Wolfgang Petersen certainly knows how to helm a pulse-pounding action-suspense film. While not in the same league as his masterwork, "Das Boot," "Poseidon," a streamlined remake of Irwin Allen's 1972 classic "The Poseidon Adventure," takes off quickly and provides a non-stop adrenaline rush for the next 99 minutes. The script, based on the original Paul Gallico novel, has been honed to its basic action elements and is about twenty minutes shorter than the earlier movie. However, the film's brevity may be too much of a good thing. A lot of the fun in the original film came from scene stealers like Shelley Winters, who provided some respite from the ordeal. Although "Poseidon" does have some kitschy dialog and characters that stop during tense moments for groan-inducing personal reflections, the film generally adheres closely to the action as a motley group of cruise-ship passengers struggle up to the bottom of their overturned vessel.
The special effects in "Poseidon" are all that a reported $150 million can buy, and a couple of scenes, including the initial tidal wave, are breathtaking. Unlike its predecessor, the remake does not flinch from showing the grim details of violent death, and bodies abound as the survivors stumble along ceilings and up through the decks to the bottom of the ship, which is all that remains above the surface of the ocean. Although the producers did not pinch the special effects budget, they certainly did not expend much on the cast. While "The Poseidon Adventure" boasted a cast of stars that included a few Oscar winners, "Poseidon" has few familiar names besides Kurt Russell and Richard Dreyfus. The well-known stars of the original film brought audience recognition with them, and viewers cared about their fates. Unfortunately, with little dialog to develop character and largely unknown faces before the camera, the fates of those on screen evoke little interest beyond the guessing game of "who will survive?"
However, for undemanding action fans, "Poseidon" is a near-two-hour non-stop ride that is reminiscent of the second half of "Titanic." Petersen's more-than-competent direction keeps the film, if not the ship, on an even keel, although those with long memories will likely be drawn back to the original film, which was more entertaining, if less spectacular. Rarely should films be longer than they already are, but, in the case of "Poseidon," a bit more character development, a few pauses to let the audience catch their breath, and a few light moments to relieve the tension would have been welcome. Where is Shelley Winters when you really need her?
The special effects in "Poseidon" are all that a reported $150 million can buy, and a couple of scenes, including the initial tidal wave, are breathtaking. Unlike its predecessor, the remake does not flinch from showing the grim details of violent death, and bodies abound as the survivors stumble along ceilings and up through the decks to the bottom of the ship, which is all that remains above the surface of the ocean. Although the producers did not pinch the special effects budget, they certainly did not expend much on the cast. While "The Poseidon Adventure" boasted a cast of stars that included a few Oscar winners, "Poseidon" has few familiar names besides Kurt Russell and Richard Dreyfus. The well-known stars of the original film brought audience recognition with them, and viewers cared about their fates. Unfortunately, with little dialog to develop character and largely unknown faces before the camera, the fates of those on screen evoke little interest beyond the guessing game of "who will survive?"
However, for undemanding action fans, "Poseidon" is a near-two-hour non-stop ride that is reminiscent of the second half of "Titanic." Petersen's more-than-competent direction keeps the film, if not the ship, on an even keel, although those with long memories will likely be drawn back to the original film, which was more entertaining, if less spectacular. Rarely should films be longer than they already are, but, in the case of "Poseidon," a bit more character development, a few pauses to let the audience catch their breath, and a few light moments to relieve the tension would have been welcome. Where is Shelley Winters when you really need her?