42 reviews
Decent Small Budget Movie
I'm not going to concentrate my review on one scene involving a CGI shark. I will say it looked obscenely fake and did somewhat detach you from that scene as you were too busy preoccupied with the leftover Sharknado prop. Otherwise the film was pretty good. Felton, Delahunt and Abel were all very solid and really evoked the feelings of desperation and humanity relating to the subject of the film. Their performances were enough for me to actually care about the characters and given its also a true story, I found myself more than adequately emotionally invested in the film. There's definitely issues with the film. The score is very hit and miss. Especially the second rate Jaws music in some of the scenes. I've watched hundreds of films worse than this in the last year or so. Did more than enough to keep me watching for 1hr 40mins.
- cuthbertjoel
- Feb 15, 2015
- Permalink
Good Movie about brave men
Its okay
It feels like a TV movie, but that being said it is a very interesting story.
Maybe a little long, some scenes could have been cut shorter. But all in all I liked it.
I also have to admit that I really like survival movies :-)
- nickpedersen
- Jul 14, 2020
- Permalink
Were they shaving alwhile adrift?
It could be a great movie pf a fantastic story. Director mess it up. Were they shaved after 20 days adrift? A shark biting a hand and causing minimum damage? Just poor.
One of the views movies I could not finish watching
Solid survival movie
Has everything you would want from a lost at sea movie. Great acting and teamwork
- nickrdwells
- Dec 4, 2020
- Permalink
Average movie
The story of this movie was good except that everything was average.
- djalildjodjo
- Jun 3, 2020
- Permalink
True Story of the US Airman who ditched in the Pacific
Based on true events this tells the story of three US airmen who ran out of fuel on a raid in World War II in the Pacific theatre and had to ditch in the sea. They were unable to salvage much from the plane and ended up in a tiny rubber raft and had to try to survive. This is their story.
Now this is filmed mostly in and around the raft and so the three main actors have to do an excellent job and I think they do, I really like Garrett Dilahunt ('No Country for Old Men') as Dixon who has to go through the full range of emotions but both Tom Felton and Jake Abel as his companions are both commendable. The make up crew deserve a pat on the back too – very convincing.
This is not one you will gain from seeing a second time though but is still worth a stream, or a rent as I found this to be both compelling, well made and eminently watchable.
Now this is filmed mostly in and around the raft and so the three main actors have to do an excellent job and I think they do, I really like Garrett Dilahunt ('No Country for Old Men') as Dixon who has to go through the full range of emotions but both Tom Felton and Jake Abel as his companions are both commendable. The make up crew deserve a pat on the back too – very convincing.
This is not one you will gain from seeing a second time though but is still worth a stream, or a rent as I found this to be both compelling, well made and eminently watchable.
- t-dooley-69-386916
- Apr 15, 2016
- Permalink
Battling adversity in 8 x 4 ft
The Pacific Ocean is 63 million square miles in size. Larger than every single square inch of dry land on the entire planet.
In January 1942, just over a month after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the United States entry into WWII, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was on patrol west of Hawaii.
Enterprise was one of only four remaining US carriers in the Pacific. Constant reconnaissance was crucial to detect Japanese ships and aircraft. Lingering in one place was a recipe for potential disaster - but pinpointing a moving ship roughly 800ft long and 100 ft wide, a minuscule speck in such a vast ocean, was a much greater challenge for pilots. Unfortunately that made life difficult for friendly as well as hostile fliers.
On the 16 January 1942 a Douglas Devastator torpedo bomber ran out of fuel without sighting the Enterprise. Pilot Harold Dixon, radioman Gene Aldrich and bombardier Tony Pastula managed to survive ditching in the sea.
This film tells the story of what happened next. Dixon, Aldrich and Pastula had few resources and faced great dangers - trying to survive on a raft measuring only 8ft x 4ft.
Such a small intimate setting is a challenge to put on screen, and this film succeeds in being engaging and enjoyable because of the well written script brought to life by a talented cast.
