IM erstmals direkt an Kinoeinspielergebnis beteiligt - 500 Beiträge pro Seite
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Werte aus der Branche Printmedien
| Wertpapier | Kurs | Perf. % |
|---|---|---|
| 1,5300 | +264,29 | |
| 1,0000 | +66,64 | |
| 7,5000 | +43,68 | |
| 1,9000 | +33,80 | |
| 14,230 | +18,58 |
| Wertpapier | Kurs | Perf. % |
|---|---|---|
| 14.400,00 | -8,86 | |
| 10,920 | -9,23 | |
| 11.800,00 | -9,23 | |
| 5,7500 | -9,45 | |
| 3,8900 | -19,79 |
FeedbackIM ist an dem Film zum ersten mal direkt am Bruttoeinspielergebnis beteiligt, d.h. das Unternehmen erhält Einnahmen bevor Werbungs- undVertriebskosten des US-Verleihers abgezogen werden. Obwohl der Kinoumsatz wie bei allen anderen Filmen am Wochenende hinter denErwartungen zurückgeblieben ist, ist das Management zuversichtlich, dass sich der Film über mehrere Wochen hinweg im Kino halten wird.
Die Aktie musste am Freitag ein Minus von 3,57 Prozent auf 2,70 Euro hinnehmen.
Wertpapiere des Artikels:
IM INTERNATIONALMED. O.N
Autor: (© wallstreet:online AG / SmartHouse Media GmbH),08:51 22.07.2002
...und nu ???
Die Meldungen waren ja nun nicht so schlecht - eigentlich eher gut - was passiert hier !!!
Die Meldungen waren ja nun nicht so schlecht - eigentlich eher gut - was passiert hier !!!
Immer mit der Ruhe...
Die nervösen Zocker steigen jetzt aus, das ist alles.
Mir reicht, dass K-19 kein Flopp ist, der Kurs wird bald wieder gen Norden gehen.
Die nervösen Zocker steigen jetzt aus, das ist alles.
Mir reicht, dass K-19 kein Flopp ist, der Kurs wird bald wieder gen Norden gehen.
Die Zocker sind ausgestiegen, kurz- bis mittelfristig sehe ich IM bei deutlich über 3€!
Denke auch, dass dies ganz und gar kein Flop war, sondern die Mio EUR 80 locker erreichbar sind, denn ein Film dieses Themengebietes hat meiner Meinung nach eine längere Halbwertszeit als die durchschnittlichen US Filme. Solle der Kurs noch einmal an seine Cash Position zu EUR 1,90 werde ich zuschlagen.
Trading Spotlight
Sieht nicht so aus, als bekommst Du noch welche. Kurs wird mindestens auf 2,40 korrigieren.
..Na ich denke auch das sich der kurs wieder einpegeln wird - es gibt ja nun wirklich keinen Grund für -20% - der Film wird sein weg machen !!!
Buy
Buy
Interessant ist zu sehen, dass das Volumen nicht gerade hoch erscheint, wenn man annimmt, dass sich vor allem die ganze letzte Woche angebliche Kurzsfristzocker positioniert haben sollten.
@Herby
Habe heute auch erst einmal verkauft. Die Sache mit K 19 ist mir zu schwammig.
Grundsätzlich trau ich IM die geplanten Zahlen zu, denke aber auch, es geht erstmal wieder unter 2 Euro.
Zumal die USA wieder für Druck sorgen müssten. Wenn die offiziellen Box-OfficeZahlen vorliegen, kann man wieder über einen Einstieg nachdenken.
Schauen wir mal.
Habe heute auch erst einmal verkauft. Die Sache mit K 19 ist mir zu schwammig.
Grundsätzlich trau ich IM die geplanten Zahlen zu, denke aber auch, es geht erstmal wieder unter 2 Euro.
Zumal die USA wieder für Druck sorgen müssten. Wenn die offiziellen Box-OfficeZahlen vorliegen, kann man wieder über einen Einstieg nachdenken.
Schauen wir mal.
http://www.crankycritic.com/archive02/K19.html
Starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson
Screenplay by Christopher Kyle; story by Louis Nowra
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
website: www.k19movie.com
IN SHORT: A meltdown. [Rated PG-13 for disturbing images. 135 minutes]
Once upon a time, a long time ago, we spent a year working on the No Nukes project. The thing we learned about "radiation poisoning" in that year is that you can`t educate people about dangers that they can`t see. What we hoped for was to get a huge crowd of people together, get `em the information and hope that it cracked the brainpan enough to raise some awareness and stimulate action down the line. We did -- no nukes have been built in twenty years. Has what we tried to pipe down the line about the dangers of atomic power made an impact? Nope.
The twentysomethings in our audience, barely functioning organisms back around 1980, walked out of our screening of K-19: The Widowmaker smirking "Indiana Jones. Commie Hero." The thing is, K-19 disappoints on so many levels that we didn`t disagree with the sentiment, if not the wording. The thought immediately crossed our minds that the film may have worked much better had the lead roles been switched, but that was never our call to make. More to the point, if you make a movie about a killing machine, and put "widowmaker" in the title, the expectation is among the target demo is that you`re going to see it kill. It does. But not in the way you want. That`s called "irony". It`s tough to sell a film about irony.
K-19 was the first in what was to be the pride of a fleet of nuclear Soviet submarines, one that would balance the scales of power between the USSR and the United States. It was rushed out of dock before it was completed, Russians take pride in keeping schedules, and a leak in the cooling system crippled the ship. Left unrepaired, the damage came way too close to a nuclear meltdown of the sub`s atomic core and, given its position near the East coast of the United States, could have taken out a hunk of population at the height of the cold war. July 4, 1961, actually. If the meltdown had occurred, the Soviets may have had about half an hour to enjoy the irony of the date. Of course
And if that isn`t enough, you`re damned lucky not to have known any of it. We`re barely old enough to remember "duck and cover" drills in elementary school. We walked in to K-19: The Widowmaker with enough background knowledge that, if it had been a well told story, we would have been on the edge of our seats. We weren`t. Your results may vary.
There are a lot of stories behind the true tale of K-19. Soviet politics. Military politics. Cold War politics. A story of a girl left at home. A story of a man and his hamster -- think "canary in a coal mine" and get your minds out of the gutter. One lifelong submariner, Captain Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson), the only commander to oversee the fabrication of this advanced weapon, and his last minute replacement, Captain Alexi Vostrikov (Harrison Ford - click for CrankyCritic® StarTalk). Politics. The conflict between these two men and the loyalty of a crew is almost enough to drive any story worthy of the A-list actors in this one. Trying to balance that against a story with the visuals of radiation chomping down on the sub`s crew is a decision that didn`t work for us. The human story is always the better one. By the time a preachy final scene designed to emphasize the human cost of the events has run its course that human story had been long lost.
There`s little to tell about a story in which the "real" enemy is the invisible one. Yes, the US Navy makes an appearance and politics plays a role. Yes, we were aware of the politics and tensions of the time, though little of that translated onto the big screen. Yes, we think, the casting was backwards. At its center, K-19 is, to us, a story of two strong men brought down at the peak of their power. Sometimes, in this case the whole time, the memories of a strong character can bring down a performance in the minds of an audience. Repeat what the twentysomethings said a couple of `graphs above. They were right.
On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to K-19: The Widowmaker, he would have paid . . .
$3.00
rent.
--------------------------------------------------
Dafür, dass für IM Internationalmedia sehr viel von diesem Film abhängt, scheint er wirklich nicht besonders gut zu sein.
Harrison Ford hat für die nur 20 Drehtage (erscheint mir sehr wenig an Zeitaufwand) 25 Millionen Dollar erhalten. (siehe
http://www.de.cineman.ch/news/archive/624.html
Höhenflüge von Internationalmedia sind aufgrund dieses Films dann wohl nicht zu erwarten. Alltimelow läßt grüßen.
Starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson
Screenplay by Christopher Kyle; story by Louis Nowra
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
website: www.k19movie.com
IN SHORT: A meltdown. [Rated PG-13 for disturbing images. 135 minutes]
Once upon a time, a long time ago, we spent a year working on the No Nukes project. The thing we learned about "radiation poisoning" in that year is that you can`t educate people about dangers that they can`t see. What we hoped for was to get a huge crowd of people together, get `em the information and hope that it cracked the brainpan enough to raise some awareness and stimulate action down the line. We did -- no nukes have been built in twenty years. Has what we tried to pipe down the line about the dangers of atomic power made an impact? Nope.
The twentysomethings in our audience, barely functioning organisms back around 1980, walked out of our screening of K-19: The Widowmaker smirking "Indiana Jones. Commie Hero." The thing is, K-19 disappoints on so many levels that we didn`t disagree with the sentiment, if not the wording. The thought immediately crossed our minds that the film may have worked much better had the lead roles been switched, but that was never our call to make. More to the point, if you make a movie about a killing machine, and put "widowmaker" in the title, the expectation is among the target demo is that you`re going to see it kill. It does. But not in the way you want. That`s called "irony". It`s tough to sell a film about irony.
K-19 was the first in what was to be the pride of a fleet of nuclear Soviet submarines, one that would balance the scales of power between the USSR and the United States. It was rushed out of dock before it was completed, Russians take pride in keeping schedules, and a leak in the cooling system crippled the ship. Left unrepaired, the damage came way too close to a nuclear meltdown of the sub`s atomic core and, given its position near the East coast of the United States, could have taken out a hunk of population at the height of the cold war. July 4, 1961, actually. If the meltdown had occurred, the Soviets may have had about half an hour to enjoy the irony of the date. Of course
And if that isn`t enough, you`re damned lucky not to have known any of it. We`re barely old enough to remember "duck and cover" drills in elementary school. We walked in to K-19: The Widowmaker with enough background knowledge that, if it had been a well told story, we would have been on the edge of our seats. We weren`t. Your results may vary.
