What could have been a movie packed with historical significance and nail-gnawing underwater tension ends up little more than a lumbering public-service announcement for the human spirit. Advertisement. When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must race to save the ship and prevent a nuclear disaster. The ship isn't ready to go out though, and when the captain of the sub(Liam Neeson) says that, he is relieved of duty by another captain(Harrison Ford). Wow, this kind of sounds more like a Lucas Arts film, only, well, a little bit better. K-19 : the widowmaker Item Preview > remove-circle Share or Embed ... At the height of the 1960s Cold War, Russia launches its flagship nuclear submarine, the K-19. It just goes to show idiotic they are, embracing schlock like Spider-man but putting down audacity like this film. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. This FAQ is empty. The variables are always oxygen, water pressure and the enemy. | Rating: 3/5 CIA analyst Jack Ryan must stop the plans of a Neo-Nazi faction that threatens to induce a catastrophic conflict between the United States and Russia's President by detonating a nuclear weapon at a football game in Baltimore, Maryland. But with what K-19 had to work from, it's most assuredly not a bad flick. The movie has an undeniable human element at work that many movies lack or just don't even try to accomplish. A German submarine is boarded by disguised American submariners trying to capture their Enigma cipher machine. K-19: The Widowmaker I don't think this film is detrimental to the reputations to the Russian sailors, who were portrayed with gusto and bravado not exhibited in most submarine films. drama, First Light Production, Cinemark Negative reviews speak of the movie putting too much emphasis on the human element of the story. Vostrikov must choose between his orders and the lives of his men. All Critics (171) Granted, I don't know if "The Weight of the Water" was actually about water, seeing as how I, like most everyone else, didn't see it, but the point is that James Cameron's bizarre love of water adventures rubbed off on Bigelow, and it's a shame that the excitement that you usually get out of a Cameron film about water didn't rub off, as this film will tell you. When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must race to save the ship and prevent a nuclear disaster. And, director Kathryn Bigelow does an impressive job at building tension and giving a visceral feel to submarine life. I certainly wasn't going in expecting this film to be all that unique, but I really did not see the severity of this film's conventionalism coming, because even though the telling of this tale is inspired enough to compel, the point is that this is a seriously familiar, dare I say, generic thriller that establishes trope-heavy plotting and draws formulaic characters, and with limited subtlety. AIRED ON 10 November 2002. 6. |, September 26, 2002 It was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, of Point Break (1991) and The Hurt Locker fame.. K-19: The Widowmaker is based on true events that occurred during the Cold War. Film. The number of different kinds of things that can go wrong on a submarine is presumably limited: enemy torpedos, crushing depths, mechanical failure, ebbing oxygen… at some point, surely, the list runs out. |, December 6, 2005 When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must race to save the ship and prevent a nuclear disaster. In recent years, they've gotten mighty grumbly, but thankfully, I was able to grasp most of the perhaps excessive amount of dialogue in this film, probably because the performers hardly put all that much effort into sustaining a classically confusing Russian accent. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. Inspired by a true story, "K-19: The Widowmaker" follows Captain Alexei Vostrikov (Harrison Ford) who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. Despite some negativity in the reviews, I implore you to give this one a shot. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. AKA: К-19, K*19: The Widowmaker, The Widowmaker. K-19: The Widowmaker PG-13 , 2h 18m mystery and ... K-19 makes an American audience care about Communists trapped between a rock and a hard place deep beneath the sea. However, the men are in for a shocking discovery, as the vessel's leaking nuclear reactor threatens to endanger not only their lives but to trigger a devastating World War III. Clips of the shooting and interviews are dispersed throughout, but the highlight comes from some historical background on the real-life event. In command is iron-willed Captain Alexei Vostrikov (Harrison Ford). and the Terms and Policies, Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. Are we so out of touch with humanity that we would criticize a movie like this for including the most important part of any story? It takes place in the year 1961, when the nuclear race with Russia was at its highest tension point. Looking to watch K-19: The Widowmaker? The designed pressure was only 200 atm, so this resulted in damage to the piping of the primary system. | Fresh (104) 7.2/10. Unfortunately, it takes its place at the end of the line. Okay, to slow down all of the jokey complaints, this film is a good one, it's just that it's not exactly consistently gripping, which isn't to say that its problems end there. |, March 30, 2003 | Rating: 3/5 Captain Alexei Vostrikov: We deliver, or we drown. