Customer Reviews

Hostile Waters [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't speak to the historical accuracy of the events depicted but the staging seemed very realistic and plausable. Considering they had to make this film on a "TV Movie" budget, I think they did quite well. Rutger Hauer gives an excellent performance as the Russian submarine captain. If you liked Crimson Tide and Hunt for Red October, then you should add Hostile Waters to your library of under water drama, too.

This movie wasn't bad, but it was by no means great. I found it quite difficult to follow the storyline, and the special effects were less than convincing (is it just me, or did they use the exact same shot of the Russian submarine, like, 5 times?) Some of the acting, Sheen and Hauer included, seemed forced.
The first 45 minutes of the movie were nearly unbearable, but towards the end, the pace picked up and it became more interesting. I even enjoyed the ending.

(Note: If you are buying this movie for the performance of Dominic Monaghan [as I admit I did], don't waste your money on it. He is hardly shown and has ONE line. Just a heads-up)

I ordered this DVD for Dominic Monaghan's performance. He is not in it very much, at all, but this was an okay movie.
It is the story of a US sub and a USSR sub involved in an accident which the US gov't. denied ever happened.
Suddenly the USSR's sub is in danger of blowing up the Eastern Seaboard of the US, but they have a limited amount of time and oxygen.
The rest of the movie is their attempt to save themselves and shut off the reactors so the nuclear bombs don't explode.
The acting is so-so; I would expect better from Sheen and Hauer. I can imagine that this was just a little film that they did in their downtime.
Dom, as Sasha, is good considering he has like, 3 lines. As always, his facial expressions and eyes convey more than the average actor.
If you are a Dom fan, there's no harm in getting this movie. I've only watched it once, whereas I have watched "Hetty" at least 5 times all the way through. Not a movie worthy of an award, it's a pretty interesting flick.

Little more than a serviceable introduction to the historical proceedings. Wooden acting all round. In fact, Sheen looks like he's sleepwalking (or punchdrunk) through the thing. Still, Hauer does manage to conjure some sympathy as the Russian captain who does his best to save all his men, though, regardless of what he does, he can't win back home with the Soviet officials. Otherwise, there are handful of interesting insights into submarine culture--if what we're seeing is an accurate portrayal.

Overall, Hostile Waters the feel of a mediocre (to bad) TV movie (which I'm assuming it isn't), including some particularly unconvincing special effects--to the extent that, though this was made in 1997, I would've guessed '87. It just looks that dated. Only Hauer and Sheen's haggard appearances are any clue that it was made later.

Not "Das Boot," but don't overlook this one. Rutger Hauer gives an excellently controlled performance as the captain. No phony baloney. Very gripping towards the end. Worthwhile.

Although not 100% accurate, the film is a must to have for the cold-war, or submarine, interested individual. I would like to recommend the book "Hostile Waters", by Peter Huchthausen, Igor Kurdin , and Alan White, which gives a very accurate and exiting description of the actual events.

Having read the book first I really looked forward to the movie as a chance to dispel some of the strange ideas we have about Soviet sailors and to shed a little light on a very shadowy place in the worlds militaries.This chance was missed however by skimming over the cause of the events and failing to show the almost superhuman efforts the Russian captain and crew went through to save the situation. Rutger Hauers performance as a consumate submariner and commanding officer are as close to reality as this movie comes. Surely a missed chance.

Read the book, but DO NOT BUY THIS TRAVESTY! Worse than a made for TV oversimplification, this HBO film completely distorts and actually REVERSES essential facts of the true, exciting and important story detailed in the book upon which it is based (St. Martin's Press, 1997). Anyone with respect for the history of submarines and submariners should avoid this poor "dramatization." It isn't even a "taut thriller," as People Magazine was quoted as saying. It's just a boring whitewash of the actual events. Besides failing to show that an irresponsible cowboy US Submarine Commander (James Von Suskil of the USS AUGUSTA, the man and the ship both cowardly renamed in this low-budget stinker) recklessly caused the accident, they depicted the Russian Captian receiving a hero's welcome when he returned to the USSR, when in truth he was tragically court-martialed and imprisoned after taking necessary steps to save his crew and the eastern seaboard of the US! Why do people make movies like this, and why do actors like Max Von Sydow and Martin Sheen participate in covering up the misdeeds of a reckless US sub commander and the depraved indifference and cruelty of the Soviet Navy toward its own sailors. The simple truth of the book would have been far more exciting and enlightening. Shame on everyone associated with this little piece of anti-history!

I love movies like this. I like submarine movies for one, add to the fact that's based on a real story makes it better. Throw in Martin Sheen and Rutger Hauer and it's a complete win.

The k-219 is one of the odlest russian nuclear submarines. Sent to the the coast of America during the latter part of the cold war, one of her deadly nuclear missles explodes within the sub and causes fatal gas and lethal smoke and flames to slowly kill the sub from within. Each page brings you closer to the realism and fear that is felt by the crew! END