White Squall - Dark Publications

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Product Description
This film chronicles the incredible adventures of chuck gieg and his classmates about the ocean academys floating high school. The crews voyage home turns into a disaster as the ship is capsized by a white squall. When lives are lost questions are asked about whether white squalls truly exists Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/09/2003 Starring: Jeff Bridges Caroline Goodall Run time: 129 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Ridley Scott

Amazon.com essential video
It's a pity this oceangoing adventure wasn't fully appreciated during its theatrical release in 1996, if only because its climactic storm sequence (hence the movie's title) was awesome on the big screen and inevitably less impressive on video. Mixed reviews also curtailed its box-office potential, but as you might expect from Ridley Scott--the director of Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise--this is a beautifully photographed movie that will thrill anyone who is drawn to the romance and danger of the open sea. The story is a rite-of-passage adventure for a group of high school boys who spend their senior year as the crew-in-training on the Albatross, a sailing vessel skippered by an experienced sailor and schoolmaster (Jeff Bridges) who teaches hard lessons of teamwork and individual responsibility. As they sail to the tip of South America and back, the young men face many challenges that will shape their character, in addition to the carnal pleasures of shore leave in exotic ports of call. It's a traditional story, and Scott doesn't bring anything particularly new to this sailboat variation of Dead Poets Society and Scent of a Woman. But as a coming-of-age drama White Squall is professionally crafted and filled with vital energy, featuring a talented cast of newcomers (led by Scott Wolf of TV's Party of Five) who rise to the demands of this rousing and life-changing adventure. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews: Read 62 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

A terrific coming-of-age movie! June 11, 2000
27 out of 27 found this review helpful

Jeff Bridges is very believable as Captain Christopher Sheldon, the skipper of the good ship Albatross. His mission is to teach a group of high school boys the way of the sea and of life. All of the boys have problems and, as written and portrayed, some are real heartbreakers. And director Ridley Scott has collected a handsome group of teen hunks to portray them. There is not a false note in any of their performances. Ryan Phillippe particular continues to surprise and impress me with his versatility. Whether it be the sensitive gay boy in T.V's "One Life to Live" or the overly confident and cocky jock of the film I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER he is always convincing. Phillippe is truly an actor that bears watching. Kudos also to John Savage as the ship's English teacher. It's nice to see this underrated actor try a different sort of role for a change.The cinematography is splendid but to appreciate it fully you must see a wide screen edition of the film. If not on DVD, perhaps there is a wide screen edition on tape somewhere. But the cinematography and sound are both worth buying a DVD player, if you haven't already done so, and purchasing this disc. This reviewer is always wary of films which are advertised as coming-of-age movies, but this one fits the bill. And everyone, including the skipper learns from their experiences. For that reason alone the film is film is worth owning. And who knows, you might just learn something from Captain Sheldon and crew of the Albatross! I know I did!

5 out of 5 stars

One of the best films ever! Action packed! March 13, 1999
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I think that White Squall is one of the best movies ever. Ryan Phillipe and Scott Wolf were the perfect picks to play the main roles. It tells the story of a group of boys who go on an adventure on an older ship for the summer. They travel the world. The great thing I think about this movie is it is a true example of what friendship really is. These boys come on the ship as total strangers, and end up as friends that would risk there lives for eachother. Belive me if there was ore than a five star rating, White Squall would surley get it! I think anyone who could direct such a wonderful film is a maraculus person with a heart of gold. Thank you, Ridley Scott, for showing the world what a real movie should be!

3 out of 5 stars

Wishy Washy August 12, 2004
7 out of 30 found this review helpful

I, for one, don't understand the loyalty that the kids showed their Captain in the final scenes. Nothing at sea convinced me that there was *any* kind of bonding going on whatsoever between anyone. When bonding issues did arise, they appeared faked, phony, and I didn't buy them for a second.

This is an interesting film to watch if you want to see a bunch of young, attractive boys running around practically naked most of the film. I can't imagine that the *real* cast (as this was based on a true story) was nearly as easy on the eye, so I don't understand why so many pretty faces were cast. What happened to average boys? Fat boys? There was one boy who wore thick glasses, but I ignored him, as he seemed to be the requisite.

This is an interesting film to watch if you want to see the ocean. Ridley Scott may not be the greatest at evoking emotions within the characters he directs, but he shoots one heck of a scene.

About 2/3 of the way through this film I asked myself, "Why am I still watching this? There's no plot, nothing of interest is happening, so what am I doing?" I did stop watching it, in fact, but then finished the last third two days later. At the end of the movie something actually happens, and it's very moving. It has to do with what the film is named for: a white squall. A white squall is a violent tropical or subtropical storm that stirs up the surface of the sea into whitecaps, but is limited to a very localized area, often with no storm clouds present. This was pretty much the case here, although I thought I spotted a few storm clouds. I won't say what happens when the white squall hits the ship, because if I do this review won't be published, but I will say that the film's only moments of quality come during the storm, and on land shortly thereafter (although on land, it's still a tad hoaky). The handling of the two events I write of raised this from a 2 star review to a 3 star review.

5 out of 5 stars

A refreshing movie about friendship and loss May 14, 1999
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Everybody else has pretty much said what I think about this movie, but I'd like to add that it's an emotional rollercoaster against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful scenic shots I've ever seen. It has to be seen to be believed, in fact, for my Art A-Level, I took some shots from the movie and painted the backdrops. It also details the value of life- not only the tragic wake of the deaths of some of the teenagers- so effectively detailed when the survivors return to St. Petersburg- but about the fragility of animal life, too. The unmerciful killing of a dolphin and the crew's shocked reaction is almost a poignant portent for the tragedy which lies ahead. It is a movie of intense replationships- the Caribbean music and romantic ideals of the 1960s addda certain kind of poignancy to it- watch and see if you don't feel a lump in your throat! I also feel that there should be given a mention to the immensely talented young cast- the hideously under-rated Scott Wolf, Jeremy Sisto, Jason Marsden, and not under-rated but good nonetheless Ryan Phillipe. Kudos to Ridley Scott for carrying the beauty of such a film in his soul and bringing such intense emotions so effectively. Heck, if this can move an 18-year-old, I feel the rest of you have to watch it. To coin a phrase- it's not a movie, it's an experience.

5 out of 5 stars

One of the most underrated movies in the world December 24, 2002
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

A group of teenage boys learn discipline, courage, and what it's like to stick together as a unit as they aboard the Albatross and ride it out into the great wide open in the Caribbean. Whether they're there because their parents want them to grow up and learn responsibility, or whether they're there because they want to be, they will all learn the comraderie, the hardships, and everything else that goes along with traveling to sea. All of the good and the bad must come together when the Albatross runs into a white squall, a MAJOR storm at sea.

How could anybody not love "White Squall"? There are a lot of great movies about going out to sea, and "White Squall" is up there with the best of them. It's not like "Crimson Tide", "U-571", and those; it's a spectacular coming of age film that has nothing to do with war. Scott Wolf, Ryan Phillippe, and the rest of the crew do a good job of acting, and Jeff Bridges does the best of all in portraying the sternness, yet warm-hearted character that is the Skipper.

If you're a fan of coming of age movies like "Stand By Me", and if you like very entertaining movies that explore the hardships of life to a tee, get "White Squall" right NOW! It's one of the best movies you've never heard of. Example line from the movie: "I don't want it to end. I don't want to go back to what I was before I came here: anonymous".

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