Poseidon (2006)

2.5 out of 4

Starring: Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Jacinda Barrett, Richard Dreyfuss, Emmy Rossum, Mike Vogel, Mia Maestro, Jimmy Bennett, Kevin Dillon, Andre Braugher

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Time: 99 mins

Viewed: Mega Movies at Brunswick Square, East Brunswick, New Jersey

Remake of the 1972 disaster pic The Poseidon Adventure, about a cruise liner turned upside down after being hit by a freak tidal wave on New Year's Eve, and then following a group of disparate survivors as they journey to the hull of the boat. With a cast of veterans (Russell, Dreyfuss) and rising stars (Lucas, Rossum) in different roles to those played by the original's Hackman, Borgnine, et al, film starts off in a mighty rush, forgoing character development to get to the action and special effects. Initially perfunctory direction by seaborne film expert Petersen (Das Boot, The Perfect Storm) does give way to several gripping moments near the middle and end, where doubt about who makes it out alive keeps proceedings tense. Having to move at a breakneck summer movie speed, however, means this version lacks the original's dramatic weight; this is a rare instance where I would have preferred a longer running time (heresy though it might be to say). New crop of characters don't hold a candle to original's (highlighted by Shelley Winters' much-discussed performance), even though both are filled with stereotypes.

(c) Joe Wong (14 May 2006)