Tom Felton as Tony Pastula may be familiar as Draco Malfoy from the 'Harry Potter' films, Jake Abel from 'Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief' and TV's 'Supernatural' and Garret Dillahunt from 'Justified', 'CSI' and 'Deadwood' on the small screen as well films such as '12 Years A Slave' and 'No Country For Old Men'.
All three are excellent in their respective roles, and their collective experience and ability hold and entertain the viewer.
The film remains as faithful as possible to the actual story and the real history - and amid all the seemingly endless sea and limitless sky, an imposing vastness visually conveyed powerfully from the first opening scenes, is never in any danger of coming adrift.
Very enjoyable and well worth watching.
In January 1942, just over a month after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the United States entry into WWII, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was on patrol west of Hawaii.
Enterprise was one of only four remaining US carriers in the Pacific. Constant reconnaissance was crucial to detect Japanese ships and aircraft. Lingering in one place was a recipe for potential disaster - but pinpointing a moving ship roughly 800ft long and 100 ft wide, a minuscule speck in such a vast ocean, was a much greater challenge for pilots. Unfortunately that made life difficult for friendly as well as hostile fliers.
On the 16 January 1942 a Douglas Devastator torpedo bomber ran out of fuel without sighting the Enterprise. Pilot Harold Dixon, radioman Gene Aldrich and bombardier Tony Pastula managed to survive ditching in the sea.
This film tells the story of what happened next. Dixon, Aldrich and Pastula had few resources and faced great dangers - trying to survive on a raft measuring only 8ft x 4ft.
Such a small intimate setting is a challenge to put on screen, and this film succeeds in being engaging and enjoyable because of the well written script brought to life by a talented cast.
Tom Felton as Tony Pastula may be familiar as Draco Malfoy from the 'Harry Potter' films, Jake Abel from 'Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief' and TV's 'Supernatural' and Garret Dillahunt from 'Justified', 'CSI' and 'Deadwood' on the small screen as well films such as '12 Years A Slave' and 'No Country For Old Men'.
All three are excellent in their respective roles, and their collective experience and ability hold and entertain the viewer.
The film remains as faithful as possible to the actual story and the real history - and amid all the seemingly endless sea and limitless sky, an imposing vastness visually conveyed powerfully from the first opening scenes, is never in any danger of coming adrift.
Very enjoyable and well worth watching.
A familiar story, but there's enough mileage left in the material to make it work
- Leofwine_draca
- Dec 17, 2016
- Permalink
Mostly fake reviews for a very mediocre movie
Surviving on the Pacific
Don't except a lot to see except a lifeboat, water and three guys trying to survive. But to me that was enough because you live the whole movie like it was you that was trapped on the Pacific Ocean. The problems they have to get drinking water and food make you realize in what kind of hell they had to live during so long alone on the ocean. And when you know it's based on a true story then it makes it always a bit more special when you watch a movie like this one. I thought the actors did a good job. The conversations they had during all that time seems all plausible to me. What else would you do if you were surrounded by water without any land in sight? My wife and I certainly did enjoy this movie.
- deloudelouvain
- Mar 3, 2015
- Permalink
Lost at Sea
I do like most stories of the sea, and this kept me entertained and was a good enough story. The fake sharks were not great, but I didn't really have a problem with anything else. Before I watched this I was wondering how they would tell this "trapped in a life raft at sea" story any differently. It is a true story, which I hope was told fairly truthfully, so it didn't have to be believable; because it actually happened. If it hadn't been a true story you might have wondered about their luck sometimes.
On the whole worth watching if you like this sort of thing, and the acting was fairly good.
On the whole worth watching if you like this sort of thing, and the acting was fairly good.
mirrors the plot of Unbroken
- johnhdavison
- Jan 26, 2015
- Permalink
Hen-reeeeeeeeeeeee! Hen-ree Al-drich!
- nogodnomasters
- Apr 7, 2018
- Permalink
Same Story As Middle Act of "Unbroken"
- MovieHoliks
- Jun 2, 2015
- Permalink
The Little Yellow Raft that Could
I have to say I was not expecting much when I watched this movie so I was glad that I more than wrong. Just a great movie all around, really well acted and a great pace that had me enthralled from the get go. Felton really proved his acting chops and should hopefully open some more doors for him. I thought Aldrich was great as well and Dillahunt as well.
