Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32984 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-03-31
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 124 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's a pity this ocean-going 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, Amazon.com

Special Features
English
Region 0

Synopsis
Eclectic director Ridley Scott here tries his hand at a coming-of-age tale, which stars Jeff Bridges as ship captain Christopher Sheldon. Based on a true story, the film is set in 1960 as a group of teenaged prep students signs on to Sheldon's floating summer school, conducted on a two-masted brigantine bound for South America. It soon becomes clear that the gruff but humane captain runs a tight ship as he drills his neophyte crew on the importance of teamwork and discipline. The boys possess a wide range of temperaments--there's the bully, the daredevil, the one plagued by insecurities, the one with demanding parents. Sheldon uses the shipboard chores as tools for dealing with their problems, reining in the obnoxious and encouraging the anxious. Since they are, after all, sailors, they also get a chance to get drunk in port and stop over at a whorehouse. Finally, the crew must confront the fabled white squall, a deadly storm so rare that even Sheldon has never experienced one. Bridges, Ryan Phillippe, Balthazar Getty, and Jeremy Sisto give fine performances in Scott's film of spectacular visual beauty.

Customer Reviews

Loved it
This isn't the type of film I would ever usually think of watching. The only reason I did was because I couldn't sleep one night while it was on TV, so I ended up watching it, and I'm so glad I did!
It's such an amazing film. It's not only about the ship, but about the relationships the boys build and the fears they overcome. The dolphin scene was horrible, but on the DVD I can skip past it, so thats OK.
It's a very sad film too, and it's good that you can feel such empathy with the characters. All of the boys do a great job in this film, I absolutely loved it!
And I'm usually a chick-flick kinda girl!
Anyone considering watching this definitely should!

White Squall
This film got slated by many critics, but I think it's great. You are taken through the life of one adolecent male making friends and relations of young men of his age and trying to get on in the world. It is a long film, yet it is not felt as you watch it. The acting, the direction and the photography are outstanding and you are taken through many emotions. If you want a deep and meaningful film, then this is the one for you. Ryan Phillippe steals the show on many occassions and quite rightly so, yet all the young men work off each other very well. Jeff Bridges is always outstanding in all that he does, this film is no exception. Well worth the five stars in my opinion.

1 star for DVD quality
It's a great film by Ridley Scott, the ship and scenery being one of the main characters of the film. Unfortunately all the beauty of the ship and sea, and spectacular scenery is overshadowed by the poor (very poor!) quality of the DVD.

My main complaint is about the graininess of the film, as well as missing additional features - no additional audio versions, no subtitles, no commentaries and nothing from "behind the scenes". Pity... This film deserved much more than this.

If you're willing - I suggest you wait for another improved version.