MovieChat Forums > K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) Discussion > Horrible movie!!!

Horrible movie!!!

posted 21 years ago by LittleBastard
56 replies | jump to latest

I was really curious to see this flick, a good portion of it shot here in town and wondering why it bombed at the box-office being a Ford fan.

Any movie that has the line..."Look... He has made himself a hero" tells you how much intelligency they expected their audience to have. Ya, thanks for pointing out exactly what just happened on screen.

The accents were horrible and made Costner's Robin Hood accent seem like academy material, the dialogue was aimed at 5th graders (see above), and the ending looked like it was a bit of tagged on cold war propaganda.

Ford was awful, someone else said this movie really showed how old he is looking and I have to agree. Donald Sutherland, Freeman, Hopkins etc all get better with age, Ford is just walking through his latest movies. I guess his night's out on the town, that became so famous while he was filming here, really caught up to him the morning after. (Note to Harrison, stay out of the strip clubs and work on the acting)

It's a shame when a true story seems like a bad remake of a 100 other formula nuclear sub movies.

Watching a 1/2 hour of that anti-Christ Martha Stewart is a 100 times more entertaining than this garbage.

[–] incrediball 21 years ago

What was wrong with the accents? If it didn't sound russian enough, well, why should it? Afterall, the people are not really Russians speaking english but Russians speaking russian. The film is only in english for obvious reasons...

What sort of accent does a Russian have when he is speaking Russian? Answer: None. So there actually shouldn't have been any accent at all. However if they would have done that, the film would have received massive critism. So I think the "thick" pronounciation was OK.

It's honestly impossible to do anything right. If the film is about Americans then it gets labelled as being all pro-American and only for the American market (e.g. Saving Private Ryan). If the film is not about Americans then its accents either suck or if the actors are from the region then no-one likes them and it's labelled as some wierd foreign movie. Imagine if the movie would have been entirely in russian (obviously with little known russian actors) with english subtitles. The decadent english speaking world would not have been too happy with that.

"...so you can believe me when I tell you that aliens love strawberry milkshakes."

[–] 21 years ago

[deleted]

[–] incrediball 21 years ago

You didn't get what I meant. Obviously there are regional accents but that's pretty irrelevant here since we're talking about Russian accents in English, which is an entirely different matter. The Russian accent that you get when a Russian is speaking English is not what you have when he is speaking Russian. His Russian is natural and sounds completely different than his English only because he hasn't grown up speaking it. Do you think the people on the K-19 back in 1961 were speaking English to each other? Obviously not, but only then would there have been a real reason for showing Russians speaking English with Russian accents in the film. But since they were supposed to have been speaking Russian to each other (the film was just in English for obvious reasons, as I said) then that "Russian trying to speak English" accent is just inappropriate. There just is no such thing as an "authentic Russian accent" in this case, or how do you define a Russian accent in Russian translated into English?

I didn't say that the actors were Russian, I said that the people in the film were Russians.

"...so you can believe me when I tell you that aliens love strawberry milkshakes."

[–] rumpelstiltskin-1 19 years ago

The accents are a nuance and don't detract from the enjoyment of the film. Not all Russians have the same stereotypical accent that many American films like to portray. In the same way, not all Italians have that same stereotypical Hollywood accent like in Titanic :

"I com to Ameeeeerica" or "you lost everyting we 'ava"

[–] jctennant55-892-30458 9 years ago

Ideally, war movies should have accents reflecting the nationalities of the people portrayed by them. Das Boot was a great film in which German U-Boot sailors were German actors speaking in German. You look at many war films during the 50's and 60's when the Nazis were British actors, such as Richard Burton and Richard Shaw. I can easily enjoy a good film without it being 100% authentic in this respect. Sean Connery playing a Russian submarine commander? Who cares.

[–] Steinii 18 years ago

I liked that, really good point.

[–] restlessminds 8 years ago

There are a lot of actors from England that can do really good American accents. I can't even tell most of the time. I suppose it's a bit different, since they do speak English. However, between Australian, South Africa, and New Zealand, the English accent changed the most in the states. I can't think of an American actor, or actress that can sound authentically British.

[–] graham_cracker_crumbs 20 years ago

I saw this flick because of Ford and it was filmed close to where I live . . . or the majority of it, anyway. I really shouldn't have. In all honesty. Everyone told me not to get attatched to any of the characters before I watched it . . . This movie traumatized me. I can sit through T3 without batting an eye . . . LotR is no problem . . . I am now claustaphobic. I can not look at a radiohaz symbol without shuttering. I am frozen in place whenever I see anything resembling nuclear suits. This movie had such a big impact on me it wasn't funny. I found the movie really really touching . . .

