Barnes & Noble

A 1991 hurricane that ravaged the New England coast also took the lives of a half-dozen intrepid fishermen whose heroic struggle against the elements will keep viewers of The Perfect Storm on the edge of their seats. Director Wolfgang Peterson (Das Boot), no stranger to seafaring sagas, combines historical accounts with imaginative screenwriting to tell the story of the ill-fated Andrea Gail, the fishing vessel that went down with all hands in that monstrous "perfect storm." In his most effective big-screen work to date, George Clooney is utterly convincing as the beleaguered captain who's pressured into defying the storm to make a much-needed big catch. His shipmates, colorfully played by Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, and William Fichtner among others, put aside their differences in the valiant struggle to make port safely. Peterson employs a combination of computer-generated effects and realistic water-tank scenes to stage scenes of the flailing Andrea Gail, and very nearly drowns his actors to make his point: that ordinary men, faced with danger and spurred by mutual resolve, can accomplish extraordinary things. The DVD's special features include audio commentary, documentaries (on both the storm and the film), web access, DVD-ROM content, photo gallery, storyboards, trailer, and scene access. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

In October 1991, a dying tropical hurricane from Bermuda collided with a cold front from the Great Lakes, resulting in a "perfect storm" of previously unknown destructive impact that resulted in 100-foot waves; tragically, the crew of a fishing boat was lost in the midst of the fearsome storm. Based on the best-selling book by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm tells the story of the ship's brave and hard-working crew. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), captain of the Andrea Gail, hasn't had much luck finding catch on his most recent trips to sea, and with money short, he and his crew -- Bob Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John C. Reilly), and David Sullivan (William Fichtner) set out again when they hear that the fish are running. Billy's hunch proves correct, but when the ship's refrigeration system goes haywire, they have to return to shore as quickly as possible before the fish spoil, sending them into the middle of the worst storm in history. The supporting cast includes Mary Elziabeth Mastrantonio, Diane Lane, Bob Gunton, and Karen Allen; Wolfgang Petersen, whose breakthrough film was the aquatic wartime drama Das Boot, directed. Mark Deming

All Movie Guide

Director Wolfgang Peterson returns to form after the disappointing Air Force One (1997) with this taut, detailed account of 1991's "storm of the century." Though the film's landlocked melodrama never takes off -- most of it consists of the fishermen's significant others biting their nails and overacting -- the action at sea is tense, believable, and completely unrelenting. Peterson adeptly mixes CGI visual effects with impressive soundstage recreations and location footage, as he charts the doomed course of crazily-determined skipper Billy Tyne (George Clooney) and his more cautious neophyte crewman Bob Shatford (Mark Wahlberg, in a standout performance). Though the film's dark, complex set pieces have the potential to be murky and convoluted, Peterson never shortchanges the audience with confusing logistics, shaky camerawork, or jumpy editing. In every scene, there's a palpable, specific sense of the risk and danger involved -- so much so that James Horner's cloying score seems redundant and superficial. One particularly sore spot: the talented Karen Allen is underused as a yachtswoman caught in the eye of the storm; it's as if her scenes were left on the cutting-room floor. Michael Hastings

Product Details

• UPC: 085391163220
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Subtitled, Special Packaging
• Time: 2:10:00
• Sales Rank: 2,670

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Wolfgang Petersen Collection
• The Perfect Storm & Three Kings
• Perfect Storm / Three Kings
• Action 3-Pack (3pc) / (Btb)

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