If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

PHANTOM is a Cold War submarine thriller with a B-movie feel. I found it a worthwhile watch despite some deficiencies in terms of scripting and the like; the efforts of a stalwart cast help to make this an engaging and occasionally suspenseful viewing experience. Ed Harris, ever excellent, plays the captain of a Russian submarine who finds himself at odds with the strange orders he receives from the secret service men on board. David Duchovny relishes the opportunity to play a sinister character while the likes of William Fichtner and Lance Henriksen bring solid support. The film keeps you guessing at times and has the right kind of claustrophobic atmosphere you expect from a submarine flick; at times, it's also unexpectedly moving.

The work of Pen Densham is exceptional. The movie displays directorial talent but this just one of many. Ed Harris is one of America's most talented actors. The movie gets your blood racing and opens unanswered questions that never lose their relevance.The Captain of a vessel is in a sense the leader of a select group and primal issues of tribal coherence are uncovered.

I can't see why this movie is rated below, let's say, a 6.7. Lots of things to like here. Also, it is ridiculous that people give this movie a low rating because the actors don't speak with a Russian accent. Please. I had rather hear Ed Harris speaking English than to suffer through Harrison Ford trying to mimic a Russian accent in K-19: The Widowmaker. Russians don't speak with a Russian accent on a Russian submarine; they speak Russian. They sound to each other just like these American actors sound to each other. If you are a submarine movies buff, you will like this one. Some things seem a little bit hurried; but this is an independent film without a huge budget. I particularly liked that the ending is not the typical sub movie ending.

PHANTOM is a solidly entertaining, if unspectacular submarine thriller in a tradition of, but not quite reaching the level of better films such as THE HUNT FOR RED October (a clear inspiration, as Tony Scott was memorialized in the end credits). The cast is headed by Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, all of whom give respectable performances. Another plus is that the subject matter is never treated in a melodramatic way. Everyone plays it cool as they can given the circumstances of the story, but never descends into hysterical shouting matches. That being said, the movie is about a submarine captain, soon to retire, who is taking an old sub out for its last mission. During the course of the movie, he has to deal with hallucinatory episodes (brought on by epilepsy) and rogue KGB agents who have been implanted to carry out a covert mission. Dramatically, there are no surprises and the mechanics of the story are dealt with in a rather straightforward manner, but the actors help to elevate the material somewhat beyond its made-for-cable trappings. The camera-work and cinematography is OK. The action is mostly confined to a submarine, so the shots are mostly close-quarters, but there isn't any shaky-cam and geography is defined adequately. Also worth mentioning is the score, which reminded me at times of the Robert Downey Jr Sherlock Holmes movies. On the downside, one element which is hinted at and developed early on is that Ed Harris' character suffers from occasional hallucinations. This potentially could have added an extra layer of drama and suspense to the movie if they'd have stuck with it. However, after a few of these episodes, he explains why he's been having them and then it's dropped. Definitely a missed opportunity there. Also, despite the story being adequate, it's almost too mundane. These types of movies have been done many times before, and even though PHANTOM functions like a well-oiled machine, it could have done with a few extra flourishes to make it stand out some more. That being said, it's a perfectly serviceable thriller with decent performances and enough conflict/action to keep you interested.