Obviously not a big budget blockbuster and further proof that a good story and solid acting can go along way. The ordeals that these men faced was really something and it was portrayed magnificently by the director. I would love to see the real back story of these men and hopefully if they ever get a chance to add it in a package with extras I would purchase it. Again I highly recommend this little gem
Obviously not a big budget blockbuster and further proof that a good story and solid acting can go along way. The ordeals that these men faced was really something and it was portrayed magnificently by the director. I would love to see the real back story of these men and hopefully if they ever get a chance to add it in a package with extras I would purchase it. Again I highly recommend this little gem
- matthew-potvin
- Jan 24, 2015
- Permalink
I agree about fake reviews
The beginning made it look cheap right of the bat. Odd beginning should have worked in the old Wwii footage later.
The story is OK at best, the cgi is terrible the cgi shark was laugh out loud weird never seen a shark look that bad. The the soundtrack is odd for a war movie, it just struck me as to upbeat. Did the director find a friend to do the music cheap?
The acting is not bad. I like the captain as an actor last house on the left great movie.
No way people are giving this 9's that's why I agree about the fake reviews. Half way through the movie I was thinking I better check the reviews again something is not right. Haha
The story is OK at best, the cgi is terrible the cgi shark was laugh out loud weird never seen a shark look that bad. The the soundtrack is odd for a war movie, it just struck me as to upbeat. Did the director find a friend to do the music cheap?
The acting is not bad. I like the captain as an actor last house on the left great movie.
No way people are giving this 9's that's why I agree about the fake reviews. Half way through the movie I was thinking I better check the reviews again something is not right. Haha
- sixteenvolt182
- Nov 15, 2015
- Permalink
Strong story, and great acting by Tom Felton
Saw this movie at a Special Screening in New Orleans at the WWII Museum and I highly recommend it. It's an incredible true story honestly told and very well acted. As someone with family in the military who loves true stories about American history, this one hit all the right notes for me.
Historical films can feel a bit stiff or over dramatized, but this hit the sweet spot of good acting and an engaging story.
It was a trip seeing Tom Felton is something other than Harry Potter, but once you get over the initial double take, you realize he is a fine actor who has a bright future ahead of him.
Historical films can feel a bit stiff or over dramatized, but this hit the sweet spot of good acting and an engaging story.
It was a trip seeing Tom Felton is something other than Harry Potter, but once you get over the initial double take, you realize he is a fine actor who has a bright future ahead of him.
- bryce-167-776553
- Nov 22, 2014
- Permalink
Did the director find a friend to do the music for cheap?
Could have been an OK movie if the soundtrack wasn't so sappy. Relentlessly so, in fact. Every time something was discovered that could make the time on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean a little bit more bearable, it was musically treated with an inspirational love story theme. Imagine Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet being played when one of the survivors invents a fish hook out of a piece of wire. Or how about the discovery of a pencil? Good time to play that same inspirational cadence again. I would love to see a version of this movie with no music because it would be about 500 times better. What a waste.
- Siebert_Tenseven
- Jun 27, 2016
- Permalink
Well acted, beautifully photographed, historically accurate film
I was fortunate enough to see a screening of this film before its theatrical release. As a student of history and a lover of films, I would highly recommend this film to both history and film buffs. All three of the main characters give well rounded performances, but I was equally impressed with the Cinematography and Musical Score. In my opinion, there are not enough Independent, low budget films like "Against the Sun", let alone historically accurate ones. Its unfortunate that films like this don't get the larger theatrical release that they so richly deserve. It is my understanding that the film's main audience will come as a result of it's digital release so hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves.
Slow, boring and too low budget
There's just not enough going on throughout the film and the special effects are horrendous. Large parts of it are filmed in a movie set pool and this is quite obvious and makes it look very cheap (is there no waves in the Pacific?). These type of 'lost at sea' films largely rely on the drama of the storms, shark attacks, boat sinking etc but the CGI is terrible and nothing looks believable. Although the acting is ok the interaction between the characters is not enough to keep it interesting and the whole film gets stuck in the doldrums.