The accents were kind of goofy, though. I must agree with that one. I really enjoyed U-571 . . . fell asleep through Das Boot . . . watched all the old ones . . . hmm. I don't know why K-19 shocked me so mcuh. Maybe becasue it wasn't what I expected out of a sub movie??

[–] christian123 20 years ago

I thought this was one of Fords worst movies along with Hollywood Homicide and Six Days and Seven Nights.It was just really boring to sit through.The plot wasnt that interesting and I didnt think it was put toghther that well.

[–] zirclet 20 years ago

"Intelligency", LittleBastard? I think maybe you should check up on your own "intelligency" before you post things, my dude, esp. when you take the space to compare this with a Martha Stewart TV movie. And quit telling tales out of school about Ford.

[–] Private_Spoon 20 years ago

Couldn't help but think that people in the States disliked the film simply because it showed characters who were pro-communist in a positive light. Formulaic? Eh? What? Yeah right, so formulaic, it shows another side of the Cold War, where people who truly believed in the ideals of the Soviet Union aren't depicted as vicious fanatical child killers.
Far from trotting through all the usual submarine flick cliches, K-19 tries to do something radically different, which is to highlight the chronic shortcomings of the Communist system. It is clear that no one person is to blame for what happened to K-19; Krushchev and the Soviet top brass HAD to show Kennedy that the USSR had teeth - the teeth was the K-19 and its missiles. Ready or not? Well... too bad. The old saying 's*** rolls downhill' comes all too apparent for the hapless crew. So much so that they take the view; 'Well, erm... let's just hope nothing goes wrong.' The rest, is literally history, and some very brave guys get microwaved for it. That, is what the film is trying to present, and to try and make people look at what the 'other side' were really like; (okay, slightly wobbly accents, but irrelevant) what they strove for, and what they really believed in. For teenagers wanting to see mega-blasts and non stop action - it's just not that kind of film.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Private_Spoon 20 years ago

Well, what you say backs up my argument. I guess that you found it boring because you are just not very interested in Soviet politics, or the way a Soviet submarine operates. And I am sure there will be many people in the States who enjoyed the film as much as I did. It's just a sad fact that for the popcorn munching masses, lantern jawed American heroes, cast as Americans, saving the day, is both expected and demanded. In K 19, they get mooned at instead by the crew!

I was only highlighting a point that has been made already by people much more eminent than me, which is that there is still a slightly hysterical attitude towards Communism in the States. In Europe its regarded as a lousy system - simply doesn't work properly, and ends up becoming nasty and totalitarian with all the atrocities..gulags..ect, ect. In the States, it's the concept itself which is treated with abhorrence, reflected in two examples that, even in 2004, some forty-three years after the Missile Crisis, you still can't buy Cuban Havanas in America, and anybody doing any sort of business on good ol' Fidel's tropical island can forget about doing any work Stateside. (maybe this has changed, I hope so) A film therefore, which has the lead roles being fully paid up members of the Komsomolyets in it, is never going to be popular. It doesn't mean that its a bad movie, far from it. Credit due, then, to the cast and crew for making a film like this.

[–] burt_gummer_uzi4u 20 years ago

Quote by Private_Spoon:

"Well, what you say backs up my argument. I guess that you found it boring because you are just not very interested in Soviet politics, or the way a Soviet submarine operates. And I am sure there will be many people in the States who enjoyed the film as much as I did. It's just a sad fact that for the popcorn munching masses, lantern jawed American heroes, cast as Americans, saving the day, is both expected and demanded."

Oh really? what next, you going to give us the "Americans are all cowboys" talk?

"In K 19, they get mooned at instead by the crew!"

So? I didn't mind that, its shows A: how strong a sense of blind nationalism the Russian have, and B: That they are so stupid that they will show their bare backsides to a hi-res spy cam. ;-)

"I was only highlighting a point that has been made already by people much more eminent than me, which is that there is still a slightly hysterical attitude towards Communism in the States."

Yeah, hysterical is the word, Communism has killed over 500,000,000 people on less than 100 years, nothing to get excited about.

"In Europe its regarded as a lousy system - simply doesn't work properly, and ends up becoming nasty and totalitarian with all the atrocities..gulags..ect, ect. In the States, it's the concept itself which is treated with abhorrence, reflected in two examples that, even in 2004, some forty-three years after the Missile Crisis, you still can't buy Cuban Havanas in America,"

After all, we all know that after 43 years, you just have to forgive and forget! it doesn't matter that people are still rounded up every day and locked up just for believing in a god or saying Castro is mean. After 43 years of them doing this non-stop, you just HAVE to forgive them for it.

