Crimson Tide

Amazon.com

You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications problems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong--that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying. Director Tony Scott (who directed Quentin Tarantino's True Romance script) called in Tarantino to punch up the dialogue, which is why, for example, the sailors talk about Silver Surfer comic books. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen; the sonorous underwater rumblings on the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide you with a good opportunity to show off your system's bass response. --Jim Emerson

Description

Dynamic Denzel Washington (TRAINING DAY) joins Hollywood favorite Gene Hackman (ENEMY OF THE STATE) along with Viggo Mortensen (THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) and James Gandolfini (TV's THE SOPRANOS) in this intense action thriller that's a smash hit with audiences and critics alike! In the midst of a global crisis, the USS Alabama receives an unconfirmed order to launch its nuclear missiles -- signaling the start of Word War III! The tension quickly rises as the sub's respected commander (Hackman) and his brilliant executive officer (Washington) clash over the validity of their orders ... battling each other for control of the sub! As this epic struggle rages under the sea, CRIMSON TIDE brings motion picture excitement to a new level -- and you to the edge of your seat!

Customer Reviews:

Newer submarine movies.......2007-07-26

Probably the 2nd best of the newer sub moview. I was not a big Denzel fan.
Just did not care for the roles he chooses to play. But he is a great actor and built a new wing for the army hospital in Texas a few years ago.
Plus he has played a few roles now where the race is not a main issue.
Good DVD quality.

Washington and Hackman battle it out , and we win.......2007-03-09

This is a very smart and tense "thriller" with great action and a very strong script about a sub out of contact with base and orders to fire or not fire nukes. Hackman is the captain and thinks they were ordered to Washington is his second and thinks they shouldn't. the drama and action flow from ideas instead of just mindless action. A great movie for people who like a little meat with their action.

Why can't they make more movies like this.......2006-09-27

Excellent movie. Seriously, why can't they make more movies like this? Smart, well-acted, very dramatic, exciting. I could go on and on. Just a very satisfying movie....each of the thousand times I have watched it. If I accidently come across it on TNT or HBO or wherever, I have to sit and watch it until the end even though I have it on DVD right there on my bookshelf! I can't walk away!

I love the beginning of the movie when they are boarding the sub, and they are standing in the rain while Hackman addresses the crew, and he has that little Q&A routine with the chief of the boat (George Dzundza). This scene really sets the tone. It almost made me want to join the Navy.

The battle between Hackman and Washington's characters is, of course, what the movie is all about, and they pull it off flawlessly. Very good work by both men. That said, all of the key charactors are interesting and well-acted. The director really pulls this movie together very well despite the many charactors involved (many of these guys are big stars now).

The great acting, the very exciting story, and edge of the seat drama just overwhelm whatever weaknesses or improbabilities that may exist in this movie. Great stuff.

Review from a REAL Submariner.......2006-06-17

I gave this movie 3 stars because ultimately, I was entertained. The acting (for the most part) was outstanding, and the tension that was created could be cut with a Knife.

That being said, Let me put some peoples mind at ease, and relate some of the inaccuracies of the movie.

1. No Animals on Board. Period. Lose the Dog and the Fish Tank. An aquarium would be a terrible missile hazzard, and a dog crapping and pissing onboard, not a chance.

2. The supply officer (James Gandolfini) would never be allowed near control. Nor would he have the ability to force a seaman or petty officer to do push ups onboard a bus. The Supply Officer is a "restricted" officer, which means they can not participate in "command" of the vessel. The "Chop" would simply be in charge of the ships stores and the galley, nothing else.

3. There is no countermanding a launch command. Period. If the CIC (The Prez) issues a launch, the birds are flown. All the fail-safe measures (authenticating the flash traffic) are pretty much spot on, yet when word comes down to launch, you launch. The Navy asks it's young submariners to be prepared to do the unthinkable, and are trained as such. As long as there exists the slight possibility that a valid order may be later recinded, you take away the confidence of the crew in it's orders. The safe guards regarding authorization and two person concurrance is designed to prevent a single officer from launching weapons.

However, once a properly formatted, and authentic order is received, it is expected that it will be carried out. To do otherwise would always give crew members a moment of pause, wondering when the order to stand down would occur. This hesitation can not exist. Thus once the birds are ordered to fly, they will fly, as certain as if the president had pulled the trigger himself.

4. While some submariners have been on the heavy side, the number of obese people seen on the boat is not consistant with a real crew. And I have never seen ANYONE as obese as the COB was in this movie.

5. There are no secret "crawl spaces" in which people can move around in. The boat is not that big. Thus, Hunter and crew would have had to navigate actual passageways to get to control, and would have run into whatever guards were stationed.

