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Though it gets occasionally bogged down by touchy-feely sentiment, White Squall benefits greatly from Jeff Bridges' assured lead performance and Ridley Scott's visceral, exciting direction.
All Critics (35) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (14) | DVD (2)
The filmmakers take a rather facile, anachronistic "Oprah"-esque approach toward the boys' feelings about their families and the Skipper's role as a "tough love"-minded surrogate father. Jul 25, 2008
The filmmakers take a rather facile, anachronistic "Oprah"-esque approach toward the boys' feelings about their families and the Skipper's role as a "tough love"-minded surrogate father.
Brian Lowry
This particular landlubber felt like jelly for the rest of the day, notwithstanding the hokey courtroom showdown that closes the picture. Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…
This particular landlubber felt like jelly for the rest of the day, notwithstanding the hokey courtroom showdown that closes the picture.
Trevor Johnston
Despite great scenery, the distinctive visual ideas of Mr. Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) and the strong dramatic presence of Mr. Bridges, most of White Squall remains listless and tame. May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Despite great scenery, the distinctive visual ideas of Mr. Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) and the strong dramatic presence of Mr. Bridges, most of White Squall remains listless and tame.
Janet Maslin
Typically, Bridges gives a deftly understated performance uncluttered by vanity or shallow pathos. No wonder he's not a star. May 12, 2001 | Full Review…
Typically, Bridges gives a deftly understated performance uncluttered by vanity or shallow pathos. No wonder he's not a star.
Peter Travers
The 20 or so minutes we spend with the Albatross in the squall is high adventure, to be sure. Everything else is ballast. Feb 13, 2001 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
The 20 or so minutes we spend with the Albatross in the squall is high adventure, to be sure. Everything else is ballast.
Jack Mathews
The heavy-handedness of these final scenes will probably ruin the movie for some people, while others will enjoy its earnestness and energy. Count me among the latter group. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
The heavy-handedness of these final scenes will probably ruin the movie for some people, while others will enjoy its earnestness and energy. Count me among the latter group.
Kevin McManus
Though lavishly produced and based on a true story, it still fails to satisfy. Jun 27, 2016 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Though lavishly produced and based on a true story, it still fails to satisfy.
Dennis Schwartz
An old-fashioned, white-knuckle adventure with the excellent Bridges adding another great characterization to his increasingly impressive resume. Jan 23, 2006 | Rating: 7/10
An old-fashioned, white-knuckle adventure with the excellent Bridges adding another great characterization to his increasingly impressive resume.
Chuck O'Leary
Bridges puts his shoulder to the wheel and impresses audiences. Mar 4, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Bridges puts his shoulder to the wheel and impresses audiences.
Andrew Griffin
An Excellent Picture. It doesn't get any better Mar 4, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
An Excellent Picture. It doesn't get any better
Clint Morris
Stunning ocean visuals and a gut-wrenching storm sequence. An underrated and very good coming of age story. Jun 19, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Stunning ocean visuals and a gut-wrenching storm sequence. An underrated and very good coming of age story.
Blake Davis
Dead Poets Society goes to the high seas in this overly ambitious tale of 13 young men aboard a floating prep school vessel. Their rite of passage is the core element in this all-spit and no-polish production. May 14, 2003 | Rating: 2/4
Dead Poets Society goes to the high seas in this overly ambitious tale of 13 young men aboard a floating prep school vessel. Their rite of passage is the core element in this all-spit and no-polish production.
Jeanne Aufmuth
The strongest force in nature is the will to survive.
Super Reviewer
A group of teenage boys learn discipline, courage, and what it's like to stick together as a unit as they aboard the Albatross and ride it out into the great wide open in the Caribbean. Whether they're there because their parents want them to grow up and learn responsibility, or whether they're there because they want to be, they will all learn the comraderie, the hardships, and everything else that goes along with traveling to sea. All of the good and the bad must come together when the Albatross runs into a white squall, a MAJOR storm at sea. How could anybody not love "White Squall"? There are a lot of great movies about going out to sea, and "White Squall" is up there with the best of them. It's not like "Crimson Tide", "U-571", and those; it's a spectacular coming of age film that has nothing to do with war. Scott Wolf, Ryan Phillippe, and the rest of the crew do a good job of acting, and Jeff Bridges does the best of all in portraying the sternness, yet warm-hearted character that is the Skipper. If you're a fan of coming of age movies like "Stand By Me", and if you like very entertaining movies that explore the hardships of life to a tee, get "White Squall" right NOW! It's one of the best movies you've never heard of. Example line from the movie: "I don't want it to end. I don't want to go back to what I was before I came here: anonymous." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2002.
One of Ridley Scott's less interesting offerings, this ocean bound adventure is typically nicely shot, but the onboard soulsearching is contrived and uninteresting. An interest in and knowledge of sailing would probably help. But I have neither.
great movie, jeff bridges was really good
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