There are a lot of stories behind the true tale of K-19. Soviet politics. Military politics. Cold War politics. A story of a girl left at home. A story of a man and his hamster -- think "canary in a coal mine" and get your minds out of the gutter. One lifelong submariner, Captain Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson), the only commander to oversee the fabrication of this advanced weapon, and his last minute replacement, Captain Alexi Vostrikov (Harrison Ford - click for CrankyCritic® StarTalk). Politics. The conflict between these two men and the loyalty of a crew is almost enough to drive any story worthy of the A-list actors in this one. Trying to balance that against a story with the visuals of radiation chomping down on the sub`s crew is a decision that didn`t work for us. The human story is always the better one. By the time a preachy final scene designed to emphasize the human cost of the events has run its course that human story had been long lost.
There`s little to tell about a story in which the "real" enemy is the invisible one. Yes, the US Navy makes an appearance and politics plays a role. Yes, we were aware of the politics and tensions of the time, though little of that translated onto the big screen. Yes, we think, the casting was backwards. At its center, K-19 is, to us, a story of two strong men brought down at the peak of their power. Sometimes, in this case the whole time, the memories of a strong character can bring down a performance in the minds of an audience. Repeat what the twentysomethings said a couple of `graphs above. They were right.
On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to K-19: The Widowmaker, he would have paid . . .
$3.00
rent.
--------------------------------------------------
Dafür, dass für IM Internationalmedia sehr viel von diesem Film abhängt, scheint er wirklich nicht besonders gut zu sein.
Harrison Ford hat für die nur 20 Drehtage (erscheint mir sehr wenig an Zeitaufwand) 25 Millionen Dollar erhalten. (siehe
http://www.de.cineman.ch/news/archive/624.html
Höhenflüge von Internationalmedia sind aufgrund dieses Films dann wohl nicht zu erwarten. Alltimelow läßt grüßen.
Moin,
Na das war wohl nichts mit dem Megazock.
Aber soo schrecklich finde ich das alles auch nicht.
Immerhin :
1. K19 wird die 80 Mio wohl bringen (Man achte auf die wesentlich geringere Abflachung der Zuschauerzahlen am Sonntag, da lag K19 praktisch mit den ersten Drei gleichauf)
2. IM hat den Mund nicht zu voll genommen. Wir haben nur ein wenig zu rosig gehofft.
3. Das Umfeld ist dermaßen saumäßig, dass die 20% minus fast moderat sind nach der aufgeheizten Stimmung
Ergo : Mittelfristig wird IM wieder normal bewertet werden. Das 3. Quartal bringt ein positives Ergebnis und damit Freude allenortens. Dann dürfte der Kurs sich wieder um die fünf einpendeln. (Bleibt die Stimmung so mies dann eher zwischen 3 und 4, sollten mal wieder bessere Tage kommen, dann auch deutlich höher)
Also: Abwarten .. Tee trinken und sich bei diesen Kursen noch ein wenig eindecken
ctd
Na das war wohl nichts mit dem Megazock.
Aber soo schrecklich finde ich das alles auch nicht.
Immerhin :
1. K19 wird die 80 Mio wohl bringen (Man achte auf die wesentlich geringere Abflachung der Zuschauerzahlen am Sonntag, da lag K19 praktisch mit den ersten Drei gleichauf)
2. IM hat den Mund nicht zu voll genommen. Wir haben nur ein wenig zu rosig gehofft.
3. Das Umfeld ist dermaßen saumäßig, dass die 20% minus fast moderat sind nach der aufgeheizten Stimmung
Ergo : Mittelfristig wird IM wieder normal bewertet werden. Das 3. Quartal bringt ein positives Ergebnis und damit Freude allenortens. Dann dürfte der Kurs sich wieder um die fünf einpendeln. (Bleibt die Stimmung so mies dann eher zwischen 3 und 4, sollten mal wieder bessere Tage kommen, dann auch deutlich höher)
Also: Abwarten .. Tee trinken und sich bei diesen Kursen noch ein wenig eindecken
ctd
Ich meine, man sollte einen Film nicht gleich als schlecht beurteilen, nur weil irgendjemand ihn durch den Kakau zieht. Insgesamt scheinen die positiven Einschätzungen zu überwiegen:
Nach http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/K19TheWidowmaker-1115600/ sind immerhin 59% der Kritiker positiv gestimmt.
Man darf auch nicht vergessen, dass sich IEM in einem Rechtsstreit mit einer anderen Produktionsfirma befunden hat, die ihrerseits Urheberrechte beansprucht hatte (http://cinezone.com/zone/1/html/index_link.html#/zone/1/2001…). Nicht auszuschließen, dass von dieser Seite K19 mit gezielten Negativkritiken torpediert
wird.
Um die "vernichtende" Kritik von #10 ein wenig auszugleichen, hier noch ein paar andere Meinungen zum Film:
Date: 19 July 2002
Summary: A Better Das Boot(Spoiler Alert)
Altogether a first-rate movie. This film was well-acted, well-written and generally well-directed.
Harrison Ford really gave a superb performance. He was permitted to be someone with depth. His character was a truly Soviet paradox. His father was a patriot who ended up in the Gulag and the son was trying to make up for his father`s perceived failure. However, when it became apparent that he was leading his crew into mass suicide, he put their safety first on his agenda, much to the chagrin of the politicians.
Liam Neeson didn`t get to do a whole lot except look sort of earnest. The other supporting characters ranged from excellent(the guy who played Vadim) to really awful(the guy who played the mutineer with the mustache).
One small criticism however. Why do people insist on making a movie where Russians are in theory speaking Russian to other Russians in which those actors speak English to each other with Russian accents. While Neeson had a decent accent some of the others were like Boris Badenov(Bring me moose and squerrel!!). However, people speaking their native languages don`t have foreign accents when they speak them. It would have been more appropriate to have no accents.
Ralph Michael Stein (lawprof@pipeline.com)
As the Cold Ware Fears Recede
Date: 19 July 2002
Summary: New York, NY
"K-19: The Widowmaker" should be compared to "The Hunt for Red October." Steeped in Cold War-inspired dialogue, Tom Clancy and the film`s director and stars gave us Soviet naval officers we could admire. After all, the sub`s skipper, Sean Connery, wanted to deliver his sparkling new and formidable vessel to the U.S. And he wasn`t looking for a cash reward. His No. 2, played by Sam Neill, died wishing he could only have seen Montana before expiring. The ship`s political officer was a stereotypical Commie. It`s a good film but its exciting story made up for its lack of depth and surfeit of anti-Soviet passion.
Director Kathryn Bigelow, one of the few women who effectively direct action films AND understand the military mind, has given us, with a very talented cast, a first-rate film that is both derivative and original.
In the beginning "Captain Mikhail Polenin" (Liam Neeson) is, depending on your viewpoint, either the lucky commanding officer of his country`s newest (in 1961) nuclear sub or the poor sap stuck with an impossible and career-ending assignment. The pride of the Soviet sub flotilla can`t get through a dry dock test without systems self-destructing.
The regime and the navy`s satraps need K-19 to deploy immediately so that its missile system can be tested and the vessel can be stationed off the U.S. coast as a foil to U.S. subs able to launch against Moscow and Leningrad (I think the latter city`s name has been changed,
). The high-ranking officers, now piloting chairs, reflect the exclusively strategically-oriented priorities of military men who are too removed from the men they send into harm`s way.
Relieved of command but retained as executive officer, Polenin welcomes aboard "Captain Alexi Vostrikov" (Harrison Ford), touted as the best sub honcho in the Soviet Navy. There`s a lack of plausibility in any navy allowing a demoted skipper to remain as No. 2 but with the Soviets a lot of weird things happened (and this drama more or less tracks a real incident).
Interesting thing about the Soviet defense industry: innovation in design (a lot of it) was more often than not followed by fiascos in production (a VERY lot of it). K-19 is no exception and critical systems reflect poor assembly and substandard parts. Vital equipment is missing. Almost from the moment of weighing anchor K-19 is a challenge and, as many of the crew believe, a "Widowmaker."
Polenin understands the hazards. So does his new boss but Capt. Vostrikov is a "damn the torpedoes [literally], full speed ahead" sort of sailor. Lord Nelson and ADM Halsey would both have appreciated having him under their respective commands.
Of course a series of disasters ensue during which the crew`s mettle is tested to the utmost. The cinema`s familiar, public and vocal dispute between a hard-driving C.O. and his tender-hearted, adored-by-the-crew, second-in-command follows. (Think "In Harm`s Way" or "Run Silent, Run Deep").
The action sequences reflect the deep fear felt in the tight quarters of a submarine in trouble. The injuries are very graphically portrayed. World War II`s wounds give way to the horrors created by a nuclear reactor gone amuck. Some younger children, even teenagers, might be very disturbed by the injury scenes notwithstanding the PG-13 rating.
The captain expresses anti-American sentiments but they realistically reflect his professional career and personal life behind the Iron Curtain, not the mindless blurting of party slogans. Even the sub`s political officer has a much less doctrinaire personality as opposed to his ""Hunt for Red October" counterpart.
Recent books have disclosed many stories, once top secret, about the cat-and-mouse maneuvers and intelligence operations that our submarines undertook during the height of the Cold War. Doubtlessly, more stories will emerge from Russia in coming years. "K-19" is probably the most realistic film about this deadly and treacherous game of geo-politics so far. The recent tragedy of the Russian Navy submarine "Kursk" and the initial almost paranoid response of some Russian admirals certainly showed that the suspicions of the Cold War are hardly vanished today.