6. The "submarine" diving in the exterior shots was not a trident ballistic missile boat, but rather a Los Angeles Class attack boat out of Hawaii. I was in Pearl Harbor when the filming took place, and Pearl is strictly a Fast Attack sub base, with Tridents only coming once in awhile for a stop over after the end of a patrol. The boat shown in the dive footage was actually an LA attack boat, and not a boomer.

7. While boat commanders frequently run multiple casualty drills, there would never be a "weapons drill" run just after a potentially fatal fire. The boat commander is ultimately responsible for the boat, crew, and it's payload. No commander would brush off such a large conflageration and "run a drill" until the fire had been fully extinguished and the reflash watch reported no possibility of reflash existed.

8. Enlisted Submariners by nature are picked for their maturity and intelligence. Submariners, especially Nuclear Trained, are encouraged to "question" orders. The safety of the boat and the crew depends on each person being able to accurately determine if an order given is "lawful". The "boys" on board Alabama showed none of those traits. The fact that the "chop" could bully his way into the Captain's Quarters by simply yelling is a testament to the poor opinion the film makers had of enlisted men.

In a "real" boat, the "chop" would have been staring down the barrel of a .45 caliber handgun, and would have been wrestled to the deck while a "security violation" was reported over the ship and "away the security alert team" was sounded. Security on board a sub is so crucial, that there is a story in which a seaman actually ordered Admiral Rickover to kiss the deck face down because the admiral while wearing full dress whites, refused to show the deck watch his military ID. He was spot promoted to Petty Officer by Rickover himself.

So while my Sailor side has issues with all the inaccuracies and fairly poor treatment the military gets with this movie, I do find the movie suspensful, entertaining, and sometimes too close to comfort (the flooding sequence is a nightmare all sailors share)

So kudos to the film makers for making a slick, taunt, thriller, but thankfully, that would and could NEVER happen.

Incredible Actors and Well Done Plot.......2006-04-10

This is a simply amazing movie, and what makes it even more stellar is that we've had several fantastic submarine movies in the past - Das Boot and Red October come to mind. We've already seen the claustrophobic, booming power of being trapped in an underwater submarine. That this movie is able to make that closeness even more powerful - and draw us into a story that really grips you with its meaning - is rather impressive.

We begin with two powerhouses of actors, Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington. Gene is in charge of the sub; Denzel works for him. Gene is an unabashed alpha male, not unheard of in a commander. Denzel is intelligent and respects the chain of command. Suddenly, we're thrown into a situation where the sub *might* have been ordered to launch a missile attack on an enemy to protect the US. Unfortunately, the sub can't get confirmation. So either they shoot and risk starting WWIII for no reason - or they fail to shoot and leave millions of people open to slaughter.

The plot and dialogue is incredible because it explores all the shades of grey in the characters. There's no right or wrong. Both scenarios are equally plausible. Gene wants to do what he was ordered to do, to save as many lives as he can. Denzel is desperate to get confirmation rather than risk mistakenly starting a world war. Both men suck up the men around them into their sides. Nobody WANTS the war. Gene doesn't take pleasure in firing - but he sees it as a necessary action to save lives.

In such close confines, every person on screen makes a huge difference. This movie had not only two stellar top men, but also a fantastic supporting cast. James Gandolfini a la Sopranos. Viggo Mortensen a la Lord of the Rings. The music from Hans Zimmer is just amazing. He is a genius and can give incredibly subtle nuances to his works.

If I had to find something to nit-pick in this movie, it's that I don't think the sub scenes were truly "realistic". It seemed more of a Hollywood sub than a real working piece of machinery that trained soldiers were living in for months. I think Das Boot did an exquisite job of getting that sense across. But really, the sub in this case was a "set" for the dialogue and character development to happen in. It wasn't the showcase, and this wasn't a sub documentary. So I'm willing to accept that tradeoff, so that we could have as tightly woven a story as we got.

Average customer rating:

In the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself
Denzel + Hackman + a submarine
Tide is overwrought and strains credibility, but its solid entertainment
Would I Want An XO Like Him?
The film editor got it right the first time.

Crimson Tide (Unrated Extended Edition)
Starring: Denzel Washington , Gene Hackman , Matt Craven , George Dzundza , and Viggo Mortensen
Director: Tony Scott
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Hollywood Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CDGVQ2
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Description

A stellar cast including Academy Award(R) winner Denzel Washington (2001 Best Actor, TRAINING DAY), Gene Hackman (1971 Academy Award(R) Winner, Best Actor, THE FRENCH CONNECTION; ENEMY OF THE STATE), Viggo Mortensen (THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy), and James Gandolfini (TV's THE SOPRANOS) resurfaces in a greater-than-ever Extended Edition of this intense hit thriller. In the midst of a global crisis, the USS Alabama receives unconfirmed orders to launch its nuclear missiles -- signaling the start of World War III! The tension escalates as the sub's respected commander (Hackman) and his brilliant executive officer (Washington) clash over the validity of their orders ... battling each other for control of the sub! As this epic struggle rages under the sea, you take command of edge-of-your-seat excitement and never-before-seen footage.

