It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Hey, I didn't realise this was a Disney movie until I read other reviews. That is a statement in itself. Thoroughly enjoyed this actioner, and I have no problem with factual errors as I tend to watch movies for entertainment. If I want to be educated I pick up a book ... or Kindle. OK some of the dialogue was a bit stilted, but it was great to watch a manly film for once. Fine effects and the sound was superb on my soundbar.

The Finest Hours: Directed by Craig Gilliespie and written by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric JohnsonThis is a based on a true story Disney film, one of the few rated PG-13. Almost none are ever released through the official Disney with the big castle channel with that rating intact. This was a fairly under the radar release. I remember a big standin located just outside of the arcade at my local theater. It looked fascinating from a disaster movie stand point. But this was a bit more than that. It does fit the mold of this type of movie to a T. This could turn a lot of people off but hear me out on this one. This one is different enough. It has the swelling music cues and you know how the arcs of the characters may turn out. Chris Pine is incredible in this movie. He transforms into this character completely. He still looks like Chris Pine but his speech, his body language and his demeanor feel completely Bernie Webber, a stauch rule following meek man. He believes in the system and the way of doing things. His character is the centerpiece of this movie along with Miriam played by actress Holliday Grainger. This is where the movie takes a different route. It is the way the movie opens that really changes how things are perceived when they head out to sea in this crazy storm to rescue the crew members of the Pendleton. The movie opens with a 20 minute scene where Chris Pine and Holliday Grainger meet for the first time. They just talk and reveal bits of themselves. The bar scene then reveals more. The dance hall scene after that reveals the true crux of their relationship. This is not to say that it's the only thing worth mentioning about this well made movie. The effects of the roiling sea and the split ship were incredible. They were so beautifully done that you believed every second of it. The crew on the ship also reveal their ingenuity in trying to stay alive long enough to rescued. This is a solid well made movie. It makes you believe in the situation and feel for the characters. It is beautifully shot and just a really good movie. I give this film a B.

If you read the history of this story and couple that with the quality of acting as well as the time and money that has gone into making this movie, it seems disrespectful that over 40,000 voters would give this picture less than 7 out of 10 stars rating. Excellent story and movie and acting. 10 stars as a means of correcting any previous disrespect.Both Casey Affleck and Chris Pine do a phenomenal job of acting. The harrowing scenes are breathtaking. A good piece of history to restore anyone's faith in humanity. Treat yourself to an important history lesson and good-old-fashioned entertainment.The greatest small boat rescue in history which happened in 1952....just over 64 years ago.

The Finest Hours (2016) is absolutely average in every single way. Nothing in this movie was terrible, yet nothing exceeds the norm. The acting isn't really good, but it is certainly passable. The direction isn't memorable, but there is a distinctive mark left when it comes to the visual style. The special effects were very practical and convincing. The story is probably the most compelling part and is the only thing I found to be truly remarkable. Without that astounding real-life story, this would be nothing more than a run-of-the-mill rescue film. It was an entertaining watch and I wasn't bored throughout it. This is a story worth hearing about, but a movie worth watching when you've run out of movies to see on Netflix. Nothing more, nothing less.