About 80% hype

Rating: 6/10 (3 June 2000)

As I left the cinema after watching this film my first thoughts were 'it wasn't as good as 'The Cruel Sea'.'. And, I have to say, this film loses out in every aspect against the old black and white classic. Jack Hawkins acts Tom Hanks off the screen even though he had just had his larynx removed because of throat cancer. The script is excellent and well written and fully highlights the in-humanity of war that 'Saving Private Ryan' fails miserably to do. All in all if you want a good thought provoking war film watch 'The Cruel Sea'.