White Squall

Story

It's a pity this oceangoing adventure wasn't fully appreciated during its theatrical release in 1996, if only because its climactic storm sequence (hence the movie's title) was awesome on the big screen and inevitably less impressive on video. Mixed reviews also curtailed its box-office potential, but as you might expect from Ridley Scott--the director of Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise--this is a beautifully photographed movie that will thrill anyone who is drawn to the romance and danger of the open sea. The story is a rite-of-passage adventure for a group of high school boys who spend their senior year as the crew-in-training on the Albatross, a sailing vessel skippered by an experienced sailor and schoolmaster (Jeff Bridges) who teaches hard lessons of teamwork and individual responsibility. As they sail to the tip of South America and back, the young men face many challenges that will shape their character, in addition to the carnal pleasures of shore leave in exotic ports of call. It's a traditional story, and Scott doesn't bring anything particularly new to this sailboat variation of Dead Poets Society and Scent of a Woman. But as a coming-of-age drama White Squall is professionally crafted and filled with vital energy, featuring a talented cast of newcomers (led by Scott Wolf of TV's Party of Five) who rise to the demands of this rousing and life-changing adventure. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Features

• Color
• Widescreen
• Closed-captioned

Theatrical International release dates:
Europe: May 10, 96
Japan: May 18, 96
Australia: Apr 18, 96

Movie Details

Cast:

Jeff Bridges
Caroline Goodall
Jason Marsden
Ryan Phillippe
John Savage
Jeremy Sisto
Scott Wolf

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 129 min
DVD Aspect Ratios: 2.35:1

International rating:

Europe: 12

DVD International release dates:
North America: Dec 9, 03