It's just a movie!

Rating: 6/10 (20 August 2001)

I went into this movie very aware of all the debate about historical inaccuracies, and I was determined to ignore all that and just think of it as a completely fictional action/drama. Yes, movies about the US single-handedly winning the war drive me crazy, but like I said it's just a movie. And I liked it: the movie was suspenseful and I enjoyed the performances of most of the cast. Matthew McConaughey was decent, and the supporting cast did a great job playing the cliches they were given to work with (though it was an effort trying to keep straight who was who). I especially liked Thomas Guiry as Trigger, but liking him made me nervous because I know the fate of guys like him in movies like this! Bill Paxton was wasted and didn't do much with what he had. Just don't expect a masterpiece: ignore the historical flaws and unanswerable questions (like how does a mess steward know how to work a submarine?) and it's an entertaining flick, well worth renting.