This based-on-a-true-story disaster film stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland, and is directed by Juan Antonio Bayona. When British (although the real family is Spanish) couple Maria and Henry (Watts and McGregor) and their three sons Lucas (Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast) escape their busy life in Japan for some holiday relaxation in Thailand, they cannot imagine that on the day after Christmas, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history would hit the Southeast-Asia coast. As the family is separated by the tsunami, they must fight not only to survive, but to be reunited. The special effects are impressive -- the colossal waves are terrifyingly real -- as is the makeup, which makes the wounds, especially Maria's, appear shockingly gruesome. The film, however, is less spectacular than I imagined that it would be. Although the family's story is certainly heartwarming, it was surprisingly anti-climactic. Naomi Watts delivers a strong performance, though, and Geraldine Chaplin makes a nice cameo as well. In all, the film is well-made and well-acted, but the underwhelming screenplay and the actual story itself prevent it from being the epic, unbelievable film that it could have been.
Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+
No comments:
Post a Comment