What really takes this film beyond the ambit of we`ve-seen-it-all-before war and naval dramas is the deep humanity of the ship`s crew which transcends ideology. Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson turn in top-notch, convincing portraits. Ms. Bigelow has insured that even in fast scenes and vignettes we can`t miss realizing these are scared sailors and that our navy personnel would have behaved the same if confronted with similar challenges.
Several pre-release articles have harped on the assumed and unconvincing Russian accents of the cast (the whole script is in English). The producer`s explanation is that actors from many countries are in the film and a Russian accent was a levelling device. No matter, you ignore it after the first few minutes.
Incidentally, the score is quite good and it is performed very well. That`s no surprise since world-renowned conductor Valery Gergiev led the Kirov Ballet Orchestra for the soundtrack.
8/10.
george.schmidt (george.schmidt@hbo.com)
FAIRVIEW, NJ
Date: 22 July 2002
Summary: CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS
K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (2002) **1/2 Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard. Based on actual events this Cold War thriller suffers from Hollywood-ization all too blatantly in taking its story about a Russian nuclear submarine making its maiden voyage to the United States with its dueling captains (a blunt Ford and a noble Neeson, both sporting questionable Soviet accents) facing impossible odds when a radioactive leak threatens their mission. The script by Christopher Kyle and Louis Nowra have the best intentions in showing the ?enemy` in a humane light that succeeds but is only lost when the limp third act bows to political correctness and predictability throughout loses the intent: unsung heroes in a nightmarish situation. Director Kathryn Bigelow plays all her cards right even if they are stacked against her favor; she does the best she can in the waterlogged histrionics set up.
brucedino
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: Surprise Hit Of The Summer
I must admit I entered this film with low expectations. From what little I knew about it, it reeked of mediocrity and sounded like something that only the over 50 Tom Clancy crowd might enjoy. It actually turned out to be a very good film, not great, but good and thats something considering its mid-july. This film had a heart. You cared about these men. The filmmakers did an excellent job of bringing this relatively unknown piece of history to the big screen. It would`ve been all too easy for them to have turned this into something else riddled with underwater battles, explosions, etc. but they stuck to their guns and didn`t abused their creative license. The whole thing rang true. I saw this with a friend of mine who served in the Soviet Army and he found many of the details to be quite accurate and was even impressed with the American actors Russian accents.
John DeSando (jdesando@columbus.rr.com)
Columbus, Ohio
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: This is one of the best films, despite its slow first hour, to study responsibility, authority, and heroism.
Some colleges include courses, even majors, in leadership. The film `K-19: The Widowmaker` should be required viewing, as `Patton` often is, for an example of conflicted command. This is a true story of Russia`s first nuclear ballistic submarine, malfunctioning in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961.
Harrison Ford plays a cold-war Soviet U boat captain devoted to the motherland and communism. Liam Neeson is his executive officer, devoted to the goodwill and survival of his men. The conflict is predictable; what is not easy to discern, however, is who is right or wrong. Given that the nuclear element of the boat eventually places everyone in harm`s way, it is difficult for the captain or the audience to see clearly whether or not to save the men from radiation poisoning or the world from a hydrogen-like explosion.
Spiderman learned that with great power comes great responsibility. `K-19,` admirable in showing that responsibility, features a mature Harrison Ford, partly villain and partly hero in a challenging mix. No confusion, however, over his awkward Russian accent.
Director Kathryn Bigelow (`Weight of Water`) makes the claustrophobia palpable but bearable with a fluid and rapid camera allowing you to breathe while death stalks the ship. This is one of the best films, despite its slow first hour, to study responsibility, authority, and heroism.
JanAimee
Pacific NW, US
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: K-19: The Oscar winner-maker
I got free passes for 2 for a sneak peak from a local news weekly. [The seats were really comfy and the food way over priced, but what`s new about that.] There are some great visual/special effects moments in the film and everything seems very true to life. And that blue building in Moscow that shows up twice, sure looks like the "Russian White House" where Yeltsen stood his ground during the coup attempt that ended the Communist Party`s control of the Soviet Union. Filming on location in the real location always adds to a film`s quality.
The musical score was excellent. Though I think the best music in a movie about a Soviet Sub, was the singing of the Soviet national anthem in Hunt for Red October by the entire sub crew.
I was surprised at the PG-13 rating. I would not recommend this movie for anyone under 13. This movie is not for the easily scared, nail biters, or those who do not have a strong stomach. If I tell you why you need a strong stomach, it might give things away. While I have seen the movie, I haven`t seen the trailers or TV ads, so I don`t know how much they give away in advance.
Cortex (matrixcpf@hotmail.com)
San Marcos, California, USA
Date: 22 July 2002
Summary: Great Film
What makes this an amazing film is that it is based on a true story. While watching this film, I couldn`t help but think that all these characters actually existed. Knowing that these people in the film actually existed makes the film more impact-full.
I have to be honest though, I was less than impressed with the previews for the film. I wanted to see it because of Harrison Ford, he`s one of the best actors out there, so I had to see it, but the previews just didn`t do it justice.
The actors in the film do a great job throughout the film. The only two faces that I recognized in the film are Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson, who both did a great job in the film. The rest of the cast was very good too.
If you`re into films involving heroism and war films, than hopefully you`ll like this film. I thought it was a great film, and I hope you will feel the same. Thank you for reading,
-Chris
Bruce L. Jones (bjones@accex.net)
Southern California
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Surprisingly good ...
I went to see this because I already had seen almost everything else playing and it looked as though it might be interesting. I wasn`t so sure I wanted to see a movie about Soviet submariners. I served aboard American submarines in the 1960`s and 1970`s and I still have trouble not thinking of them as an enemy. On top of that I knew the entire real story of K19. I was a design engineer for the Department of Defense for many years and ended my career in a department for US submarine design. I felt, what more could I learn enough to make it worth the price of a ticket? I was pleasantly surprised.
Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson did admirably well, even if their accents weren`t always perfect (why bother with accents anyway in situations when real characters would not have been speaking English?). But I was far more impressed - and entertained - by the phalanx of unknown actors making up the remainder of the cast. They were marvelous and gave a heightened sense of realism just because their faces weren`t familiar. Sam Spruell was especially touching as Dimitri. That it is his first work is a real treat to see. But the rest, Peter Stebbins, Christian Camargo, Roman Podhora, Ravil Issyanov and Dmitry Chepovetsky; where did they find these wonderful actors? Great casting overall ...
The submarine environment was recreated with a nice feel for a foreign boat and the methods and problems those men faced were compelling, even to this very experienced high-tech expert. I loved the sets and costumes, it was very well staged, even down to the correct color handles on the Makarov`s. I appreciated that the film makers cared enough to create this much realism for my enjoyment. I was kind of surprised, too, that the director was a woman. Usually this much action - especially military - is the sole province of men. But Kathryn Bigelow did a wonderful job, perhaps because there was more emotional tension and suspense than in the usual action offering.
The other stellar ingredient for me was the wonderful selection of locations. Most were in Canada, but some was done in Russia, I see. It all looked so great.
I will not discuss the actual subject of the movie. I wouldn`t want to spoil it. One can find a documentary or two on the subject for more information. This is a more passionate telling of it though. It is a well thought out version of the actual events and does much to make my former enemy look human. I appreciate the effect. The story`s largest lesson is that heroism can be found anywhere and the effect on those around it are universal.
mrow (mrow@pacbell.net)
Placentia, California
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: A far more plausible "Red October"
I found a world of difference between the more plausible rush-to-launch K-19 and the finely-honed state-of-the-art Red October in the fictional Clancy novel/screenplay. It`s Das Boot, updated and with a Soviet bent. I felt there were excellent performances by all concerned; I could not find fault with any of them, nor with the direction. Some of the cinematography was downright clever, helped along I suppose by newer, lighter camera designs. However, digital water abounds.
Nicely made, but it would have benefitted (sorry, just my opinion) from a more prominent mainstream composer like Horner or Zimmer. But the Klaus Badelt score works acceptably well, if slightly aimless in the early scenes. Few would have noticed, but the Soviet National Anthem is conspicuously missing (there was a scene where it definitely should have played, at the launching of K-19) and I am wondering about some sort of political disagreement with regard to a sign-off on that. The title music is patterned after the anthem, and most likely that is no accident. I did not realize permission was required to use an anthem, so am quite curious as to the nature of the back story. I cannot think of a good reason why the melody would not have been used.
This is a suspenseful film which I feel finds balance in most if not all aspects of the storytelling. Factual, but "some of the names were changed to protect the innocent" sort-of-thing. Certainly there will be disagreement, as the subject matter is so charged with political issues and personal feelings. The portrayal of this incident fits well with all that I know of the facts so far, and of the Soviet military and economic system in general and the politics of the day. Years ago, scenes could not easily be filmed in Russia. That has changed, and the result is refreshing. One of the best films I`ve seen this year.
prezike
NYC
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: As Powerful as Film Making Gets
When I heard about K-19: The Widowmaker, I wasn`t even sure what to think about it. Part of me went, "Oh, another submarine movie...We`ve seen it all before." I did notice that Harrison Ford had turned down working in Christopher Nolan`s version of "Insomnia" and wondered...there must have been something about K-19 to turn down another great acting opportunity.
Then I thought about Harrison Ford doing a Russian accent, and the questions rose again. "Do I really want to spend $10 on this?"
Even after my decision was made, while buying the ticket, I couldn`t have been that excited because I wasn`t even sure if I said the films` name correctly when at the ticket booth. Then came some of the opening moments where I had to accept Ford and other`s not-so-wonderful Russian accents but that was the end to my questioning.
Frankly, I am beside myself over the criticisms I have read from critics who think this is an "average" film. The word misunderstood, is actually an overwhelming understatement, because I took K-19 to be one of the most powerful pieces of film making I have seen in quite some time.
One of the earlier comments I read here by Ignacio Martinez-Ybor (imyjr@attbi.com) expressed nearly identical sentiments I felt about the movie.
