Poseidon, Wolfgang Petersen's latest film, is a loose remake of the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure. I say loose remake, because it's similar in that there's a ship, it capsizes and a group of passangers try to make they're way to the underbelly of the ship to survive. The characters have all been changed from the original and this gives it a new dynamic.

Josh Lucas plays Dylan, a professional gambler who gambles everyone's lives in his bid to escape the sinking ship. Kurt Russell is Robert Ramsay, an ex-fireman and new york mayor who's daughter is along for the ride. They both put in excellent turns, and they're accompanied on the journey by Richard Dreyfuss, Emmy Rossum and Jacinda Barrett. They're all good, but not helped by a sometimes corny script.

It's an action-escape film of course, as was the original, and perhaps the best way to label it is Titanic crossed with The Towering Inferno. The setpieces for the action are good in the moment, but not particularly memorable in the end. There's some questionable CGI moments too.

In the end though, it's a decent summer romp. Petersen's a well known director, and of course this isn't the first time he's tackled a water theme, having directed The Perfect Storm, and that shows here.



(Edited by Maffrew 10/07/2006 14:52)