White Squall: Critic Reviews

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.

Far too much of this handsomely mounted adventure is devoted to routinely dramatized adolescent minutiae.

The movie's a shipload of coming-of-age blather, supplemented with enough rolling-sea footage to make the audience yearn for both Dramamine and a decent drowning scene.

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.

Director Ridley Scott, who more than anyone else founded post-1960s visceral filmmaking, is at the top of his form in White Squall.

I enjoyed the movie for the sheer physical exuberance of its adventure.

This film offers just about everything, including a twenty-minute white-knuckle sequence and a chance to shed a few tears. In short, it's first-rate entertainment.

The 20 or so minutes we spend with the Albatross in the squall is high adventure, to be sure. Everything else is ballast.

An old-fashioned, white-knuckle adventure with the excellent Bridges adding another great characterization to his increasingly impressive resume.

Bridges puts his shoulder to the wheel and impresses audiences.

An Excellent Picture. It doesn't get any better

Stunning ocean visuals and a gut-wrenching storm sequence. An underrated and very good coming of age story.

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.

Unengaging maritime thriller from Ridley Scott. Good cast, but fails to connect.

This is a very solid film with strong acting performances to boost it, excellent photography and a good soundtrack.