MovieChat Forums > Open Water 2: Adrift (2006) Discussion > This was NOT a terrible movie; here's w...

This was NOT a terrible movie; here's why.

posted 15 years ago by sessofdarkness
24 replies | jump to latest

I'm only 19 years old, so I understand the a**holes who come in and automatically push aside my opinion. Actually, I don't. What's with this condescending crap I see on these forums everyday? Moving on. I've been watching movies my entire life, I like the deeper meaning movies with fantastic plots and acting like Secretary, American Beauty, Seven, Sergeant York(just showing my range in films) and tons of other classics. But I see absolutely no reason in admitting when I've enjoyed a film that really isn't all too great but looking at it from a realistic(note I said realistic, not believable) point of view and putting myself in their shoes makes it a wild and enjoyable ride. I'm aware a lot of you watch films and critic every second of it, almost forcing yourself to hate every movie until proven otherwise. I'm not talking to you group of people, hope is already lost. I'm speaking towards the reasonable, open minded people who realize an enjoyable film experience doesn't need Academy Award or "sleeper indie hit" attached to it.

The jumping into the water without checking the ladder thing was a completely normal thing to do. You call them idiots, but did YOU think about the ladder until they themselves realized it was missing? I thought not.

Ever lock your keys in the car?
Ever forget to lock your car?
Ever forget to turn the stove off?
Ever forget the water is running in the tub?

Sure all these aren't life threatening, but I'm just trying to get my point across. It's simple, THEY FORGOT. You're on a yacht, you've been drinking, you think it's cool to jump off the boat into the water. It's really not that mind blowing that they forgot the ladder. Even if they did, you'd think a yacht would have a back up plan.

Now I do agree they could have easily come up with more creative ways to get on the boat, especially with the part they had to hold on too, but we had to have a movie didn't we? Ok, so I didn't justify the entire film but I really didn't see a reason too. My main point is that the reason for them ending up in the water wasn't terrible, and if you actually think about what a terrifying experience it would be if you were in their shoes, it's actually scary as hell. 'Course you need a little imagination for that.

[–] Sepulchral216 15 years ago

Amen!!!

[–] AtheistRevolution 15 years ago

This is a terrible movie. Here's why.

It *beep* sucks.

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.

[–] dabidder34 13 years ago

^ end of story.

I like Armageddon. A lot.

[–] mdmccartne 15 years ago

I concur that -- while enjoying a "suspension of reason" crucial to the enjoyment of many tragi-disaster-suspense films -- that this movie can be an entertaining distraction.

If you are a logician who tends to scrutinize every action of characters on a movie screen then this movie is certainly not for you.

In the interest of full disclosure, I saw this movie on IFC without the benefit of having seen the "original" and I know absolutely nothing of the "true story" upon which it is based. (Although, I am wise enough to know that just about any bit of fluff to appear in a theater can be pawned off as "based on a true story." see: "The Strangers", "Rudy", "Good Morning Vietnam" and "The Blair Witch Project" among many, many others.

All of the above aside, I had to post at the laughable statement that you were displaying your "range in films" by listing four movies made within five years of each other in the late 90s/early 2000s and one movie from the early 40s. I realize that at 19, you think this qualifies you as a cinefile but I respectfully suggest that, in future, you simply post your opinions without trying to offer your qualifications.

[–] Heff2001 15 years ago

I thought the film started out fine. I actually was psyched and thought, wow, they are going to pull of a good sequel. It went downhill for me when I realized the boat wasn't anchored in any way but seemed to just stay in one spot (even though they mention drifting -- sorry, didn't buy it), and when the "successful" friend was trying to protect the boat, that was just absolutely where they lost me (no one in those circumstances would not try to save him/herself). And when no one was experiencing SEVERE cramps, hypothermia, etc., the promise of the first 40 minutes began to rapidly diminish. I mean, these people were swimming first then treading for hours and were just floating around like they were totally fine and ready for a marathon (ha!).
The acting was totally solid. I think the director should have done his homework and if they tweaked it a bit here and there, this could have been a very convincing and worthy sequel. However, it felt like they took the easy way out. When characters are not portraying human behavior accurately (ie: let's let our friend go swim off into the horizon without a minor dispute), I check out.
Another post asked about the ending. It seems to me, coming from a post production standpoint, that they had two endings and tacked them both together. I have a feeling that they both originally died but it didn't go over well (rightfully so). So, they tacked on the shots of the pair on the boat. I wouldn't read much more into it. Suggesting these were ghosts popping up at the end really doesn't fit.
But I agree, it was watchable, if unrealistic.