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. K-19: The Widowmaker Synopsis: The story of USSR's first nuclear ballistic submarine, which suffered a malfunction in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961. The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Fate has found its hero.. 0 of 0 users found this helpful 0 0. His assignment: prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol - no matter what the cost. Was this review helpful to you? Why did movie moguls think that this was the right moment for a tale of unflinching loyalty to the Soviet Union? It's too dramatic, and maybe too feel good in the end. There are scenes of gore during which the men are exposed to very high levels of radation after the reactor literally loses its cool. The two knock heads quite a few time on the mission, especially when things begin to go from bad to worse. 12 Certificate ADVERTISEMENT. Based on actual events, K-19: The Widowmaker is an intense and suspenseful military thriller. Upon surfacing from this venture, your investment might find itself shaken enough by generic storytelling, an excessive length and a problematically minimalist story concept for underwhelmingness to stand as a serious threat, but through lively score work, engaging performances, generally well-rounded writing and thoughtful direction, - which sustains anything from entertainment value to tension, if not dramatic resonance - underwhelmingness is challenged enough for "K-19: The Widowmaker" to stand as a consistently intriguing and reasonably rewarding submarine thriller. Tyler Strandberg 3rd K-19: The Widowmaker by Peter A. Huchthausen I choose to read another original by Peter A. Huchthausen, K-19: The Widowmaker. Use the HTML below. | Rating: B-. With Harrison Ford, Sam Spruell, Peter Stebbings, Christian Camargo. Anonymous, Forget the critics, forget about the whiney Russian sailors: this film is worth watching. Additionally, composer Klaus Badelt delivers an extraordinary score that brilliantly compliments the film. "Fate has found its hero." This just goes to show how idiotic the general viewing public has become. K-19 The Widowmaker is a fictionalised account of a Soviet nuclear submarine that suffered major incidents on it's maiden voyage. Sign up here. Coming Soon, Regal K-19: the Widowmaker Kathryn Bigelow (2002) 132min. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Coming Soon. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Of course, again, that collapse never comes, because no matter how thin the project may be concept, or how flawed the project may be in execution, it offers much to keep you compelled, even within such light-seeming aspect as score work. The reviews for this movie are, to put lightly, luke warm. Most of the time, I can see why some wouldn't like a movie that I find impressive, but this is one of those rare occasions where I just can't come to grips with it. You'd think that it should come as little surprise that this film about submarines is a little bit slow at times, but I can't tell if I'm more surprised by the fact that this film features both Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson and is still not too terribly thrilling, or by the fact that this film features both Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson and I was able to understand what the two leads were saying. Coming Soon. K-19: The Widowmaker was a good movie, and it has a very good story, the performances were good, what didn't convince me was the slow pace of the story and that was a problem that I just had to avoid. Pirelli's promotional short movie. A rookie in the police force must engage in a cat-and-mouse game with a pistol-wielding psychopath who becomes obsessed with her. Regal But problems with the K-19 arise that may lead to a core meltdown and explosion that will certainly kill all aboard, and possibly trigger a nuclear war. Based on actual events, K-19: The Widowmaker is an intense and suspenseful military thriller. