Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 02/05/2008 Run time: 114 minutes Rating: R

You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications problems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong--that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying. Director Tony Scott (who directed Quentin Tarantino's True Romance script) called in Tarantino to punch up the dialogue, which is why, for example, the sailors talk about Silver Surfer comic books. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen; the sonorous underwater rumblings on the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide you with a good opportunity to show off your system's bass response. --Jim Emerson

You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications problems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong--that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying. Director Tony Scott (who directed Quentin Tarantino's True Romance script) called in Tarantino to punch up the dialogue, which is why, for example, the sailors talk about Silver Surfer comic books. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen; the sonorous underwater rumblings on the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide you with a good opportunity to show off your system's bass response. --Jim Emerson

This movie is a lot of fun and Gene Hackman is his usual talented self, although he reminds me of slim pickens in Dr. Strangelove - although he is portrayed as a well meaning guy, but the plot has more holes than a leaky barge. A nuclear sub only has one radio? If this is true we are in alot of trouble, The fate of the world rests on one man - the radio man-? A captain who ignores a countermanding, or at least modified command, before destroying the world. It would be his duty to find out what was on that message, not a nuisance. If he had to place his boat in jeopardy, so be it. I hope this is not the way we decide how to destroy the world. Scary.

the movie is great, but just like they did on DVD, the unrated extended edition will be released after people buy this version

I served on board an ssbn as a sonar tech. everything about this movie is wrong from the basic plot to having a dog onboard.not one thing in this insulting movie is based in reality.the characters are weak-minded cowards who would never be allowed on a sub.everyone involved with this movie owe the navy an apology.there is no entertainment here and the controversy generated by thier situation is sheer lunacy.do not spend your hard earned money on this crap,they don't deserve it.

Take a look at the cast list and with such a powerful and talented group of actors how can this movie not be good? Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Vigo Mortinson, James Gandolphini...the list goes on and on. The previous reviews of the extended edition concerned me when I ordered but fear not, the editing is seamless, it flows very well and I think it adds even more depth to the film. Great film, great movie. Highly recommended.

This review refers to the 1998 edition of 'Crimson Tide'. The movie itself is good, worth 5 stars. The transfer to DVD is relatively poor (not horrible, acceptable)for a recenet movie (1998). The format is widescreen, but NOT enhanced for large screen TVs, so you wind up with the "letterbox" picture with large swaths of black on all sides of the picture--not good for an action film like this (why do the studios still issue DVDs with this format? It is so annoying!). The sound is OK--Dolby 5.1, but the picture is somewhat grainy--moreso than it should be. The DVD transfer is mediocre at best. I viewed this on a 46-inch high definition TV, played on my Toshiba 1080p HD DVD. This movie is now available on Blu-ray which is supposed to look great. I'll repurchase the movie in Blu-ray after I decide to get a Blu-ray player.