The comparisons to "The Hunt for Red October," and co. seem to possess little validity, in my view. This is NOT an action based thriller in the same conventional way that these other movies were. It is REAL LIFE DRAMA, that digs deep into the soul of what it is like to be a human being facing choices that we wish we would neve have to make. I do not think I could not possibly commend Kathryn Bigelow`s direction enough here. This is a REAL and REFRESHING FEMININE TAKE on war and being human. Her understanding of this transcends nearly all of the submarine and war films (with a few exceptions) that come to mind.
There are some Hollywood movies that have attempted to deal with this subject matter before, not simply one`s about war either, but they all somehow seem to cop out and turn real grit into some mushy nonsense (whether it be patriotism, or overly romantic) that isn`t believable. K-19 had a few moments here and there, particularly the end, that suffered from this syndrome, but the predominant message was too strong to be lost in (what was likely) some producers` addition to Bigelow`s final piece.
I would also be remised to not mention the fact that the characters who we learn to care about are members of the Soviet Navy...THE MORTAL ENEMY, to many Americans barely a decade ago. This was part of "The Hunt For Red October" as well, but the intentions of the Sub in this movie, was MUCH different than that Sean Connery was running. There really is no clear cut over-the-top enemy character here (normally a staple of Hollywood dramas) so we have to think of other potential enemies on our own, although plenty of subtle hints, this I found to be QUITE pleasant.
The acting, outside of the accents, was overall of high quality. Ford and Neeson are magnificent in their emotional depiction and the supporting cast, of mostly unknowns, was also quite good. We really care about these characters and we HAVE TO in this movie. Credit must go to Ms. Bigelow as well here for this.
Overall, K-19 goes as one of my best films of the year and something I hope does not remain overlooked due to critics and film goers expecting something else. I have a feeling this could be a word-of-mouth winner over time. Be warned though, there is some painful material here to deal with but in the end it makes it all the more gratifying.
Highly Recommended.
yaaah_69 (yojodunn@aol.com)
albuquerque, nm
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: "DAS BOOT`, IT IS NOT!!
As submarine flicks go-this one does not meet the standard`s for high tension under water. K. Bigelow had a large chunk of testosterone to contain and I think it got away from her. Two powerful male leads, Ford and Neeson, a powerful story a large cast all cramped into one boat-k19. The tension never gets to the point of say the movie `Das Boot,` dubbed version not the mini series, or the tension of `Hunt for Red October,` with the CRAZY IVANS,which had you on the edge of your seat, or even `Crimson Tide` and `Gray Lady Down .` Ford and Neeson did a great job, but most of the tension that happened was between them and not what was going on with the sub. The part with the young sailors going into the reactor was a tragic moment and the angelic music lets you know how the men will come out of the room. It was not split second timing and you were led into the situations by the hand. The dialog was in and out of Russian accents. Not many had the look of Russian sailors. But we are force fed all the Russian cliche`s. The scene of the sailors mooning the American copter photographer was the only light scene in the dark underworld of this submarine epic. I still will recommend you see this movie as it has a historical background. But, I think it should have been made by the Russian`s and imported to USA. ciao yaaah69
tedg (tedg@alum.mit.edu)
Virginia Beach
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Ford versus Trabant
Spoilers herein.
I am not a fan of Harrison Ford. He cannot act, at least according to my understanding of the term. But he often finds vehicles where that doesn`t matter, where he can swoop along with events. In fact, his very ordinariness works to his advantage as we literally identify with him. His self-awareness isn`t intelligently aware or explicit like Willis`, and his appeal is more Cronkitean than Gibson`s. But there is a place where he fits in. It isn`t here.
What we have is a huge machine that is flawed, in fact two huge machines: the submarine and the Soviet Union. The tired gimmick used here is to present Ford`s captain as yet a third broken machine, only to have it develop that he is wonderful anchor instead.
The picture is so constructed. Attention is given to impress on us the mass and power of the machine. This overlaps with drawn out sequences that show Ford as similarly blunt, powerful and broken. Finally, wrapped in crisis, there is the elevation to sainthood, something usually sauced with rousing music and closeups on earnest, loving faces. Each of these three requirements is trod through inartfully, even incompetently, and since no one cause is clear, one must blame the lack of vision or control of the filmmaker. Almost certainly, this film was produced under the circumstances described in it: ignorant edicts from above, massive expenditures but always shorted, huge expectations beyond the skills of the crew, plans that go awry and are unaddressible. The film is broken, and instead of throwing it to the American audiences (unprotected from the fallout as it were) Hollywood has gathered around in the form of a massive promotional campaign to once again save Ford`s biscuits.
Incidentally, if you ever have been around submariners, you know it is a crowd-hushing, offensive mistake to pronounce it sub-mar`-iners (emphasis on the second syllable) as opposed to subma-rine`-ers (emphasis on the third). This is such a profound error one need not wonder why so much of the film has an inauthentic feel. And this from the woman who did some great POV shots in `Strange Days.`
Ted`s Evaluation -- 1 of 4: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
Ignacio Martinez-Ybor (imyjr@attbi.com)
Miami, FL
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Easily Misunderstood Tragic Film
It is very easy to be disappointed by this film if one enters the theatre expecting an action thriller based on true events which occurred during the cold war. This is not what this movie is about.... if that is what you are looking for, rent Hunt for Red October.
The cold war is at its height. To maintain their side of the power equation, the Soviets launch their first nuclear submarine..... an imperfect, untested, hastily put together submersible, seemingly ignorant of the potential for atomic disaster inherent in the simplistic layoutof the ship and its reactor, devoid of protective redundancies. In addition, the ship was woefully ill equipped: manuals were missing, radioactive protective gear was not provided, the chief nuclear staffer fresh out of school with no experience whatever. The Cold War logic which made the USSR send such an unprepared weapon to sea,(or for that matter which fueled America`s own tragedy by making it send "advisors" to Vietnam around this time) provides the underpinnings upon which this tale is told and upon which decisions in its narrative are taken. It is a tale of heroism and camaraderie, loyalty and patriotism. Much is sacrificed in the service of an ideology we know was false and now know was destined to fail. The message, if there is one, is that ultimate virtues are not as important as what you do for your fellow-men in your immediate situation. Heroism is defined as risking one`s life for the many, knowing full well that it could result in one`s own death, fully aware of the life-plans one would be giving up. Perhaps it is doubly sad when such knowing heroes are young. There are no easily discernible villains in this movie. One can, of course, blame the bureaucratic bigwigs who sent such an unfinished product to sea and at each danger signal refused to acknowledge obvious inadequacies and shortcomings. The Cold War objective was all-commanding. Cold War logic required the Soviets to respond in kind to the perceived threat of American nuclear submarines.
In the final analysis, this is a very sad movie which in its own circumscribed way evokes the sadness and waste of that whole cold war period. The acting, the mis-en-scene, the music are superb. The interaction between all the characters is peerless. Kudos in particular to Messrs. Ford, Neeson, Camargo, Sasgaard, and Ginty. There seems to be a lot of relatively newcomers in smaller roles.... all of them did well and created memorable characters in their brief parts.
I have found critics reluctant to praise this movie. I think they were disappointed for not seeing what they were expecting, a hang by the edge of your seat thriller, so they blame the director for not making the sort of movie they "figured-out" it was going to be. Such silliness. This is a movie that will be remembered.
perlner
Cambridge, MA
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: beautiful film, hard to watch
I am a Harrison Ford fan, and at first when he appeared with his fake Russian accent, I was wondering whether the whole film I would just be distracted by the wrong person in the main role. Instead, I was almost immediately sucked in by the action sequences. And, unlike "The Hunt for the Red October", there are actual characters in this movie, even though they are all men! In fact, they are not only characters, but plighted heros whose loyalty to their country and their people is shown more powerfully than in most U.S. war films. It quickly ceased to be a "Harrison Ford movie" and just became a great historical drama...from the perspective of the other side. Ford was perfect for the part.
There is also beautiful cinematography (some of the shots of the submarine are just breathtaking) and a plot that is easy to follow. I fell asleep during "The Hunt for the Red October" (twice), but this one kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen to these ill-fated men (I didn`t read my history books, and even if I had, I wouldn`t have known how accurate the portrayal was going to be). I`m assuming the denouement was chosen because that was what really happened, so I won`t criticize it, although I will say that it was not what I expected, and I`m still not sure whether I liked it.
I would like to warn potential audiences that there are some realistic scenes in this movie which are very difficult to watch. They make you really feel for the characters but they are unquestionably gruesome. This is not a pleasant movie! But the story is worth telling, and this film tells it quite well. So, if you are willing to hide your eyes if you need to, and you want to feel for two hours like you are a Russian Communist and these people are your heros, go see this film. Otherwise, if you are not interested in the melodrama and the grotesque, realistic depictions, just read the history books.
tabuno
Clearfield, Utah
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Decent, if Flawed Movie
I was at first encouraged by the first half of this movie when it seemed that America would get a rather diverse perspective of a high stakes military thriller of a movie. But by the end of the movie I was disappointed that the movie turned into the usual typical American pumping support of individualism and bravado along with the evil Russian empire. There were plenty of plot confusions, moral reversals. It`s sad that the movie didn`t play more on the personal plight, human relationships (husband/wife) possibilities. The actual ending of the movie was different and in keeping with the more high level of substantive movie making than an action film. The special effects and acting were good. The movie kept my interest throughout if not simmering in my seat because of the apparent flaws in movie logic (not human logic). I also have many doubts about what "inspire" by true events meant. The actual events might have been much more entertaining I suspect. This is a good summer movie with plenty of intensity and action and political intrigue, but it could have been so much better. 3 out of 5 stars.
schappe1
N Syracuse NY
Date: 20 July 2002
Summary: A battle without an enemy
All submarine films start out with great potential as action dramas: the claustrophobia, the danger, the companionship and conflict between the crew members. They require an intelligent script and good acting but they generally get it, as they do here. The problem is one of variety. You have the looks through the periscope, the firing of the torpedoes, the explosions of the target ships, the depth charges, the waiting for enemy torpedoes to see if they are going to hit or miss...and what else? Well K-19 doesn`t even have any of that. And yet it works.