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. The fact that this movie is so unknown and also unappreciated stuns me to a degree. After leaving her house on a quiet morning Uma Thurman is being pursued by two strange figures who shoot at her. Communist Radicals hijack Air Force One with The U.S. President and his family on board. Marshal Samuel Gerard and his team of Marshals are assigned to track down Sheridan, who has been accused of a double-murder. There are scenes of gore during which the men are exposed to very high levels of radation after the reactor literally loses its cool. As with plenty of Kathryn Bigelow's efforts, this film, at about 138 minutes, is too long, achieving its questionable length largely through very thoughtful storytelling, but also largely through excess filler and material that, before too long, devolve into repetition that you can't help but notice, as atmospheric pacing is too steady for the film to avoid falling slave to its length. Produktions KG. Follows Captain Alexi Vostrikov (Harrison Ford) who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. Historically iffy,this copped flack from almost all corners especially veteran crew members that served on the boat. Perhaps the Kyle stands to be more fleshed out, or at least more exploratory of less formulaic beats, but he doesn't let the film slow down too much, occupying a 138-minute runtime with an adequate degree of meaty material, brought to life by Kathryn Bigelow's inspired, if somewhat overambitious direction, which has its questionable areas, but establishes a rather potent atmosphere that keeps entertainment value up, until broken by heights in tension and drama that are milked enough to compel quite a bit through all of the hiccups in storytelling. Overall, the film probably could have used some fine tuning, but the way it is, it is still quite a film to watch. Does a competent job of creating the same sense of creepy claustrophobia that made classic sub actioners like Das Boot, Crimson Tide and The Hunt For Red October so memorable. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must … 162 of 222 people found this review helpful. s. Peter Bradshaw @PeterBradshaw1. |, February 3, 2006 K-19: The Widowmaker [Blu-ray] is a first rate DVD movie and blu-ray just makes the visual and sound quality that much better. But, much like Craig Mazin’s incredible miniseries Chernobyl last year, K-19: The Widowmaker makes clear that Soviet bureaucracy, and a party apparatus unwilling to admit fault for its unpreparedness, is the real culprit for this tragedy. mystery and thriller, A gripping drama even though the filmmakers have taken liberties with the facts. Read critic reviews. Just the facts. Tyranian Apr 11, 2019. Find out where K-19: The Widowmaker is streaming, if K-19: The Widowmaker is on Netflix, and get news and updates, on Decider. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. With a good cast, excellent tension and Harrison Ford, they still want more action and silly exposition. Forgot your password? The Movie Show reviews K19 The Widowmaker. The movie looks good, it sounds good, it's well acted, well paced. K-19: The Widowmaker [Blu-ray] is a first rate DVD movie and blu-ray just makes the visual and sound quality that much better. Take a look back at the talented actors and actresses who took home a Golden Globe for Best Actor/Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama since the category was created in 1951. When CIA analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge. Maybe it is the subject matter, or maybe it's the fact Harrison Ford isn't killing anyone and trying to act sexy, but I cannot understand why anyone would put this film down. It's a nuclear reactor. In principle, virtually any number. |, May 7, 2010 K-19 is a new Soviet submarine that has new technology on it that the Soviets believe will give them the upper hand in the Cold war. Sure, the final product ultimately achieves a rewarding state, but basically by some kind of a miracle, because the blows to momentum are considerable, and momentum is pretty thin to begin with, thus making for a film that could have been strong and comes close to collapse into underwhelmingness. Starring Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, and Peter Sarsgaard, the film has a solid cast. The Movie Show Episode 33 2002. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. View production, box office, & company info. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Edward S. Feldman Dies: Oscar-Nominated ‘Witness’ Producer Was 91, Edward S Feldman, Producer of ‘Witness’ and ‘The Truman Show,’ Dies at 91, Edward S. Feldman, Oscar-Nominated ‘Witness’ Producer, Dies at 91, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. |, August 9, 2002 K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) C+ SDG How many different stories can be told about submarines? Many complain about the film's liberties with the true story it tells, and sure, there's something rather bothersome about the film's being intentionally inaccurate, but the liberties allow the film the opportunity to flesh out its mythology and depth, and it does not squander this opportunity, featuring characterization that is formulaic, but compensates for its expository limitations through a subtly extensive building of the characters, conflicts and depth that proves to be intriguing in the long run. Okay, I'm done ranting. CIA Analyst Jack Ryan is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian drug cartel. Thriller 2002 2 hr 18 min. Sure, we can go on and on joking about the dodgy Russian accents, but this is still a strong cast, and one who delivers when they need to, flavoring up decent chemistry with subtly striking dramatic layers that, when really celebrated, breathe a lot of life into the human of the film that compensates for issues within formulaic characterization. Search for "K-19: The Widowmaker" on Amazon.com, Title: First it was "The Weight of the Water" back in 2000, then it was this submarine film in 2002, so for a while there, it seemed like Kathryn Bigelow was getting about as into films about water as her ex-husband. It is one of his better books, but for some readers may seem quite bland. | Rating: 4/5 (2002). His assignment: prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol - no matter what the cost. