Poseidon (2006, PG-13)

Allow me to explain what Poseidon is: it's a disaster film, a remake of the 1973 the Poseidon Adventure (which was the top-grossing picture of 1973).  It tries so desperately to become the decisive disaster pic in decades.  Unfortunately, it's not even convincing enough for that--computer generated imagery (CGI) dominate Poseidon from beginning to end.

In the Book of Guinness World Records, Poseidon holds the record for having the most (detailed) CGI effects in any film.

Poseidon is directed by Wolfgang Petersen.  After his highly-acclaimed WWII submarine epic Das Boot, Petersen has gone on to direct such films like Enemy Mine, in the Line of Fire, Air Force One, the Perfect Storm and Troy.  Poseidon represents the third time Petersen returns to filming on the high seas, after Das Boot and the Perfect Storm.  Throughout the film, Petersen displays his passion for filming movies on the high seas.  Unfortunately, he still can't help this pic from becoming sunk.

The film's plot is simple.  There's a grande, luxury cruise ship, is beginning to round out it's year long voyage.  That ship is called the Poseidon.  It looks like a modern version of the Titanic.  Except, instead of a giant iceberg, it's a giant 200 ft rogue wave that turns the Poseidon completely over.  Captain Michael Bradford (Andre Braugher) assures the survivors of the now capsized ship that a GPS signal was sent and rescue will arrive in a few hours.  Professional gamber Dylan Johns (Josh Lucas), disagrees, and leads a band of other people, including the Mayor of New York City Robert Ramsey (Kurt Russell), his daughter Jennifer (Emmy Rossum) and her fiance Christian (Mike Vogel), architect Richard Nelson (Richard Dreyfuss), a woman Maggie James (Jacinda Barrett) and her young son Connor (Jimmy Bennett), out of the turned over ship to find a way out.  Dylan suddenly turns into an action hero to lead them out, and the group soon realizes that they will have to endure danger, trials and sacrifice to escape.

It's typical disaster fare.  The characters feel so detached from us, maybe because of the so-so acting performances or the hackneyed script.

Even so, Poseidon is visually not a bad film to look at.  The first shot of the film is a gleaming exterior shot of the Poseidon.  It's obvious CGI, but the cinematography and the music make it a powerful opening for the film.  The rest of the pic isn't worth much, despite the visual effects that got it a nomination at the 2006 Academy Awards.

It only takes 20 minutes to introduce the characters, and then to get to the ship getting blown over by the wave.  The next hour is repetitive with our struggling band of odd heroes overcoming next individual challenge after the next, whether they have to get out of a vent full of rushing water or getting out of a locked room before the sea water fills it up.

That's why Poseidon is a disappointment.  A disappointment at the box-office, a disappointment at the critics, and a disappointment for the audience.

                                          ** ½ /5