What it ultimately has is a drama about courage. The one thing it has in common with other famous submarine movies is a conflict between the captain and his second in command. This time it isn`t Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable, (as in "Run Silent, Run Deep"-1958), or Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, (as in "Crimson Tide"-1995) but rather Liam Neeson and Harrison Ford. the basic difference between them is that Neeson, the former captain of the ship who has been superseded by Ford for this mission, (as was Lancaster`s character), looks at his crew as "a family" with ultimate loyalty to each other. The captains job is to protect them from harm. Ford`s concept is that, with the stakes that exist in a nuclear world, the captain has to be willing to push the crew to their limit and beyond, if necessary because the consequences effect not only them but the entire world. He is willing to sacrifice his crew, if necessary, to the greater good. Neeson is not. But Neeson knows how to gain their trust and loyalty and Ford does not. Eventually, both men have to learn from each other.
The test comes when the cooling system of the nuclear reactor breaks down and must be repaired by men who are willing to enter a chamber where the temperature is literally hot enough to boil their liquids and heavily radioactive to make repairs. They know they are going to die, although nobody admits it. Neeson here learns that, at least in the military service, men have to be sacrificed for the greater good. Ford learns to care about them. Neeson`s conversion is not handled as well as Ford`s, (far too abrupt, with no warning that he is even starting to think differently- I contrast that unfavorably with Lancaster in "Run Silent Run Deep", where he learns the wisdom of what Gable was doing when he takes command). The ending reinforces both points of view.
This is not a very pleasant movie to watch, with the normal tension and claustrophobia being supplemented by the horror of the burns sustained by the heroes who go into the reactor. But it`s intelligent, creatively photographed, (with many "comin` right atya" scenes) and splendidly acted, especially by Ford and Neeson, who`s Russian accents are hardly convincing but whose performances certainly are. Ford`s game face has never been fiercer. He has to be the grumpiest looking hero the movies have ever produced, although here he certainly has good reason.
The film has the same basic premise as "The Hunt for Red October"- a technologically advanced Russian submarine is sent to the Atlantic on it`s first mission. But it`s not a Tom Clancy thriller. It`s something that really happened. It`s far better than "Crimson Tide" which had an unlikely premise, (I think the captain would on his own done exactly what the exec did and was overdone. This one is pure human drama.
Marlas_Cancer
Charlotte,NC
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: An excellent film that should not be compared to Red October.
Although I love Clancy`s Red October I must say K-19 is brilliant! The photography is excellent the props and location shots are beautiful and breath taking .....BUT as usual the accents slip a good bit. Ford for the most maintains his and at the some time does an excellent job portraying the reluctantly assigned captain. Neeson once again does a superb job as the former captain of K-19, although there are overly Schindler-eque moments.
K-19 is an excellent movie for anyone, like myself, who is into Cold War nuke pics,just sitting back for 2 + hours and being told a part of history that I never got to see on the news. This a must go see film.
GG_showtime
Texas, USA
Date: 17 July 2002
Summary: Thriller, Drama and Action/Adventure
Inspired by a true story, the film follows Captain Alexi Vostrikov (Harrison Ford) who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. His assignment: prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol - no matter what the cost. But problems with the K-19 arise that may lead to a core meltdown and explosion that will certainly kill all aboard, and possibly trigger a nuclear war. Vostrikov must choose beteween his orders from the Kremlin and the lives of his men.
janyeap
Washington, DC/USA
Date: 16 July 2002
Summary: It`s heart and patriotism without war...
This movie is a true treat worth the price of a regular tix... to open my eyes to another piece of lost history!
Kathryn Bigalow`s awesome direction provides an engrossing intensity to this 1961 piece of Russian history, which almost included a Chernobyl-like disaster, and a nuke war between the world`s two super powers, at the height of the cold war era! Hey, if a Russian nuke disaster should happen near a Nato military base, what else can one expect? I like the way the film supports the historical facts at the beginning and ending of the film. There are so many scenes that fold without predictabilities? and that makes the film so amazingly suspenseful and touching. The accent of any performer is never a bother to me - as long as the dialogue doesn`t slip from my hearing.
I find this film to be dramatically powerful and welcome the overwhelming throw of actions, happily short of any overwhelmingly spluttering of CGI effects! This film draws the viewers into the events at a wonderful pace, accompanied by the astounding Kirov Orchestral soundtracks. Boy, am I glad I wasn`t one of those trapped in the submarine with the leaks, heat, explosions and radioactivity. Great character development; fabulous screen chemistry between all the actors! Oh yes, I enjoyed watching Harrison Ford`s character with his cold and stoic expressions - almost inhumane! Hey, did any of you see Harrison`s tears slowly streaming from his eyes? A fabulous shot from the lens! And Liam Neeson`s performance is astounding, never failing to convince the audience that he`s a gentleman, very deserving of the respect from his men! And the two guys` opposing traits are magnetically intriguing. They are a pair of conflicting and snappy characters, facing a catastrophic arena. And it`s impossible not for the viewers to be equally and emotionally attracted to their ideals. This film definitely is a revelation of what honorable heroes do in the name of honor, service and duty ? without actually fighting a war! Amazing!
My salute to those heroes who remained true to their comrades and died, preventing a world nuke-war! This film succeeds in tearing my heart out for those dead Russian heroes. And thumbs up to the National Geographic Society for its ability to guide a multi-international team to create such an astounding film!
My rating: A
Nach http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/K19TheWidowmaker-1115600/ sind immerhin 59% der Kritiker positiv gestimmt.
Man darf auch nicht vergessen, dass sich IEM in einem Rechtsstreit mit einer anderen Produktionsfirma befunden hat, die ihrerseits Urheberrechte beansprucht hatte (http://cinezone.com/zone/1/html/index_link.html#/zone/1/2001…). Nicht auszuschließen, dass von dieser Seite K19 mit gezielten Negativkritiken torpediert
wird.Um die "vernichtende" Kritik von #10 ein wenig auszugleichen, hier noch ein paar andere Meinungen zum Film:
Date: 19 July 2002
Summary: A Better Das Boot(Spoiler Alert)
Altogether a first-rate movie. This film was well-acted, well-written and generally well-directed.
Harrison Ford really gave a superb performance. He was permitted to be someone with depth. His character was a truly Soviet paradox. His father was a patriot who ended up in the Gulag and the son was trying to make up for his father`s perceived failure. However, when it became apparent that he was leading his crew into mass suicide, he put their safety first on his agenda, much to the chagrin of the politicians.
Liam Neeson didn`t get to do a whole lot except look sort of earnest. The other supporting characters ranged from excellent(the guy who played Vadim) to really awful(the guy who played the mutineer with the mustache).
One small criticism however. Why do people insist on making a movie where Russians are in theory speaking Russian to other Russians in which those actors speak English to each other with Russian accents. While Neeson had a decent accent some of the others were like Boris Badenov(Bring me moose and squerrel!!). However, people speaking their native languages don`t have foreign accents when they speak them. It would have been more appropriate to have no accents.
Ralph Michael Stein (lawprof@pipeline.com)
As the Cold Ware Fears Recede
Date: 19 July 2002
Summary: New York, NY
"K-19: The Widowmaker" should be compared to "The Hunt for Red October." Steeped in Cold War-inspired dialogue, Tom Clancy and the film`s director and stars gave us Soviet naval officers we could admire. After all, the sub`s skipper, Sean Connery, wanted to deliver his sparkling new and formidable vessel to the U.S. And he wasn`t looking for a cash reward. His No. 2, played by Sam Neill, died wishing he could only have seen Montana before expiring. The ship`s political officer was a stereotypical Commie. It`s a good film but its exciting story made up for its lack of depth and surfeit of anti-Soviet passion.
Director Kathryn Bigelow, one of the few women who effectively direct action films AND understand the military mind, has given us, with a very talented cast, a first-rate film that is both derivative and original.
In the beginning "Captain Mikhail Polenin" (Liam Neeson) is, depending on your viewpoint, either the lucky commanding officer of his country`s newest (in 1961) nuclear sub or the poor sap stuck with an impossible and career-ending assignment. The pride of the Soviet sub flotilla can`t get through a dry dock test without systems self-destructing.
The regime and the navy`s satraps need K-19 to deploy immediately so that its missile system can be tested and the vessel can be stationed off the U.S. coast as a foil to U.S. subs able to launch against Moscow and Leningrad (I think the latter city`s name has been changed,
). The high-ranking officers, now piloting chairs, reflect the exclusively strategically-oriented priorities of military men who are too removed from the men they send into harm`s way.Relieved of command but retained as executive officer, Polenin welcomes aboard "Captain Alexi Vostrikov" (Harrison Ford), touted as the best sub honcho in the Soviet Navy. There`s a lack of plausibility in any navy allowing a demoted skipper to remain as No. 2 but with the Soviets a lot of weird things happened (and this drama more or less tracks a real incident).
Interesting thing about the Soviet defense industry: innovation in design (a lot of it) was more often than not followed by fiascos in production (a VERY lot of it). K-19 is no exception and critical systems reflect poor assembly and substandard parts. Vital equipment is missing. Almost from the moment of weighing anchor K-19 is a challenge and, as many of the crew believe, a "Widowmaker."
Polenin understands the hazards. So does his new boss but Capt. Vostrikov is a "damn the torpedoes [literally], full speed ahead" sort of sailor. Lord Nelson and ADM Halsey would both have appreciated having him under their respective commands.
