Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786303696812 Format: Closed-captioned ISBN: 6303696813 Label: Walt Disney Video Languages: Array Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Walt Disney Video Release Date: 1996-06-05 Running Time: 116 Studio: Walt Disney Video Theatrical Release Date: 1995-05-12
Editorial Review:
In the typical Don Simpson-Jerry Bruckheimer mold (the partnership yielded Top Gun and Days of Thunder, among many other films), this 1995 drama is a combination of one-dimensional but enjoyable performances, lots of high-tech nonsense taking place onscreen, and mechanistic movie-making at its loudest and most seizure-inducing. Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington play nuclear submarine officers squaring off over the former's apparent intention to do some unauthorized damage to an enemy. Tony Scott (Top Gun) directed, bringing his luster and pop commercial sense to go with all that Simpson-Bruckheimer eye candy. --Tom Keogh You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications problems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong--that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying. Director Tony Scott (who directed Quentin Tarantino's True Romance script) called in Tarantino to punch up the dialogue, which is why, for example, the sailors talk about Silver Surfer comic books. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen; the sonorous underwater rumblings on the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide you with a good opportunity to show off your system's bass response. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: double dip a' coming Comment: the movie is great, but just like they did on DVD, the unrated extended edition will be released after people buy this version Customer Rating: Summary: total garbage Comment: I served on board an ssbn as a sonar tech. everything about this movie is wrong from the basic plot to having a dog onboard.not one thing in this insulting movie is based in reality.the characters are weak-minded cowards who would never be allowed on a sub.everyone involved with this movie owe the navy an apology.there is no entertainment here and the controversy generated by thier situation is sheer lunacy.do not spend your hard earned money on this crap,they don't deserve it. Customer Rating: Summary: One Of The Best Submarine Movies Ever Comment: Take a look at the cast list and with such a powerful and talented group of actors how can this movie not be good? Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Vigo Mortinson, James Gandolphini...the list goes on and on. The previous reviews of the extended edition concerned me when I ordered but fear not, the editing is seamless, it flows very well and I think it adds even more depth to the film. Great film, great movie. Highly recommended. Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing transfer to DVD Comment: This review refers to the 1998 edition of 'Crimson Tide'. The movie itself is good, worth 5 stars. The transfer to DVD is relatively poor (not horrible, acceptable)for a recenet movie (1998). The format is widescreen, but NOT enhanced for large screen TVs, so you wind up with the "letterbox" picture with large swaths of black on all sides of the picture--not good for an action film like this (why do the studios still issue DVDs with this format? It is so annoying!). The sound is OK--Dolby 5.1, but the picture is somewhat grainy--moreso than it should be. The DVD transfer is mediocre at best. I viewed this on a 46-inch high definition TV, played on my Toshiba 1080p HD DVD. This movie is now available on Blu-ray which is supposed to look great. I'll repurchase the movie in Blu-ray after I decide to get a Blu-ray player. Customer Rating: Summary: Crimson Tide Comment: An excellent movie. Top notch performances from Gene Hackman, Dentzel Washington and supporting cast make this movie worth watching time and again. Hans Zimmer's musical scores add depth. This movie looks outstanding on Blu-ray. I also had the regular WS DVD.