Customer Reviews

Sea Wolf [VHS]

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Amazon's description (above) is totally wrong. There are no drug dealers in this modern adaptation of Jack London's classic novel. There is, however, a brilliant performance by Stacy Keach as the obsessed sea captain losing his mind. Fine action sequences directed by newcomer Gary McDonald who ought to be listed as the Primary Contributer.

This adaptation of Jack London's story about a mad sea captain and a pampered rich kid is true to the spirit of the original tale, but would doubtless stun London with its "assertive female" parts. A thinking person's action film. Also a sad testimony on today's marketing methods that nobody seems to have heard of this film, one of Keach's finest performances.

Jack London's famous novel is turned into film by New Horizons Home Video, company known for low-budget action films. `The Sea Wolf' is actually executive-produced by Roger Corman, king of B exploitation films. I admit he made as producer and director very good films in the past, but not this one, the cheap-looking adventure film that does not deserve the name of Jack London.

Jack London's original story is "updated" for the making of the film (most probably because of the cost). As in the book Humphrey (Jaason Simmons) is thrown overboard, but that happens because of the sabotage using a time bomb during his environmental research. Yes, it's time bomb, but don't ask me why.

Anyway, Humphrey is saved by the crew of `The Ghost,' but in this film the sail boat becomes an old cargo boat, and its inside shots look like some warehouse (the floor never pitches or rolls, not even once). Captain Wolf Larsen is played by veteran actor Stacy Keach, but the first thing that Humphrey would witness is the manslaughter committed by Larsen himself banging a poor fellow against prongs or something on the wall! And all these things occur in the film's first ten minutes.

Wolf Larsen, as you know, is not just formidable; he is also intelligent, reading Milton's poems and knows something about evolution and Darwinism, but the film quickly moves on, only interested in cheesy actions. What Humphrey sees through the window (after bullied by mean, cruel and overacting sailor `Cooky') is surprise! Larsen making love to Maria (Alejandra Cruz), one of the two ladies on this ship! I almost forgot to say there are at least three or four scenes with nudity, one including the other lady, naked, coming on to Humphrey in a shower room. But still they call it `Jack London' The Sea Wolf.'

This `modernized' version, it is true, retains the very basic elements of Jack London novel, but there are so many ridiculous changes that you will start to laugh out loud, or be made totally speechless not knowing whether to cry or to be angry. The idea of Stacy Keach as Larsen is not bad, but cheap production designs and lack of direction are too visible to be ignored. Oscar-nominee Mako also appears briefly as one of the sailors, but his character comes and goes quickly without speaking much, leaving no impression on us. The film is made in 1997, but at the time of writing this review Mako's filmography on IMDb has not listed this film yet. Perhaps this should be so.

In short, avoid this one at any cost, and find Edward G. Robinson's 1941 version.

Rubber sets, stoic direction, synth music -- it looks like jack london wrote a '80s porn movie..

how in the world can this cost 59.98