A good ole submarine thriller. Crimson Tide is essentially about a US submarine in a state of readiness for a nuclear conflict with the USSR. When the vessel experiences a communication problem, it leaves the crew in a quandry about whether or not to actually unleash Armageddon.

This film is particularly notable for the great lead roles played by Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington. Both men are on the same side (the US military), yet are poles apart in terms of their backgrounds and style of leadership.

The stakes couldn't be higher ... and we're left to ponder if the human race now has so much capacity for war that a simple mistake could lead to World War 3.

Gene Hackman (again) and Denzil Washington star in this film about a mutiny on a nuclear submarine.

Hostilities between the USSR and the USA have broken out again. When an incomplete order is received to fire at a soviet target, the two disagree on its validity. Denzil Washington leads the mutiny against his captain, knowing the consequences of not opening fire if he his wrong are as serious as opening fire if he is right.

Of course Gene Hackman is having none of this. Each of the crew and officers must decide which of the two they will side with, as the balance of power chops and changes.

Even in this limited setting, there is action a plenty, in a wonderful confined atmosphere. Certainly for most of this film, it is difficult to imagine the ending.

After the 80's unthinking testosterone action movies, the 90's marked a real change in action ouput, even from the Bruckheimer / Simpson producing team - and so came about this unusually intelligent war movie.
Following in the tradition of classic submarine movies like `The Hunt for Red Octobe' or `Das Boot', there are all the traditional action notes you would expect - torpedo attack, flooding compartments, sinking towards crush depth etc., all done with the technical and editorial perfection you would expect from Tony `Top Gun' Scott. However, all the action is merely a backdrop for a real character study and moral dilemna.
Hackman's veteran Captain is of the old school, `I like things simple' approach. When unrest in Russia becomes critical enough for them to receive orders to launch their nuclear payload, he sets out to perform his duty. However, a second message is received - and it is incomplete, therefore can not be verified. The radio goes down, and the sub is now out of touch with the rest of the world. The `new school' Executive Officer played by Denzel Washington feels strongly enough that they should not follow through with the launch until the message is verified, leading him into direct conflict with the Captain and a tense, riveting and exciting showdown ensues.
The action is note perfect, but it is the acting that makes the movie stand out. Seeing Washington and Hackman `mano-a-mano', cannot fail to knock your socks off with its intensity. Indeed, all the actors have their moments to shine, including a pre-Lord of the Rings Viggo Mortensen, and an excellent George Dzundza playing `Chief of the Boat'.
One early scene encapsulates all that is good about the movie - in the officers mess, a philosophical debate occurs around the launching of the atomic bomb on Japan. Hackman defends the bombing, but Washington at the end of a verbal cat and mouse interplay, replies that `In the age of nuclear weapons, the true enemy is war itself. It is this conflict of ideas that haunts the movie, and the viewer, long after the movie is over. There are no out and out bad guys - just two principled men with different world views -surely there can be no greater drama.
The extended cut offers no substantial difference to the original, and seems to have little reason for existing. The scenes reinstated are almost all minor character moments, giving the minor characters in the movie more time to shine, and helping consolidate the feeling of camaraderie in the submarine, which makes the eventual schism that much more shattering. Other than that, there is a small documentary about the movie which is more promotional than educational. If you have not seen the movie, do so immediately. If you have, and wonder if the extended cut is worth getting? I say don't waste your time.

There have been few war-type films (Saving Private Ryan was another) which have been so thought-provoking. The acting and action was excellent as could be expected from such a cast so my comments are really centred on the story line and its presentation. Set in the scenario of the post-cold war Russia, which is still with us, the basic confrontation which faces every naval commander of a nuclear submarine was brought to stark reality in this film. Who has the final say when it comes to pushing the button? Dependence on technology which is not infallible highlights the weakness of humans who become its slaves rather its masters. Ultimately the stark choice between life and death, between fiction and reality can become blurred when cut off from the world inside a deep sea submarine. How many times has this happened one can only wonder. Since we are all here it can be assumed that the officer portrayed by Denzel Washington always won or the type of persons portrayed by Hackman do not exist. Good triumphed over evil.