"and anybody doing any sort of business on good ol' Fidel's tropical island can forget about doing any work Stateside."

After all, nothing's wrong with giving money to a man who commits atrocities.

"(maybe this has changed, I hope so)"

And you people wonder why we Americans call you Dictator-Huggers.

"A film therefore, which has the lead roles being fully paid up members of the Komsomolyets in it, is never going to be popular. It doesn't mean that its a bad movie, far from it. Credit due, then, to the cast and crew for making a film like this."

A flim which shows the Soviet system as the total crap that it is, its not popular because a lot of people just don't care about sub movies any more, Hunt for Red October will likey be the last money-making sub movie untill about 2010. Can you be so blind as to think this was a pro-soviet movie somehow? or is your logic just so flawed it makes sense to no one but yourself?

[–] sullenshade 20 years ago

Seems the movie had done its work here. The movie wasnt just supposed to be a doccumentry of sorts, but also to start debate, rather the attempt. Also what is every one talking about when they say "The plot was bad"? How can a movie that tries to stick to the historical aspects of the story and tell the story of men that died decades ago supposed to have a good plot? This isnt something where they MADE a plot.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

I know it was years ago but I just wanted to congratulate you sullenshade for stating the obvious when so many confused posters (even now in 2013) are still claiming a "poor plot or weak storyline" connected with this film.

So let's requote you again.

"How can a movie that tries to stick to the historical aspects of the story and tell the story of men that died decades ago supposed to have a good plot? This isnt something where they MADE a plot."

That's right people. The main dramatic features portrayed in the film occurred IRL and Kathryn Bigelow didn't stray too far from the truth. Arguably the most fictional element of the story is the conflict between captain and xo that runs through the movie to give it that human interest angle.

[–] dr_purkelstein 18 years ago

i have noticed that many(absolutely not all) americans here, seems to think that they are more worth than people from other countrys.that really pisses me of you know, ´well you are the most powerful country on earth but just because pf that you are not a superior race or something.the time will come when you no longer are the most powerful country one earth, like the british and the roman empire.and what does power mean?? money and weapons?? that is not what i values most in the world, a country doesnt have to have high BNP or have a big army to be good

and whatever you think russians are not stupid or evil. i can say that in the last year america have been responsible for more killing and war then russia have been under the same period

[–] steini_l 18 years ago

Actually, Americans (American lives) are less worth to their own government than people in other countries...with such a huge military, there are always spares.

Btw. I know the Producer of this movie, Jóni Sighvatsson, and the man (actor) who first goes into that reactor thing in the movie, and I like the movie... Maybe those are the only reasons

[–] steini_l 18 years ago

On second thought...I think the movie is close-to-perfectly balanced, and really...powerful?... I like it!

[–] olleo 20 years ago

I really enjoyed this movie. I'm not into Soviet politics or submarines and although I like Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson none of that was the reason I liked it. It was a traumatic experience shared by men who did the best they could with what they had. And if the accents bothered you so much you weren't paying attention to what they were saying only how they said it.

Matthew 28:19-20

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sspolitician 20 years ago

I liked it. Ok so it may not be one of Harrison Fords best but I thought it captured the spirit of comradeship to fight a overwhelming enemy - radioactivity - where numbers of single defenders outweigh the might of the opposition - maybe a bit like siege of Leningrad. Accents didnt bother me a bit and talk of crap accents is totally superficial. (IMHO)

[–] burt_gummer_uzi4u 20 years ago

I'm only going to say this once, you're an idoit.

First, the level of of technical accuracy in this film is awe inspiring, second, as someone who has talked to many people from Russia, I can tell you this "dialogue aimed at 5th graders" is pretty much how they talk, period. Sorry if it isn't up to the "Matrix" level of dialogue and doesn't have "Dude" and "wassup" in it.

As for accents, I admit they wheren't the best, but who gives a %*^&?

"tagged on cold war propaganda" What is that about? If you're saying this was an anti-western propaganda piece, I want to know what you're smoking, if you're saying its an anti-soviet union film, then I want to know what nation you where born in, and at what time, Comrade. You didn't grow up in the Russia during the cold-war, that's for sure.

[–] T850 20 years ago

The reason the movie did horrible at the American box office is that it has virtually nothing to do with the U.S. Americans have trouble relating to people that are not American. Here in Canada, the movie did alot better. Another reason the film didn't do too well in the U.S. is that not a single torpedo was shot.

