The scuba diving boat leaves behind a couple in the middle of the ocean.  With no one in sight for miles and miles, Suzanne and Daniel turn to each other for strength.  But their strength slowly seeps out from them as sharks start to besiege them and it starts to sink in that they’re treading dangerous waters…

I would have given the movie a 4 but since it’s a bad-vibes movie, it was only a 3.  The cinematography [A general term for all the manipulations of the film strip by the camera in the shooting phase and by the laboratory in the developing phase *mcgrawhill.com] was at par with the Blair witch movie but less wobbly.  The cinematography was effective in presenting the dangers of the blue especially from the view of the castaways.  The camera was also bobbing as Daniel was checking the sharks underneath.  The movie was based on a true story, which made it a real bummer because incidents like this can happen in real life.  Incompetence is absolutely intolerable especially in cases as dire as this.  Why didn’t the crew list down the names instead of just tallying how many people are already on board?  During a tour, names are usually listed down and the tour guide gives a roll call before sightseers toddle off and as soon as they have assembled again.  It should be the case even for small expeditions like that, since scuba diving is a delicate activity.  As I sauntered toward the exit after the movie, I heard a few murmuring, “what a lousy movie.  I didn’t like it.  What was that?!”  The cinematic culture of the Filipinos is perceptible right there.  Filipinos are suckers for movies with happy endings.  Not because a movie ended with a bad note it means it has a bad taste.  I have to disagree that it was a bad film.   

The movie captured the reality that something as stupid as that can happen and it can cost lives.  Sh*t does happen.  That is why we shouldn’t take things for granted and we shouldn’t see things only as it appears on the surface.  I also liked the part where the couple were arguing who’s fault it was that they got stranded and they’ve pulled up every “what ifs” on the card.  That’s reality right there.  We like to blame.  We have 10 fingers and we like to point.  In blaming, we refuse to see our own mistakes/shortcomings.  We decide to take the easier route and pass the buck.   In their case, it was definitely NOT their fault.  Even if they came 5 minutes early [or for the girl, it was too near the due time], or take that they came back 5 minutes late or even an hour delayed, the boat MUST WAIT.  That is SOP as long as everyone isn’t on board yet.  It’s ridiculous to think that if you came back late, you’re going to be left in the middle of the ocean and be forgotten already.  The crew should have exercised utmost DILIGENCE.   In the last few minutes of the movie, somebody said that at least the girl would survive so she can recount their misfortune.  Not having any survivor made it more interesting for me because it means that the writer reconstructed the turmoil as how it could have been.  Same goes with Titanic– no survivors, except for the people who were carted to shore by the few lifeboats that the historical ship provided.  But the ones left to freeze in the night chill of the Atlantic Ocean died.  The writer for the movie had to reconstruct the terrifying experience/occurrence that could have happened.   

3 buckets [of popcorn!] 

Tags: diving, Open Water, Open water movie, review, scuba diving

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 14th, 2004 at 3:42 pm and is filed under Admit One. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.