Customer Reviews:

In the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself.......2007-08-25

After the 80's unthinking testosterone action movies, the 90's marked a real change in action ouput, even from the Bruckheimer / Simpson producing team - and so came about this unusually intelligent war movie.
Following in the tradition of classic submarine movies like `The Hunt for Red Octobe' or `Das Boot', there are all the traditional action notes you would expect - torpedo attack, flooding compartments, sinking towards crush depth etc., all done with the technical and editorial perfection you would expect from Tony `Top Gun' Scott. However, all the action is merely a backdrop for a real character study and moral dilemna.
Hackman's veteran Captain is of the old school, `I like things simple' approach. When unrest in Russia becomes critical enough for them to receive orders to launch their nuclear payload, he sets out to perform his duty. However, a second message is received - and it is incomplete, therefore can not be verified. The radio goes down, and the sub is now out of touch with the rest of the world. The `new school' Executive Officer played by Denzel Washington feels strongly enough that they should not follow through with the launch until the message is verified, leading him into direct conflict with the Captain and a tense, riveting and exciting showdown ensues.
The action is note perfect, but it is the acting that makes the movie stand out. Seeing Washington and Hackman `mano-a-mano', cannot fail to knock your socks off with its intensity. Indeed, all the actors have their moments to shine, including a pre-Lord of the Rings Viggo Mortensen, and an excellent George Dzundza playing `Chief of the Boat'.
One early scene encapsulates all that is good about the movie - in the officers mess, a philosophical debate occurs around the launching of the atomic bomb on Japan. Hackman defends the bombing, but Washington at the end of a verbal cat and mouse interplay, replies that `In the age of nuclear weapons, the true enemy is war itself. It is this conflict of ideas that haunts the movie, and the viewer, long after the movie is over. There are no out and out bad guys - just two principled men with different world views -surely there can be no greater drama.
The extended cut offers no substantial difference to the original, and seems to have little reason for existing. The scenes reinstated are almost all minor character moments, giving the minor characters in the movie more time to shine, and helping consolidate the feeling of camaraderie in the submarine, which makes the eventual schism that much more shattering. Other than that, there is a small documentary about the movie which is more promotional than educational. If you have not seen the movie, do so immediately. If you have seen it, and wonder if the extended cut is worth getting? I say don't waste your time.

Denzel + Hackman + a submarine.......2007-07-15

Does it get any better than this? Two of the finest actors of our age in a white-knuckle, bruised-forearm thinkfest!

Any film that can bring the world to the edge of nuclear holocaust, present a mutiny on an SSBN, and still take time to discuss a) Lipizzaner horses, their origins and color; b) Von Clausewitz' view of war; and c) which Silver Surfer was the best, must be seen.

The mutiny aspect is particularly well-played.

You want subtlety in a naval movie? Watch The Caine Mutiny.

This film is rock-'em, sock-'em, far-from-subtle Tony Scott filmmaking at its best. Script sweetening by Robert Towne and Quentin Tarantino only increase the movie's importance.

The "unrated, extended" parts are merely snippets here and there that add something but change nothing of the theatrical release.

Tide is overwrought and strains credibility, but its solid entertainment.......2007-06-05

What's a Jerry Bruckheimer film without people yelling at each other? We get that here, and as much as some of it is believable much is overwrought in this intense and compelling film that offers a scary look as what could happen when the commanding officer has serious differences with his second in command, his executive officer. The scenario is extremely believable, but all the "it's my sub", and "no, it's not, it's my sub now", followed by "no, it's my sub again" stuff does strain credibility.

The storyline owes a big thank you to Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny: A Novel and film version The Caine Mutiny (Collector's Edition) for its inspiration on how a subordinating officer attempts to replace his commanding officer. The script here is flawed in all the "take overs" that so easily happen on this sub, but the potential problem with conflicting commands within the story are a very real possibility. The film explores the problem in which the commanding officer and his executive officer differ on the interpretation and intentions of an interrupted/incomplete command they are given which could realistically begin World War III. It's a situation in which BOTH of them are right and exposes a real problem in the "chain of command" and "following orders" edicts the military lives by.

