good but could have been better

Rating: Null/10 (12 November 2004)

I took my children to see this film. They enjoyed it. I did too. But I felt there was something lacking. It left me wanting more. I wanted to see and hear more from Paul Whitehouse, who was wasted in a minor role. More characterisation. More about Barrie's wife, who seemed to have little to say for herself. More from Dustin Hoffman. We learn very little about his character in the film. Overall it was worth watching and the scenes of the ship and the waves were well-crafted. But at the end of the film, we all came out with a nagging feeling of having been slightly short-changed - as if we were promised more than we got. Don't get me wrong, It was a good film. But not what I'd consider a "great" one. Wait for the DVD.