The Perfect Storm

After the success of Three Kings, George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg teamed up again for this tragic film, based on a true story. The Perfect Storm centres on the fishing boat, the Andrea Gail, and its crew lead by Captain Billy Tyne (Clooney), and how they encountered what was the worst storm in recorded history. After arriving back to their home port of Gloucester (Massachusetts) with a poor catch, Tyne decides to head back out in the hope of that last bumper catch before winter and the conditions become unfavourable.

As Tyne tries to persuade his crew to return to sea with him we are immersed in the life of this small fishing port, which exists as a well-knit community, with the sea as both its major source of income and killer.

Quite soon, the persuasion is over and all members of the crew are saying goodbye to loved ones and friends and heading back out into the wide blue yonder in search of the elusive sword-fish. Yet again, initial fishing is poor and so they head out further and further to sea while relations onboard deteriorate. At the same time, the elements are starting to conspire against them, with freak weather conditions setting in. (For those with some knowledge – a hurricane from Ber-muda hit a storm off Sable Island and the two were later joined by a cold front down from Canada. The three systems mixing together creating what was later called "the perfect storm").

Unaware of this 'monster' the Andrea Gail finally heads for home on a course which will take it straight into its heart, and it is then that this effects-laden film is fully unleashed. Clooney and Wahlberg work well together again, but it is the other members of the crew which bring the tedious hours onboard a fishing boat alive. There is even a shark attack to relieve the boredom, just showing how they should have fought that critter in Jaws all those years ago. Unfortunately, those left on land do not have much to work with, and it sometimes shows. All they really get is saying goodbye, and then a group wake in the bar waiting to hear any news of the boat as the storm continues.

Although a little slow in places, the effects are superb and can only be properly viewed in their full glory on a large screen with the stunning sound system provided in the DC. Come and watch one of the better Hollywood attempts at a blockbuster this year.