Of course a series of disasters ensue during which the crew`s mettle is tested to the utmost. The cinema`s familiar, public and vocal dispute between a hard-driving C.O. and his tender-hearted, adored-by-the-crew, second-in-command follows. (Think "In Harm`s Way" or "Run Silent, Run Deep").
The action sequences reflect the deep fear felt in the tight quarters of a submarine in trouble. The injuries are very graphically portrayed. World War II`s wounds give way to the horrors created by a nuclear reactor gone amuck. Some younger children, even teenagers, might be very disturbed by the injury scenes notwithstanding the PG-13 rating.
The captain expresses anti-American sentiments but they realistically reflect his professional career and personal life behind the Iron Curtain, not the mindless blurting of party slogans. Even the sub`s political officer has a much less doctrinaire personality as opposed to his ""Hunt for Red October" counterpart.
Recent books have disclosed many stories, once top secret, about the cat-and-mouse maneuvers and intelligence operations that our submarines undertook during the height of the Cold War. Doubtlessly, more stories will emerge from Russia in coming years. "K-19" is probably the most realistic film about this deadly and treacherous game of geo-politics so far. The recent tragedy of the Russian Navy submarine "Kursk" and the initial almost paranoid response of some Russian admirals certainly showed that the suspicions of the Cold War are hardly vanished today.
What really takes this film beyond the ambit of we`ve-seen-it-all-before war and naval dramas is the deep humanity of the ship`s crew which transcends ideology. Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson turn in top-notch, convincing portraits. Ms. Bigelow has insured that even in fast scenes and vignettes we can`t miss realizing these are scared sailors and that our navy personnel would have behaved the same if confronted with similar challenges.
Several pre-release articles have harped on the assumed and unconvincing Russian accents of the cast (the whole script is in English). The producer`s explanation is that actors from many countries are in the film and a Russian accent was a levelling device. No matter, you ignore it after the first few minutes.
Incidentally, the score is quite good and it is performed very well. That`s no surprise since world-renowned conductor Valery Gergiev led the Kirov Ballet Orchestra for the soundtrack.
8/10.
george.schmidt (george.schmidt@hbo.com)
FAIRVIEW, NJ
Date: 22 July 2002
Summary: CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS
K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (2002) **1/2 Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard. Based on actual events this Cold War thriller suffers from Hollywood-ization all too blatantly in taking its story about a Russian nuclear submarine making its maiden voyage to the United States with its dueling captains (a blunt Ford and a noble Neeson, both sporting questionable Soviet accents) facing impossible odds when a radioactive leak threatens their mission. The script by Christopher Kyle and Louis Nowra have the best intentions in showing the ?enemy` in a humane light that succeeds but is only lost when the limp third act bows to political correctness and predictability throughout loses the intent: unsung heroes in a nightmarish situation. Director Kathryn Bigelow plays all her cards right even if they are stacked against her favor; she does the best she can in the waterlogged histrionics set up.
brucedino
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: Surprise Hit Of The Summer
I must admit I entered this film with low expectations. From what little I knew about it, it reeked of mediocrity and sounded like something that only the over 50 Tom Clancy crowd might enjoy. It actually turned out to be a very good film, not great, but good and thats something considering its mid-july. This film had a heart. You cared about these men. The filmmakers did an excellent job of bringing this relatively unknown piece of history to the big screen. It would`ve been all too easy for them to have turned this into something else riddled with underwater battles, explosions, etc. but they stuck to their guns and didn`t abused their creative license. The whole thing rang true. I saw this with a friend of mine who served in the Soviet Army and he found many of the details to be quite accurate and was even impressed with the American actors Russian accents.
John DeSando (jdesando@columbus.rr.com)
Columbus, Ohio
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: This is one of the best films, despite its slow first hour, to study responsibility, authority, and heroism.
Some colleges include courses, even majors, in leadership. The film `K-19: The Widowmaker` should be required viewing, as `Patton` often is, for an example of conflicted command. This is a true story of Russia`s first nuclear ballistic submarine, malfunctioning in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961.
Harrison Ford plays a cold-war Soviet U boat captain devoted to the motherland and communism. Liam Neeson is his executive officer, devoted to the goodwill and survival of his men. The conflict is predictable; what is not easy to discern, however, is who is right or wrong. Given that the nuclear element of the boat eventually places everyone in harm`s way, it is difficult for the captain or the audience to see clearly whether or not to save the men from radiation poisoning or the world from a hydrogen-like explosion.
Spiderman learned that with great power comes great responsibility. `K-19,` admirable in showing that responsibility, features a mature Harrison Ford, partly villain and partly hero in a challenging mix. No confusion, however, over his awkward Russian accent.
Director Kathryn Bigelow (`Weight of Water`) makes the claustrophobia palpable but bearable with a fluid and rapid camera allowing you to breathe while death stalks the ship. This is one of the best films, despite its slow first hour, to study responsibility, authority, and heroism.
JanAimee
Pacific NW, US
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: K-19: The Oscar winner-maker
I got free passes for 2 for a sneak peak from a local news weekly. [The seats were really comfy and the food way over priced, but what`s new about that.] There are some great visual/special effects moments in the film and everything seems very true to life. And that blue building in Moscow that shows up twice, sure looks like the "Russian White House" where Yeltsen stood his ground during the coup attempt that ended the Communist Party`s control of the Soviet Union. Filming on location in the real location always adds to a film`s quality.
The musical score was excellent. Though I think the best music in a movie about a Soviet Sub, was the singing of the Soviet national anthem in Hunt for Red October by the entire sub crew.
I was surprised at the PG-13 rating. I would not recommend this movie for anyone under 13. This movie is not for the easily scared, nail biters, or those who do not have a strong stomach. If I tell you why you need a strong stomach, it might give things away. While I have seen the movie, I haven`t seen the trailers or TV ads, so I don`t know how much they give away in advance.
Cortex (matrixcpf@hotmail.com)
San Marcos, California, USA
Date: 22 July 2002
Summary: Great Film
What makes this an amazing film is that it is based on a true story. While watching this film, I couldn`t help but think that all these characters actually existed. Knowing that these people in the film actually existed makes the film more impact-full.
I have to be honest though, I was less than impressed with the previews for the film. I wanted to see it because of Harrison Ford, he`s one of the best actors out there, so I had to see it, but the previews just didn`t do it justice.
The actors in the film do a great job throughout the film. The only two faces that I recognized in the film are Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson, who both did a great job in the film. The rest of the cast was very good too.
If you`re into films involving heroism and war films, than hopefully you`ll like this film. I thought it was a great film, and I hope you will feel the same. Thank you for reading,
-Chris
Bruce L. Jones (bjones@accex.net)
Southern California
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Surprisingly good ...
I went to see this because I already had seen almost everything else playing and it looked as though it might be interesting. I wasn`t so sure I wanted to see a movie about Soviet submariners. I served aboard American submarines in the 1960`s and 1970`s and I still have trouble not thinking of them as an enemy. On top of that I knew the entire real story of K19. I was a design engineer for the Department of Defense for many years and ended my career in a department for US submarine design. I felt, what more could I learn enough to make it worth the price of a ticket? I was pleasantly surprised.
Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson did admirably well, even if their accents weren`t always perfect (why bother with accents anyway in situations when real characters would not have been speaking English?). But I was far more impressed - and entertained - by the phalanx of unknown actors making up the remainder of the cast. They were marvelous and gave a heightened sense of realism just because their faces weren`t familiar. Sam Spruell was especially touching as Dimitri. That it is his first work is a real treat to see. But the rest, Peter Stebbins, Christian Camargo, Roman Podhora, Ravil Issyanov and Dmitry Chepovetsky; where did they find these wonderful actors? Great casting overall ...
The submarine environment was recreated with a nice feel for a foreign boat and the methods and problems those men faced were compelling, even to this very experienced high-tech expert. I loved the sets and costumes, it was very well staged, even down to the correct color handles on the Makarov`s. I appreciated that the film makers cared enough to create this much realism for my enjoyment. I was kind of surprised, too, that the director was a woman. Usually this much action - especially military - is the sole province of men. But Kathryn Bigelow did a wonderful job, perhaps because there was more emotional tension and suspense than in the usual action offering.
The other stellar ingredient for me was the wonderful selection of locations. Most were in Canada, but some was done in Russia, I see. It all looked so great.
I will not discuss the actual subject of the movie. I wouldn`t want to spoil it. One can find a documentary or two on the subject for more information. This is a more passionate telling of it though. It is a well thought out version of the actual events and does much to make my former enemy look human. I appreciate the effect. The story`s largest lesson is that heroism can be found anywhere and the effect on those around it are universal.
mrow (mrow@pacbell.net)
Placentia, California
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: A far more plausible "Red October"
I found a world of difference between the more plausible rush-to-launch K-19 and the finely-honed state-of-the-art Red October in the fictional Clancy novel/screenplay. It`s Das Boot, updated and with a Soviet bent. I felt there were excellent performances by all concerned; I could not find fault with any of them, nor with the direction. Some of the cinematography was downright clever, helped along I suppose by newer, lighter camera designs. However, digital water abounds.
Nicely made, but it would have benefitted (sorry, just my opinion) from a more prominent mainstream composer like Horner or Zimmer. But the Klaus Badelt score works acceptably well, if slightly aimless in the early scenes. Few would have noticed, but the Soviet National Anthem is conspicuously missing (there was a scene where it definitely should have played, at the launching of K-19) and I am wondering about some sort of political disagreement with regard to a sign-off on that. The title music is patterned after the anthem, and most likely that is no accident. I did not realize permission was required to use an anthem, so am quite curious as to the nature of the back story. I cannot think of a good reason why the melody would not have been used.
