At the movies: Captain Phillips
Captain Phillips is being promoted as the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the MV Maersk Alabama by Somalian pirates but there’s a lot of controversy surrounding the film. I kept hearing good things about the movie though, and, specifically Tom Hanks’ acting, so I decided to set the controversy aside and go see it.
True or not, the movie is good. There’s a lot of action and the tension is palpable throughout the film. The movie is well cast and the acting is terrific, too. At least, what I saw of it was. I struggle with vertigo and the shaky camerawork made me sick to the point that I had to leave the theater about 15 minutes before the movie ended. My friend was able to stay for the whole thing and filled me in on the ending. I have a feeling this movie and Tom Hanks will win some awards. It’s worth seeing in the theater.
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I was just thinking about posting that the last 15 min of the movie were some of the best acting I have ever seen when I finished reading about your vertigo. 😦 I totally get what you mean about the camerawork. I have no problem usually but I was closer to the screen than usual and even I was feeling the effects. But I have to say, Tom Hanks acting his shock was worth watching the movie all over again just for that.
Hmmm. When I saw the trailer for this movie, I kinda rolled my eyes. Hanks IS an amazing actor, but it seemed like it would be a very Hollywood movie with predictable action and angst like so many of them out there. I know that sounds jaded. But everyone says it is so good. I think I’d rather see Carrie (haha).
Thanks for the heads up on the motion issues. I’ll have to skip in 😦
Skip “it” (not “in”). Haha, I had a visual of me skipping into the theatre because of the motion issues 😉
Sorry you couldn’t watch the whole thing. I began suffering from vertigo a few years back. When I saw The Hunger Games with my kids, the whole place swam before my eyes. Then just two weeks ago we were in disney on one of the 3-d attractions- Oh boy- I was dizzy the whole day!
I had to leave The Hunger Games early too. 😦
I will put this on my to see list. Tom Hanks is one of my favorites. We will no doubt wait til it comes out on DVD. We rarely go to the theater, due to the cost.
Somali Pirates..eh boring
Hanks is one of my all-time favorite actors, but I don’t know if this movie is for me. I’ve become such a wimp when it comes to violence that I usually end up having nightmares. LOL
I do not enjoy shaky camera work either!
Sorry you had motion issues! That’s good you liked the movie though.
Lauren from http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
I don’t do well with violence in movies, nor can I stand it when people are helpless in the face of evil, so I’ve pretty much stopped going to movies. I have been interested in the controversy and wonder what the truth is.
This movie is getting great reviews, but I don’t think it is for me. A movie made me motion sick recently so I feel your pain 😦
Sounds excellent.
I love him.
Sorry you had motion sickness, it was a good movie and the acting by Tom Hanks was great.
Ooh, sounds good. I felt some vertigo at Gravity, though, so maybe I’ll see it on the small screen!
I hate shaky camera work on movies, too. That’s why I don’t want to see Gravity, either!
Kathy, thanks for your sharing your experience. Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard anything about this movie.
Sorry you missed the last 15 minutes honey! I went to see Rush with a friend recently and she had to leave the cinema 1/2 way through as she gets car sick! Lol. I think this infatuation with realistic/shaky camera work is a bit challenging. Glad you enjoyed this though, I have been considering going. Thanks for posting the link to the article discussing the ‘real’ events – sounds like Sony didn’t manage to shut everyone up… Hollywood, honestly, couldn’t they have done an accurate portrayal?
I got bothered by the shaky camera in Hunger Games as well, so I think that aspect of this movie is going to bother me. But I do want to check it out. Maybe I’ll wait for the dvd.
I hate shaky camera work too! I’ll probably wait until this one is available on HBO or Netflix
Me too with the hate-shaky-camerawork people! LOL
I was a little turned off by the hoopla behind the real story, so that was one nail in the coffin. The other problem for me, is that I really hated Castaway, and I think it destroyed my view of Tom Hanks.
I really, really dislike the handheld and shaky camera work. I don’t get dizzy, just annoyed. DVD for me.
I don’t handle the shaky camera either, althought I did make it through The Hunger Games.
I saw Captain Phillips and really liked it. It was INTENSE! I guess I haven’t read about all the controversy yet. It seemed well done, the scenes on the sea palpable and scary!
that shaky camera stuff makes me leave movies, so I’ll wait for video. This movie is one I’ve wanted to see, and I was clueless about the controversy
Ugh! I don’t have a problem with vertigo but hand held cameras do give me headaches. One of the Bourne movies was so bad I had to close my eyes a lot at the theater. Jason love Tom Hanks so I’m sure we’ll see this one eventually.
So glad you went to see it and told us all about it. I now know this is not one I could sit all the way through. Thanks for doing that for me.
This might be one that my husband would enjoy! I’m so sorry that you get sick from all of the jerky camera motions.