Touches You

Perfect cast and a good story

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

This is pretty much a one man show.Mr R.Hauer is outstanding as the Russian submarine captain determined at all costs to save his crew after a nuclear accident at sea.His is the only character allowed to develop.His American counterpart - Mr M.Sheen - is very one - dimensional by comparison. Mr Hauer is hypnotic.No wonder his men are willing to follow him to hell and back.He radiates strength and integrity. The Cold War politics may seem slightly ridiculous until you remember the reluctance of the Russian navy to acknowledge the plight of the "Kursk" much more recently - proof - if it were needed - that suspicion is deeply rooted in that nation's soul. There is a smattering of British thesps scattered through the Russian crew giving it a certain European gravitas. The claustrophobic nature of the submariner's life is well realised. Whether the incident recounted in the movie occurred in real life is obviously a moot point, but that debate should not be allowed to sideline the overwhelming merits of this production. Before reading the other comments on this site I hadn't realised that "Hostile Waters" was a TV movie;without being in any way patronising I can only say that only makes it even more impressive.

It is difficult to portray several days of events in two hours of TV, but "Hostile Waters" captured most of the emotions of the situation. It is not a documentary, nor even a docu-drama, but a dramatisation of events that actually occurred. Once again I was impressed with the quality of Rutger Hauer's craft in his portrayal of the Soviet captain who earned the respect of his crew by simply being "the Captain" in every respect (in fact, since the film did depart from the real events far enough, it might have better been titled "The Captain"). I was not wildly impressed by the character portrayed by Martin Sheen: either the director deliberately portrayed the pampered US nuke drivers as insecure martinets, or Sheen acted badly. The juxtaposition of the living conditions aboard the US submarine and the Soviet submarine was obviously done to make a point, but what that point is I do not know, and this is what will make this film a classic for those who want to interpret characterisations in the light of the director's perceived aims.

First of all, to Robert Johansson, the political officer (or Zampolit) and the KGB officer are one in the same. They are a presence on all Soviet nuclear submarines to assure the crew's political education away from base. The story (adapted from the true-life account by the same name: Hostile Waters) is well directed by David Drury despite serious budget setbacks and production pitt falls. The crew is represented in all the authentic Soviet insignia and lapel tags. As is the American crew in the Los Angeles class submarine. The film builds to extreme suspense as the viewer ponders what will happen to America, to the world, as the brave and loyal Soviet Navy attempts everything to overcome the fire in the missile bay that resulted from a collision with the afformentioned US sub. The climax takes place in the Nuclear Reactor room as a brave young cadet is forced to stay inside while his crew desperately attempt to push through the hatch and pull him out. The Graphics are cheap but convincing and the Soviet Naval atmosphere is captured very authentically. A fine Saturday night movie. It takes the cake in the suspense department along with Crimson Tide and The Hunt For Red October. I give it an 8.5 out of a possible 10.

This is a well done nail biter with great effects, sensitive acting, believable characters and gritty realism. It's been criticised for taking liberties with the book. Yet little is really known about the incident which legitimately opens the door to dramatic licence. It's right up there in the top five submarine movies of all time.