This is a suspenseful film which I feel finds balance in most if not all aspects of the storytelling. Factual, but "some of the names were changed to protect the innocent" sort-of-thing. Certainly there will be disagreement, as the subject matter is so charged with political issues and personal feelings. The portrayal of this incident fits well with all that I know of the facts so far, and of the Soviet military and economic system in general and the politics of the day. Years ago, scenes could not easily be filmed in Russia. That has changed, and the result is refreshing. One of the best films I`ve seen this year.
prezike
NYC
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: As Powerful as Film Making Gets
When I heard about K-19: The Widowmaker, I wasn`t even sure what to think about it. Part of me went, "Oh, another submarine movie...We`ve seen it all before." I did notice that Harrison Ford had turned down working in Christopher Nolan`s version of "Insomnia" and wondered...there must have been something about K-19 to turn down another great acting opportunity.
Then I thought about Harrison Ford doing a Russian accent, and the questions rose again. "Do I really want to spend $10 on this?"
Even after my decision was made, while buying the ticket, I couldn`t have been that excited because I wasn`t even sure if I said the films` name correctly when at the ticket booth. Then came some of the opening moments where I had to accept Ford and other`s not-so-wonderful Russian accents but that was the end to my questioning.
Frankly, I am beside myself over the criticisms I have read from critics who think this is an "average" film. The word misunderstood, is actually an overwhelming understatement, because I took K-19 to be one of the most powerful pieces of film making I have seen in quite some time.
One of the earlier comments I read here by Ignacio Martinez-Ybor (imyjr@attbi.com) expressed nearly identical sentiments I felt about the movie.
The comparisons to "The Hunt for Red October," and co. seem to possess little validity, in my view. This is NOT an action based thriller in the same conventional way that these other movies were. It is REAL LIFE DRAMA, that digs deep into the soul of what it is like to be a human being facing choices that we wish we would neve have to make. I do not think I could not possibly commend Kathryn Bigelow`s direction enough here. This is a REAL and REFRESHING FEMININE TAKE on war and being human. Her understanding of this transcends nearly all of the submarine and war films (with a few exceptions) that come to mind.
There are some Hollywood movies that have attempted to deal with this subject matter before, not simply one`s about war either, but they all somehow seem to cop out and turn real grit into some mushy nonsense (whether it be patriotism, or overly romantic) that isn`t believable. K-19 had a few moments here and there, particularly the end, that suffered from this syndrome, but the predominant message was too strong to be lost in (what was likely) some producers` addition to Bigelow`s final piece.
I would also be remised to not mention the fact that the characters who we learn to care about are members of the Soviet Navy...THE MORTAL ENEMY, to many Americans barely a decade ago. This was part of "The Hunt For Red October" as well, but the intentions of the Sub in this movie, was MUCH different than that Sean Connery was running. There really is no clear cut over-the-top enemy character here (normally a staple of Hollywood dramas) so we have to think of other potential enemies on our own, although plenty of subtle hints, this I found to be QUITE pleasant.
The acting, outside of the accents, was overall of high quality. Ford and Neeson are magnificent in their emotional depiction and the supporting cast, of mostly unknowns, was also quite good. We really care about these characters and we HAVE TO in this movie. Credit must go to Ms. Bigelow as well here for this.
Overall, K-19 goes as one of my best films of the year and something I hope does not remain overlooked due to critics and film goers expecting something else. I have a feeling this could be a word-of-mouth winner over time. Be warned though, there is some painful material here to deal with but in the end it makes it all the more gratifying.
Highly Recommended.
yaaah_69 (yojodunn@aol.com)
albuquerque, nm
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: "DAS BOOT`, IT IS NOT!!
As submarine flicks go-this one does not meet the standard`s for high tension under water. K. Bigelow had a large chunk of testosterone to contain and I think it got away from her. Two powerful male leads, Ford and Neeson, a powerful story a large cast all cramped into one boat-k19. The tension never gets to the point of say the movie `Das Boot,` dubbed version not the mini series, or the tension of `Hunt for Red October,` with the CRAZY IVANS,which had you on the edge of your seat, or even `Crimson Tide` and `Gray Lady Down .` Ford and Neeson did a great job, but most of the tension that happened was between them and not what was going on with the sub. The part with the young sailors going into the reactor was a tragic moment and the angelic music lets you know how the men will come out of the room. It was not split second timing and you were led into the situations by the hand. The dialog was in and out of Russian accents. Not many had the look of Russian sailors. But we are force fed all the Russian cliche`s. The scene of the sailors mooning the American copter photographer was the only light scene in the dark underworld of this submarine epic. I still will recommend you see this movie as it has a historical background. But, I think it should have been made by the Russian`s and imported to USA. ciao yaaah69
tedg (tedg@alum.mit.edu)
Virginia Beach
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Ford versus Trabant
Spoilers herein.
I am not a fan of Harrison Ford. He cannot act, at least according to my understanding of the term. But he often finds vehicles where that doesn`t matter, where he can swoop along with events. In fact, his very ordinariness works to his advantage as we literally identify with him. His self-awareness isn`t intelligently aware or explicit like Willis`, and his appeal is more Cronkitean than Gibson`s. But there is a place where he fits in. It isn`t here.
What we have is a huge machine that is flawed, in fact two huge machines: the submarine and the Soviet Union. The tired gimmick used here is to present Ford`s captain as yet a third broken machine, only to have it develop that he is wonderful anchor instead.
The picture is so constructed. Attention is given to impress on us the mass and power of the machine. This overlaps with drawn out sequences that show Ford as similarly blunt, powerful and broken. Finally, wrapped in crisis, there is the elevation to sainthood, something usually sauced with rousing music and closeups on earnest, loving faces. Each of these three requirements is trod through inartfully, even incompetently, and since no one cause is clear, one must blame the lack of vision or control of the filmmaker. Almost certainly, this film was produced under the circumstances described in it: ignorant edicts from above, massive expenditures but always shorted, huge expectations beyond the skills of the crew, plans that go awry and are unaddressible. The film is broken, and instead of throwing it to the American audiences (unprotected from the fallout as it were) Hollywood has gathered around in the form of a massive promotional campaign to once again save Ford`s biscuits.
Incidentally, if you ever have been around submariners, you know it is a crowd-hushing, offensive mistake to pronounce it sub-mar`-iners (emphasis on the second syllable) as opposed to subma-rine`-ers (emphasis on the third). This is such a profound error one need not wonder why so much of the film has an inauthentic feel. And this from the woman who did some great POV shots in `Strange Days.`
Ted`s Evaluation -- 1 of 4: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
Ignacio Martinez-Ybor (imyjr@attbi.com)
Miami, FL
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Easily Misunderstood Tragic Film
It is very easy to be disappointed by this film if one enters the theatre expecting an action thriller based on true events which occurred during the cold war. This is not what this movie is about.... if that is what you are looking for, rent Hunt for Red October.
The cold war is at its height. To maintain their side of the power equation, the Soviets launch their first nuclear submarine..... an imperfect, untested, hastily put together submersible, seemingly ignorant of the potential for atomic disaster inherent in the simplistic layoutof the ship and its reactor, devoid of protective redundancies. In addition, the ship was woefully ill equipped: manuals were missing, radioactive protective gear was not provided, the chief nuclear staffer fresh out of school with no experience whatever. The Cold War logic which made the USSR send such an unprepared weapon to sea,(or for that matter which fueled America`s own tragedy by making it send "advisors" to Vietnam around this time) provides the underpinnings upon which this tale is told and upon which decisions in its narrative are taken. It is a tale of heroism and camaraderie, loyalty and patriotism. Much is sacrificed in the service of an ideology we know was false and now know was destined to fail. The message, if there is one, is that ultimate virtues are not as important as what you do for your fellow-men in your immediate situation. Heroism is defined as risking one`s life for the many, knowing full well that it could result in one`s own death, fully aware of the life-plans one would be giving up. Perhaps it is doubly sad when such knowing heroes are young. There are no easily discernible villains in this movie. One can, of course, blame the bureaucratic bigwigs who sent such an unfinished product to sea and at each danger signal refused to acknowledge obvious inadequacies and shortcomings. The Cold War objective was all-commanding. Cold War logic required the Soviets to respond in kind to the perceived threat of American nuclear submarines.
In the final analysis, this is a very sad movie which in its own circumscribed way evokes the sadness and waste of that whole cold war period. The acting, the mis-en-scene, the music are superb. The interaction between all the characters is peerless. Kudos in particular to Messrs. Ford, Neeson, Camargo, Sasgaard, and Ginty. There seems to be a lot of relatively newcomers in smaller roles.... all of them did well and created memorable characters in their brief parts.
I have found critics reluctant to praise this movie. I think they were disappointed for not seeing what they were expecting, a hang by the edge of your seat thriller, so they blame the director for not making the sort of movie they "figured-out" it was going to be. Such silliness. This is a movie that will be remembered.
perlner
Cambridge, MA
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: beautiful film, hard to watch
I am a Harrison Ford fan, and at first when he appeared with his fake Russian accent, I was wondering whether the whole film I would just be distracted by the wrong person in the main role. Instead, I was almost immediately sucked in by the action sequences. And, unlike "The Hunt for the Red October", there are actual characters in this movie, even though they are all men! In fact, they are not only characters, but plighted heros whose loyalty to their country and their people is shown more powerfully than in most U.S. war films. It quickly ceased to be a "Harrison Ford movie" and just became a great historical drama...from the perspective of the other side. Ford was perfect for the part.
There is also beautiful cinematography (some of the shots of the submarine are just breathtaking) and a plot that is easy to follow. I fell asleep during "The Hunt for the Red October" (twice), but this one kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen to these ill-fated men (I didn`t read my history books, and even if I had, I wouldn`t have known how accurate the portrayal was going to be). I`m assuming the denouement was chosen because that was what really happened, so I won`t criticize it, although I will say that it was not what I expected, and I`m still not sure whether I liked it.
