Karnataka - Bangalore   

Not a complete disaster

Poseidon (English)

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Cast: Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss

Director Wolfgang Petersen insists that Poseidon is "a journey into madness... marching right into hell." That seems a tad hyperbolic to describe a film about a cruise ship that capsizes after being hit by a 150-foot rogue wave. It would not have seemed out of place to describe Paul Gallico's novel, The Poseidon Adventure in those words. The book, classified under science fiction, described the survivors' nightmare journey through the many levels of the ship, which had more than a passing resemblance to the circles of hell described by Dante. The book inspired an all star cast film in 1972, which Petersen has chosen to remake.

The premise is the same — rogue wave hits liner and turns it upside down. Most people stick around with the captain in the ballroom and wait for help while a group decide to climb up to the hull (it is upside down right?) and get out of the ship.

The effects push the envelope technically, while there have not been any creative envelopes pushed. So while for sheer sense of scale the rogue wave looks menacing and as it hits the ship, is an undisputed money shot, it is not something you would remember once you step out of the hall.

The characters are so woefully underdeveloped that you could not care less if they made it or not. There is the gambler who is leader (Josh Lucas), the over-protective dad (Kurt Russell), single mom, child in peril, couple in love, stowaway, crewmember and gay architect (Richard Dreyfuss).

With Petersen deciding to come down firmly on the side of political incorrectness, his treatment of Richard Dreyfuss' character was puzzling.

The film can be enjoyed on a thoroughly surface level - with its efficiently choreographed action set pieces and SFX pyrotechnics. Only do not go to the film expecting answers to the meaning of life. Anyway since when did we go to the movies for answers?

-Chhibber

Mini Anthikad -Chhibber

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