Although over-acted at times and containing some uneven writing (both trademarks of any Bruckheimer film), the essence of the story involving potentially conflicting orders is handled very well. The acting is compelling most of the time, the script proposes real-life possibilities, and the direction is smooth and confident. This is solid entertainment and surprisingly thought-provoking.

Would I Want An XO Like Him?.......2007-06-02

I dunno, but I feel that Denzel's character had an "attitude" that was, well, odd. I wonder what die-hard Navy types would say about him. And then would a nuclear sub have a commander as old as Hackman? This is an interesting film, but I would like to know how it would "play out" in the real Navy.

The film editor got it right the first time........2007-01-06

Crimson Tide is one of my favorite films, and I have watched it numerous times on my old VHS copy. Although I read some of the Amazon reviews before buying the new "unrated and extended edition", I did not want to believe that it wasnt worth buying. Well, I wish I had bought the original. The added scenes diminish the tightness of the original and add no needed content. The one bonus is that you can see the talent of the editor who was responsible for the first version.

Average customer rating:

The Legends of the Alabama Crimson Tide

Manufacturer: On The Clock Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000LZ5964
Release Date: 2006-12-14

Description

On The Clock Videos provides the rare collegiate highlights of your team's All-Americans and Football Legends. As a bonus feature, this DVD also contain footage on select Heisman Trophy winners and other College Legends, when footage is available. Featuring the Alabama collegiate highlights of Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Ozzie Newsome, Cornelius "Biscuit" Bennett, Derrick Thomas, Brodie Coyle, Mark Anderson, Demeco Ryans, Cornelius Wortham and Freddie Roach. The digital footage is top quality and is accompanied by professional-looking graphics. The narration is brief, letting the action tell the story. - Ken Thompson, NFL Sports Writer (The Journal and Courier).""

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2002

Great Gridiron Rivalries
Starring: Great Gridiron Rivalries-Auburn Vs Alabama
Manufacturer: Computer Group Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E2Z97S
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Product Description

Great Gridiron Rivalries is an historical and spectacular look at some of college football's greatest rivalries. This is the "Iron Bowl" featuring Alabama versus Auburn. From its humble beginnings in the 1890's to the present day, you will see the big hits and the bigger plays; iconic coaches like Paul "Bear" Bryant and Pat Day; top name players such as Heisman Trophy winners Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson; and even future NFL stars like Joe Namath and Shaun Alexander. We'll showcase the big games that determined the National Champion or ruined unbeaten streaks along with the tradition and history associated with this classic rivalry!

Customer Reviews:

2002.......2007-09-03

My husband enjoyed this DVD as he is a HUGE Bama fan.
But was disappointed as it only followed to the year 2002.

Average customer rating:

Crimson Tide (UMD Mini for PSP)
Starring: Earl Billings , Christopher Birt , Lillo Brancato , Eric Bruskotter , and Scott Burkholder
Director: Tony Scott
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Accessories:

ASIN: B000CDGVQM
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Description

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Legends of the Crimson Tide of Alabama
Starring: Legends of Alabama
Manufacturer: Computer Group Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000TM1CF6
Release Date: 2007-09-04

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Crimson Tide ~ Japanese and English

Manufacturer: Hollywood Pictures Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000RRQVHW

Product Description

On a US nuclear missile sub, a young first officer stages a mutiny to prevent his trigger happy captain from launching his missiles before confirming his orders to do so. Instability in Russia results in the deployment of the the nuclear submarine "Alabama". Russian rebels have taken over a nuclear missile site and are refueling them for a possible strike against the USA. Tensions run high undersea, when the launch message is received, followed by an incomplete followup. Could the followup message have been to cancel the earlier orders?

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Crimson Tide [Region 2]
Starring: Denzel Washington , Gene Hackman , Matt Craven , George Dzundza , and Viggo Mortensen
Director: Tony Scott
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000060NYL

Average customer rating:

Newer submarine movies
Washington and Hackman battle it out , and we win
Why can't they make more movies like this
Review from a REAL Submariner
Incredible Actors and Well Done Plot

Crimson Tide [Region 2]
Starring: Denzel Washington , Gene Hackman , Matt Craven , George Dzundza , and Viggo Mortensen
Director: Tony Scott
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00004CX92

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Customer Reviews:

Newer submarine movies.......2007-07-26

Washington and Hackman battle it out , and we win.......2007-03-09

Why can't they make more movies like this.......2006-09-27

Review from a REAL Submariner.......2006-06-17

Incredible Actors and Well Done Plot.......2006-04-10

Average customer rating:

Crimson Tide [Region 2]
Starring: Denzel Washington , Gene Hackman , Matt Craven , George Dzundza , and Viggo Mortensen
Director: Tony Scott
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VYPJ

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