Kurt Russell's Epic Cruise Disaster Film Leaves Audiences Breathless with Realistic Explosions and Heart-Pounding Panic, Claims Captain
Kurt Russell's Cruise Disaster Movie, Poseidon (2006), disappoints with unrealistic explosions and exaggerated panic, failing to surpass the excitement of the original
Summary
Poseidon, the 2006 remake of The Poseidon Adventure, failed to impress critics and audiences, with a low Rotten Tomatoes score and underwhelming box office performance.
Ship captain Wendy Williams expressed criticism towards Poseidon for its unrealistic portrayal of cruise ship emergencies, specifically pointing out the exaggerated explosions and panicked announcements. Furthermore, one expert believes that the inclusion of advanced CGI technology in the remake failed to enhance its authenticity, as the Hollywood-style elements effectively negated any semblance of accuracy.
A cruise ship captain, who has first-hand experience, critically analyzes Kurt Russell's 2006 disaster film Poseidon. Poseidon is a remake of the 1972 classic The Poseidon Adventure and follows a star-studded cast who find themselves in grave danger when an ocean liner capsizes. The movie combines traditional disaster movie elements with modern-day computer-generated special effects. Unfortunately, critics did not respond well to the film, evident from its low 33% Rotten Tomatoes score. Additionally, Poseidon did not perform well at the box office, earning only $181 million worldwide, despite having a reported budget of $160 million.
In addition to receiving negative reviews and underwhelming audience reception, the film failed to impress a cruise ship expert who recently dissected its realism. Actual ship captain Wendy Williams criticized Poseidon in a video segment for Insider, shedding light on various inaccuracies found in the film. One aspect criticized was the film's over-dramatic explosions, which Williams deemed unrealistic. She also criticized the depiction of how cruise ship crews handle emergencies, stating that they would not create panic among passengers, unlike what was portrayed in the movie. For more detailed insights from Williams, please refer to the video clip starting at approximately 12:15.
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Dealing with rogue waves was once met with skepticism until their existence was acknowledged. These unique waves stand apart from others in a particular sea state, capable of capsizing or posing a threat to vessels. To combat this, ships are equipped with a sturdy collision bulkhead at the tip or bow. It is crucial to avoid being broadsided, even in calm seas, as a vessel can enter a state of synchronicity, leading to instability.
Unfortunately, the announcements made during this situation were inappropriate, causing unnecessary panic. As a captain, it is important to provide information in a way that reassures people, acknowledging the situation while instilling confidence in the highly trained crew. Crew members are responsible for maintaining crowd control. Cruise ships adhere to stringent stability criteria, making capsizing highly unlikely. However, if a cruise ship were to lean off its vertical axis, non-watertight areas would fill with water, resulting in a capsized vessel. This can be exemplified by the Costa Concordia incident, where the ship would have continued to capsize if it weren't for the depth of the water it was in.
CGI Failed To Make Poseidon More Exciting Than The Original
That's a small aspect related to movies. You won't actually witness explosions because they are typically sparked by vapors catching fire in some way and a significant concentration of vapors in an area leading to these unpredictable explosions. However, when it comes to accommodations on cruise ships, these fiery bursts are nonexistent. I cannot think of any factor that would cause such dramatic fireballs.
The original 1972 Poseidon Adventure was not a cinematic masterpiece, but it had a significant impact at the time, earning $84 million domestically ($502 million when adjusted for inflation) and receiving a surprising seven Oscar nominations. It also won a Special Achievement Oscar for its impressive visual effects. As part of the disaster film trend in the 1970s, the movie stands among other iconic films of that era, such as Airport and The Towering Inferno. It may be seen as a cheesy but enjoyable watch, filled with exaggerated '70s spectacle and featuring numerous famous actors placed in highly challenging situations.
Poseidon, released in 2006, aimed to retain the key elements of the classic disaster movie approach, such as an all-star cast, but with the added enhancement of ILM-created computer effects. Unfortunately, the incorporation of cutting-edge CGI did not ultimately improve the film's formula. Despite the technological advancements, Wolfgang Petersen's rendition failed to generate even the modest excitement offered by the original film that relied on lower-tech methods. It appears that the utilization of CGI did not contribute to achieving a higher level of realism compared to the original. One expert argues that the 2006 movie's excessive Hollywood elements overshadowed any potential accuracy it may have strived for.