------
Fasten your seatbelts....

[–] Bunnyluv0012 15 years ago

I like this movie.

MYSPACE

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&f riendid=387606505

[–] spartacrust 15 years ago

You're quite correct it is mostly believable and based on a true story, though how much dramatisation and artistic license has been added is anyones guess.

Unfortunately I have known people just as stupid as this lot, that's even apart from the ladder issue.

.

[–] lkillen 14 years ago

I beat this movie up in am earlier post but, after some thinking, I have to recant. I was an active scuba diver and would dive off Jax, Fl at around the 25 mile range (middle ground bouys).
One time, I went out with my boat-owning friend to shoot grouper. We anchored right on the LORAN mark. We left the boat unmanned on the surface, as we have done so many times before and went down the anchor chain to the floor at ~75 ft. Visibility was good an when we got to the bottom, we set the anchor into the ledge and went about our way hunting fish. We swam along the ledge, both getting lucky and me shooting two grouper. As our bottom time was over half way, we started back to the anchor. When we got back, it was NOT there. We looked at each other and around and I could see little puffs of what looked like smoke way in the distance.

I pointed and we both started kicking but he wanted to surface and chase the boat that way. Comms are confusing underwater under the best of times and trying to read each others hand signals while your life is drifting away is beyond compair. I convinced him to just follow me while I kicked my ass off towards what I was sure was the anchored. I was sucking down O2 at a horrid pace.

My years of marital arts paid off, in that I was able to finally catch the dancing anchor and reseat it while my friend caught up. We went up the chain, stopped at 10 ft and sucked out bottles dry, hoping to burn off enough O2 before we surfaced, without getting bent.

When we did surface and took another fix, we realized we had drifted over 200 yards from our original anchorage, a million miles by scuba terms. The wind had picked up and really was pushing the 24 footer. Nor sure if I could have swam ashore with, even with a BC.

People do stupid things and if I would have surfaced, as my friend wanted, I don't think we would have made it to the boat!

[–] thepartydjz 13 years ago

I can't believe that actually made a sequel to the first one. This is pure garbage, un-thinking, unreasoning, purely stupid, assinine GARBAGE. The boat would have drifted away if it wasn't anchored, anchors have ropes, end of story.

If some of you people enjoyed it then great, I could sell you some novels that don't make sense either, for me a movie has to be at least somewhat realistic unless it is a fantasy movie.

THIS IS PURE GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!

[–] allyssacromes 15 years ago

Hey, I totally agree with you. If this was really based on a true story, it would definitely make me think if I ever go on a weekend such as that. No, it was not a terrible movie. The ending was sad, but does make you think. It makes you realize how fragile life really is. It makes you realize that the ocean is a place with a lot of graves. I would be scared as hell if I were either one of them. They all had a right to be scared, no matter how irresponsible they all acted before they all jumped into the water. Out of desparation, they did the best with what they had. And as sad as the ending was (due to some losing hope), the important thing is that the mother was saved and the baby was not left motherless. Her friend did right by her in the end. Yes, he pulled a "funny" which lost the life of most of his friends, including his own, but he did do right by the mother in the end. There's a difference between a terrible movie and a sad ending. And like I said, it really makes you think.... It truely does.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tressa_4 14 years ago

I totally agree with you. Yes, parts were frustrating, parts were unbelievable. But I found myself totally engrossed in this movie from the very beginning to the agonizing ending that I still haven't figured out.

[–] edess 14 years ago

All this movie did was reaffirm why I have turned down many invitations to go on a boat. Sorry, but being on a boat is serious business. It ain't dry land. If I lock my keys in the car, it's a non-threatening annoyance. But I never forget to turn the stove off, because that is a life-threatening situation.

It was simply unforgiveable that the ladder was not put down. That should have been automatic. Especially if you want to push people in the water and fall in with them. If you are going to stop and take a swim, then put the freakin ladder down before anyone goes into the water. To me that's like stepping into the street, without paying attention to see if you have the green light.

If you want to live, then certain things are automatic.

But to make matters worse, all of these people panicked. The same way the last 2 ultimately got on board, should have been the FIRST line of action.