Release Date:
Friday, July 19, 2002
K-19 is based on the true story of Soviet leadership impatiently pressing its first nuclear-ballistic-missile submarine into service in response to the United States production of similar vessels. The testing of the boat was premature, however, making for some harrowing real-life drama and even better screen time. Exchange a hesitant captain (Liam Neeson as Captain Mikhail Polenin) with one willing to take the boat to sea (Harrison Ford as Captain Alexei Vostrikov), and you have a summer submarine spectacular.
If you can ignore the devolving Russian accentsnot one main character manages to make it through the movie without slipping back into his native toneyoull find the story keeps a rapid pace for such a lengthy film. Stellar filming within the sub heightens the panicked crews mission in a claustrophobic atmosphere, though youll have to disregard Vostrikov and Polenins endless bickering and some blustery speeches at unlikely juncturesat one point, the nuclear reactor is leaking radioactive toxins throughout the sub while Vostrikov goes on and on about serving ones country. In the end, though, the movie manages much better than its namesake.
If you can ignore the devolving Russian accentsnot one main character manages to make it through the movie without slipping back into his native toneyoull find the story keeps a rapid pace for such a lengthy film. Stellar filming within the sub heightens the panicked crews mission in a claustrophobic atmosphere, though youll have to disregard Vostrikov and Polenins endless bickering and some blustery speeches at unlikely juncturesat one point, the nuclear reactor is leaking radioactive toxins throughout the sub while Vostrikov goes on and on about serving ones country. In the end, though, the movie manages much better than its namesake.