the poseidon adventure (2005 tv movie) (widescreen edition)

a made-for-television remake of irwin allen s 1972 disaster-movie blockbuster of the same title, the poseidon adventure updates the story of a capsized cruise ship whose survivors are literally walking on the vessel s ceiling in an effort to save themselves. fans of the original movie will recognize counterparts to several characters, including rutger hauer as a catholic clergyman who helps lead others through the poseidon s upside-down maze of rooms, and sylvia syms as a frightened widow who finds the resolve to save her companions at a crucial juncture. bryan brown plays a hotshot television producer whose young wife (tinarie van wyk) is uncertain of their future; steve guttenberg and alexa hamilton are a married couple whose marriage is a sinking ship of another sort; and c. thomas howell plays the ship s doctor whose broken arm necessitates the aid of a nursing student (amber sainsbury).

peter weller makes a nice impression as captain gallico (named after the author of the poseidon adventure s source novel) and adam baldwin is terrific as a homeland security operative. in our current political climate, the temptation is strong to attribute the poseidon s troubles to terrorists, and that s exactly what happens this time around. some of the action concerning al quaeda-like infiltration of the poseidon s service staff, the planting of bombs, etc., is a little overdone, and a number of scenes starring british actress alex kingston as a senior intelligence official are a bit overwrought. but special effects, while not spectacular, make the poseidon tragedy unnervingly believable (and visually surreal), and a solid cast keeps the accent on emotion despite the script s tendency to shove speeches in everyone s mouth. --tom keogh
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