"The Perfect Storm" film review by guest blogger SR from France (FCE exam)

‘The perfect storm’ is a disaster film based on a true story. It is an adaptation of Sebastien Junger’s book by the same name, published in 1997.

The story takes place in October 1991 in Gloucester, Massachusset. After several deceiving fishing seasons, Captain Bobby, portrayed by George Clooney, convinces his crew to head out far in the cold Atlantic Ocean on board of a ship called the Andrea Gail. They go on a mission to find fish and be able to make some money to support their families.

Ignoring the warnings of the imminent arrival of a hurricane, they decide to break into a dangerous area in the North Atlantic, the Flemish Cap.  There they have to face terrible weather and get suddenly trapped in gigantic waves.

This is where the special effects start. The digital images are so outstanding and realistic that they carry us into this disaster, swamp us with fear, and root us to the spot. We can hardly know what is real or not. It is as if you are facing those big waves with the actors.

The film is at time slow moving but the acting and special effects are so great that they make the film exciting. The choice of the music is in perfect concordance with the subject. It gives the film suspense and makes it really worth-watching.