to save the day completely for me. My rating: 7.5/10

Captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) is struggling with a string of bad results. Others like Linda Greenlaw (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) are outfishing him. His crew is also struggling and they risk to go further than all the others. When their refrigeration goes, they either sit out the storms and lose their catch, or make a dash home through the Perfect Storm.The drama isn't really there. We all know what's going to happen. Wolfgang Peterson doesn't really give us any surprises, but quite frankly, I don't think he had any surprises to give. The background family stories aren't anything imaginative. He probably should have treated this like other disaster movies. Get to the disaster and have some action fun. It takes too long to get to the disaster.

George Clooney was trying to shake off his Dr Doug Ross "ER" image and Mark Wahlberg was trying to shake off Marky Mark for good. As both give a strong performance with great support from character actors Michael Ironside, Dale Murphy, and a then unknown John C Reiley. Based on a fact based movie in which a 1991 New England ship got lost in the storm aka hence the title. As the crew led by George, as the crew is hard pressed for money. Despite fears of a thunderstorm, they reluctantly agree to go.Which will test them professional and personally. As they bond together despite their differences. But really it makes you think that it is real. You forget that they are actors.They are ordinary people that just want to make a living and put food on the table. As the storm nears, the men must lean on another to make it out. Easier said than done.George and Mark have since gone onto better and bigger things since this movie thirteen years ago!