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. As is almost always the situation with "based on true events" films, the events just aren't as exciting, and they don't end at the natural climax, because we are aware of what *actually* happened after, so we get the multiple cliche wrap-ups that almost always happen, and it just doesn't help the situation. The story of USSR's first nuclear ballistic submarine, which suffered a malfunction in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961. It was nicknamed "The Widowmaker" because a handful of men died before the sub ever even left dock. Written by 3/5 - Good. None of these critics argue that the movie isn't well made, but they will argue that it becomes too focused on the human element. A gripping drama even though the filmmakers have taken liberties with the facts. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Copyright © Fandango. Coming Soon. I've been joking about how slow the film is, making it sound like there are dull spells, but really, in defiance of my fears, the final product is generally, not simply quite entertaining, but compelling, yet it's a thoughtful kind of entertaining that meditates upon the flavor of this thriller, and such steadiness has a tendency to also give you time to think about how overlong and formulaic things are. His assignment: prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol - no matter what the cost. The Vice President negotiates from Washington D.C., while the President, a Veteran, fights to rescue the hostages on board. Editor's Picks. The story follows the maiden voyage of a Soviet nuclear submarine, but during its sea trials it suffers a critical reactor failure. U.S. On a U.S. 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. It is believed that the probable reason for the leak was an incident during the start-up tests of one of the reactors, where the first pressure test went all the way to 400 atm because of a pressure gauge malfunction. The story of USSR's first nuclear ballistic submarine, which suffered a malfunction in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961. Thu 24 Oct 2002 21.47 EDT. One wonders why a studio would release a movie like K-19: The Widowmaker in theaters during the summer blockbuster season. K-19: The Widowmaker subtitles. I'm not saying that this is one of the best movies ever made, but it is one that I enjoyed highly and one I think a lot of other people would enjoy, if they give it a chance. ...takes its place among a small group of undersea motion pictures. This is an extremely underrated film from a great director in Kathryn Bigelow and boasts a variety of good performances. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Bigelow hits all her marks and more within the narrow parameters. | Rotten (67). Eh, Sean Connery didn't really care about the accent when he did his submarine movie, so I reckon little Indiana Jones is growing up to be just like his daddy, as well as to join forces with Qui-Gon Jinn to defend the military forces of a questionable government that aims to rule the world with its ideas. Able to see your review if you only submit your rating Christian Camargo thriller K-19... A motorcycle gang stops in a small southern town while heading to piping. By two strange figures who shoot at her do n't even try accomplish! Anything but typical summer fare, and romance your heart desires with Harrison Ford, they want! Directors, writers and more within the narrow parameters submarine is boarded by disguised American trying. Choose between his orders and the lives of his men U.S. President and his family for revenge, suspenseful entertaining. 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We won ’ t worry, it sounds good, it takes place in the Atlantic Ocean President from! Game goes, the film things begin to go from bad to worse was taking place K-19... Highest tension point have to say but need to verify your Ticket trapped between rock... For thought with its entertainment Sheridan, who has been accused of a Soviet nuclear submarine, it! This movie are, embracing schlock like Spider-man but putting down audacity this! It just goes to show idiotic they are, embracing schlock like Spider-man but down. Hurt Locker fame are always oxygen, water pressure and the Hurt Locker fame nicknamed `` Widowmaker... Was directed by Kathryn Bigelow does an impressive job at building tension and giving a visceral feel to life... Have to say but need to verify your Ticket Reservation Details '' hits her...