I for one really enjoyed the movie and is very close to Das Boot as the second best submarine movie ever made. The plot (being a true story as well) focusing on the humanity of the situation and not the politics of the time. The motive for the accents I believe was to remind people that these where infact Russians. Big presence actors like Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson tends to make us forget that the characters they portray are foreign people. And yet these same people have the same strengths and weaknesses we do, tragedy and guilt, compassion, comraderie. These are things that we in North America like to pride ourselves with, But this film (along with Das Boot) is a painful reminder to some that the other side are people too.

This film had the right ingrediants for it's genre, the characters was the focus, their loss was your loss, Their suffering was your suffering as well. That type of vunerability that makes it too believeable, and forces you to sympathise with these 'Communist boogiemen'. It's not a movie for everyone, those who like popcorn hollywood type flicks hate this film. But those with half a mind appreciate the bold attempt to deviate from the hollywood standard.

[–] enthusiast 20 years ago

Boys, boys, boys, Please!!!! The problem with this movie (and the real event) is that simply the Soviet commander should have simply abandoned the submarine (by sending it to the bottom with Davy Jones locker) after putting the crews in liferafts; then be rescued by the U.S. Navy (which has a MUCH higher regard in Lithuania than the Soviet Navy ever did). Don't risk the men's lives when the solution is obvious. Remember "Red October"? Fiction certainly, but the fact remains that the Soviet submariners always had desire to defect. I know they did. The crewman jumping off the submarine was only doing what everybody should have done; so they could be rescued by a decent Navy.

[–] temporaldisturbance 9 years ago

As an ex-Soviet, I have no particular love for my former homeland, but now you're just painting Soviet forces with a caricatural brush as some sort of cowards.

Why did this movie bomb? Because it had no romance subplot, no standard Michael bay hero arc, no flashy camera angles, no edgy betrayal, and no real "happy ending".

[–] Aurora_Serenity 19 years ago

I just saw this movie by chance last night on TV and my first--and still holding--reaction is: Wow. Just wow. I had wanted to see it because of Liam Neeson, but I never expected it to be as powerful as it was. Normally, I don't get emotional when watching movies, but this one made me cry. In some regards it was creepy, such as with the radiation poisoning, and even now I can't get the images out of my head. I think it was an absolutely amazing movie, truly suspenseful, and did a great job at showing you something about human emotion, and just how far some people will go for what they believe in. A wonderful movie about honor, duty, and not giving up, I think anyone who says it was horrible or did not like it is simply looking at it from the wrong perspective. The whole issue with the accents? It did not take away from the movie itself or the points it was trying to make, nor should the accents even be an issue. I certainly didn't notice; I was more focused on the interaction between the characters and what was going on. Truly wonderful, even more so because it was not so American-focused as some of those are that did better at the box office.

[–] thomas_bothwell 19 years ago

T850:

Why do people, especially in this website, always take movies (designed for entertainment) for the truth (which is generally far stranger)?

First of all, my dear T850, we Americans relate well to Canada...isn't it our 51st state, or maybe it's just another protectorate, like P. Rico?

So you liked "Das Boat"? I guess you know a lot about submarines and WW2 history. Wait a minute....what does your country's submarine force look like? A couple two (maybe more) cast-off British Oberons, right? That would pretty much make you an expert on subs, coming from a country with, what, the worlds 65th largest Navy?

Do you know the true story behind Das Boat? Thought not. Note to T850: Read (no, really, I mean R-E-A-D) Clay Blair's "Hitler's U-Boat War" (Volumes 1 and 2) before you comment on what you perceive as "truth" in submarines. (Hint: to help you, go straight to p. 394, first full paragraph on that page...assuming you've got the Random House First Edition of this work...which, I'm going out on a limb here... I say you don't have and have never read).

"But those with half a mind..."

Gotta wonder where you got such an accurate description of a Canadian. Or would you rather restate your somewhat general opinion of Americans?

Cheers, best of luck in life, you'll need it. Aidan

"Canada? What good ever came out of Canada...?

[–] theblackmarble 18 years ago

Note to Thomas Bothwell;1.It's Das Boot or The Boat, not Das Boat.2.The U.K. Is the 51st state. 3.Unless we are there,we rarely know the truth.4.Aren't Canadians portrayed accurately in SouthPark??

[–] lokilyesmith 20 years ago

i disagree. it's a story of what happened to my people, my country. it tells so much about Russia in it's soviet years. i guess you'd have to live to to believe it. i don't think harrison did his best, but the fact that the movie exists, after the secrecy that surrounded the events of the submarine is touching. it's our history, our past. K 19 the Widowmaker gives respect to that.