- deadbydawn2013
- Dec 19, 2020
- Permalink
excellent story and production
Just came from seeing this movie at the WW2 museum in New Orleans at an advance screening I had the pleasure of attending. I met the producer/script writer Brian Falk. Very nice guy. I'll start my brief review by saying the movie was admittedly made on a low budget which limits things, but that being said, what they did do, they did well. The re-creation of the plane, a TBD-1 Devastator, was great. (No surviving plane exists anywhere.) As to the story and the production, the movie succeeds because it tells the tale of these 3 men and their journey on a raft in the Pacific Ocean. You see the interactions of three guys who basically did not know each other when the plane took off. Keep in mind in those days, officers, as pilots almost always were, and enlisted crew members did not associate on the carriers much if at all. That dynamic plays out to a certain degree in the film. The elements you'd think would come though in a film such as this, are played well: despair, survival, hunger, thirst, hope, fear, and blame... and many more. Theirs is story that needed to be told. I am glad it was.
Pretty dumb survival crew
- Beachbum2018
- Oct 22, 2022
- Permalink
True Life Survival at Sea Story
No spoilers. Just general information about the film. This is not the greatest film ever made but compared to a movie that I saw with Robert Redford some time ago -also a survival story at sea it kept my interest. I rented it from Itunes the first ever film I have rented in this way. It also recalled the survival scenes of Mutiny on the Bounty as well (1935). I gave the Redford film two stars and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) four stars. It also recalled THE OLD MAN IN THE SEA in that it had a few brief flashbacks and dream sequences. OLD MAN IN THE SEA is a near classic 3 1/2 stars. It also seemed to recall the OPEN BOAT a story by Stephen Crane. This is a solid workman like film. I give it high marks for historical accuracy. I could not notice any anachronisms in the gear or script. It was, in a very real sense, a tribute to the stoic courage of the "greatest generation." I found the film very well acted and I enjoyed the way they framed it with pictures of the era and the real-life characters. Definitely worth seeing. A good WWII survival film. I would give it 3 to 3 1/2 stars. Definitely above average. Music not overdone. And though it was predictable in some places there were some thrills. I can't understand people who gave this a zero. They could not have seen the film. Very good performances by the actors and solid directing. If you like WWII films you will like this one.
You Have to be Interested in the Subject Matter
It's a tale on 3 USN aviators stuck on a raft, proverbially in the middle of nowhere somewhere in the S Pacific after their plane ran out of fuel while flying a patrol mission. It's a movie I've waited 50 years to see, having read the book it is based on "The Raft" when I was a kid. My dad didn't read too many books, he simply didn't have the time, but having served on PBY patrol planes in the USN in WW2 that flew in the S Pacific and the Caribbean he was no doubt fascinated by the subject. I'm sure it was the worst nightmare that an aviator or sailor could imagine, being stuck on a raft without water or food, virtually no hope of being spotted by a rescue plane and I'm sure that these young men speculated during the endlessly boring patrols they flew, on the complete futility of such a situation.
And that's what "Against the Sun" is about. 3 actors on a raft and if you have no interest in this type of story, you will be bored to tears. At 100 minutes it comes in at about an appropriate running length although .10-15 minutes could have easily been cut. Then again the director could have unnecessarily added about .15-20 minutes with back story or scenes involving the crew from the carrier "Enterprise" (which the flew from) or with their families back in the States after they've been advised that they are missing at sea. Works fine at it is. Good performances by the 3 actors involved, probably not easy to do. I hope all of the 3 real life aviators had good lives, they earned it. I'm sure they appreciated every day life gave them.
And that's what "Against the Sun" is about. 3 actors on a raft and if you have no interest in this type of story, you will be bored to tears. At 100 minutes it comes in at about an appropriate running length although .10-15 minutes could have easily been cut. Then again the director could have unnecessarily added about .15-20 minutes with back story or scenes involving the crew from the carrier "Enterprise" (which the flew from) or with their families back in the States after they've been advised that they are missing at sea. Works fine at it is. Good performances by the 3 actors involved, probably not easy to do. I hope all of the 3 real life aviators had good lives, they earned it. I'm sure they appreciated every day life gave them.