I would like to warn potential audiences that there are some realistic scenes in this movie which are very difficult to watch. They make you really feel for the characters but they are unquestionably gruesome. This is not a pleasant movie! But the story is worth telling, and this film tells it quite well. So, if you are willing to hide your eyes if you need to, and you want to feel for two hours like you are a Russian Communist and these people are your heros, go see this film. Otherwise, if you are not interested in the melodrama and the grotesque, realistic depictions, just read the history books.
tabuno
Clearfield, Utah
Date: 21 July 2002
Summary: Decent, if Flawed Movie
I was at first encouraged by the first half of this movie when it seemed that America would get a rather diverse perspective of a high stakes military thriller of a movie. But by the end of the movie I was disappointed that the movie turned into the usual typical American pumping support of individualism and bravado along with the evil Russian empire. There were plenty of plot confusions, moral reversals. It`s sad that the movie didn`t play more on the personal plight, human relationships (husband/wife) possibilities. The actual ending of the movie was different and in keeping with the more high level of substantive movie making than an action film. The special effects and acting were good. The movie kept my interest throughout if not simmering in my seat because of the apparent flaws in movie logic (not human logic). I also have many doubts about what "inspire" by true events meant. The actual events might have been much more entertaining I suspect. This is a good summer movie with plenty of intensity and action and political intrigue, but it could have been so much better. 3 out of 5 stars.
schappe1
N Syracuse NY
Date: 20 July 2002
Summary: A battle without an enemy
All submarine films start out with great potential as action dramas: the claustrophobia, the danger, the companionship and conflict between the crew members. They require an intelligent script and good acting but they generally get it, as they do here. The problem is one of variety. You have the looks through the periscope, the firing of the torpedoes, the explosions of the target ships, the depth charges, the waiting for enemy torpedoes to see if they are going to hit or miss...and what else? Well K-19 doesn`t even have any of that. And yet it works.
What it ultimately has is a drama about courage. The one thing it has in common with other famous submarine movies is a conflict between the captain and his second in command. This time it isn`t Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable, (as in "Run Silent, Run Deep"-1958), or Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, (as in "Crimson Tide"-1995) but rather Liam Neeson and Harrison Ford. the basic difference between them is that Neeson, the former captain of the ship who has been superseded by Ford for this mission, (as was Lancaster`s character), looks at his crew as "a family" with ultimate loyalty to each other. The captains job is to protect them from harm. Ford`s concept is that, with the stakes that exist in a nuclear world, the captain has to be willing to push the crew to their limit and beyond, if necessary because the consequences effect not only them but the entire world. He is willing to sacrifice his crew, if necessary, to the greater good. Neeson is not. But Neeson knows how to gain their trust and loyalty and Ford does not. Eventually, both men have to learn from each other.
The test comes when the cooling system of the nuclear reactor breaks down and must be repaired by men who are willing to enter a chamber where the temperature is literally hot enough to boil their liquids and heavily radioactive to make repairs. They know they are going to die, although nobody admits it. Neeson here learns that, at least in the military service, men have to be sacrificed for the greater good. Ford learns to care about them. Neeson`s conversion is not handled as well as Ford`s, (far too abrupt, with no warning that he is even starting to think differently- I contrast that unfavorably with Lancaster in "Run Silent Run Deep", where he learns the wisdom of what Gable was doing when he takes command). The ending reinforces both points of view.
This is not a very pleasant movie to watch, with the normal tension and claustrophobia being supplemented by the horror of the burns sustained by the heroes who go into the reactor. But it`s intelligent, creatively photographed, (with many "comin` right atya" scenes) and splendidly acted, especially by Ford and Neeson, who`s Russian accents are hardly convincing but whose performances certainly are. Ford`s game face has never been fiercer. He has to be the grumpiest looking hero the movies have ever produced, although here he certainly has good reason.
The film has the same basic premise as "The Hunt for Red October"- a technologically advanced Russian submarine is sent to the Atlantic on it`s first mission. But it`s not a Tom Clancy thriller. It`s something that really happened. It`s far better than "Crimson Tide" which had an unlikely premise, (I think the captain would on his own done exactly what the exec did and was overdone. This one is pure human drama.
Marlas_Cancer
Charlotte,NC
Date: 18 July 2002
Summary: An excellent film that should not be compared to Red October.
Although I love Clancy`s Red October I must say K-19 is brilliant! The photography is excellent the props and location shots are beautiful and breath taking .....BUT as usual the accents slip a good bit. Ford for the most maintains his and at the some time does an excellent job portraying the reluctantly assigned captain. Neeson once again does a superb job as the former captain of K-19, although there are overly Schindler-eque moments.
K-19 is an excellent movie for anyone, like myself, who is into Cold War nuke pics,just sitting back for 2 + hours and being told a part of history that I never got to see on the news. This a must go see film.
GG_showtime
Texas, USA
Date: 17 July 2002
Summary: Thriller, Drama and Action/Adventure
Inspired by a true story, the film follows Captain Alexi Vostrikov (Harrison Ford) who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. His assignment: prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol - no matter what the cost. But problems with the K-19 arise that may lead to a core meltdown and explosion that will certainly kill all aboard, and possibly trigger a nuclear war. Vostrikov must choose beteween his orders from the Kremlin and the lives of his men.
janyeap
Washington, DC/USA
Date: 16 July 2002
Summary: It`s heart and patriotism without war...
This movie is a true treat worth the price of a regular tix... to open my eyes to another piece of lost history!
Kathryn Bigalow`s awesome direction provides an engrossing intensity to this 1961 piece of Russian history, which almost included a Chernobyl-like disaster, and a nuke war between the world`s two super powers, at the height of the cold war era! Hey, if a Russian nuke disaster should happen near a Nato military base, what else can one expect? I like the way the film supports the historical facts at the beginning and ending of the film. There are so many scenes that fold without predictabilities? and that makes the film so amazingly suspenseful and touching. The accent of any performer is never a bother to me - as long as the dialogue doesn`t slip from my hearing.
I find this film to be dramatically powerful and welcome the overwhelming throw of actions, happily short of any overwhelmingly spluttering of CGI effects! This film draws the viewers into the events at a wonderful pace, accompanied by the astounding Kirov Orchestral soundtracks. Boy, am I glad I wasn`t one of those trapped in the submarine with the leaks, heat, explosions and radioactivity. Great character development; fabulous screen chemistry between all the actors! Oh yes, I enjoyed watching Harrison Ford`s character with his cold and stoic expressions - almost inhumane! Hey, did any of you see Harrison`s tears slowly streaming from his eyes? A fabulous shot from the lens! And Liam Neeson`s performance is astounding, never failing to convince the audience that he`s a gentleman, very deserving of the respect from his men! And the two guys` opposing traits are magnetically intriguing. They are a pair of conflicting and snappy characters, facing a catastrophic arena. And it`s impossible not for the viewers to be equally and emotionally attracted to their ideals. This film definitely is a revelation of what honorable heroes do in the name of honor, service and duty ? without actually fighting a war! Amazing!
My salute to those heroes who remained true to their comrades and died, preventing a world nuke-war! This film succeeds in tearing my heart out for those dead Russian heroes. And thumbs up to the National Geographic Society for its ability to guide a multi-international team to create such an astounding film!
My rating: A
Der Vollständigkeit halber noch der Link zu den Kritiken in #12:
http://us.imdb.com/CommentsIndex?267626
http://us.imdb.com/CommentsIndex?267626
Die Analysten der Investmentbank ABN Amro stufen die Aktie von IM Internationalmedia unverändert mit "reduce" ein. Der von Internationalmedia und IMF produzierte Actionfilm "K-19: Showdown in der Tiefe" sei am vergangenen Freitag in den USA gestartet. Der Film habe ein geschätztes Wochenendeinspielergebnis von ca. 13 Millionen US-Dollar erreicht. Nach Angaben des Unternehmens sei das Ergebnis damit hinter den Erwartungen zurückgeblieben. Man sei der Ansicht, dass Internationalmedia mindestens ein Einspielergebnis von 30 Millionen US-Dollar gebraucht hätte um das Gewinnziel für das Gesamtjahr zu erreichen. Das Unternehmen habe nun mitgeteilt, dass man in den nächsten zwei Wochen das Einspielergebnis beobachten werde und dann die neuen Planzahlen veröffentlichen werde. Vor diesem Hintergrund empfehlen die Analysten der ABN Amro die Aktie von IM Internationalmedia weiterhin zu reduzieren.
Alle paar Tage eine "reduce" Empfehlung von dieser Bank. Die haben wohl, wie viele andere auch, leerverkauft ohne Ende.
Alle paar Tage eine "reduce" Empfehlung von dieser Bank. Die haben wohl, wie viele andere auch, leerverkauft ohne Ende.
Was soll das Gerede. IEM hat bislang nie das eingehalten, was versprochen wurde. Das wird sich auch nicht ändern. T 3 wird dann wohl auch die Terminator Serie ausklingen lassen.
IEM ist halt doch nur für eingeschlafene Füße gut.
Eigentlich hätte der Wert heute nicht nur 24 sondern 50 % Verlust verdient.
IEM ist halt doch nur für eingeschlafene Füße gut.
Eigentlich hätte der Wert heute nicht nur 24 sondern 50 % Verlust verdient.
@M.Polo
Schuster bleib bei deinen Leisten. Geh weiter auf Enteckungsreise, odér komm mit Fakten hier im Thread zu Potte. Maulen und motzen kann jeder.
Schuster bleib bei deinen Leisten. Geh weiter auf Enteckungsreise, odér komm mit Fakten hier im Thread zu Potte. Maulen und motzen kann jeder.
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