Warning -- this is a philosophical review.
Not sure if this is a spoiler. Most probably is. I've only read some of these reviews. None, in my opinion, made a point of the point (forgive the pun) of the film. It is not about the military. It is not about politics. It is about the moral dilemma of use of power. And even more so about the choices we make, individually and collectively. Actually, it is about the power of one, of you, of me, to affect, in this story literally, the fate of the world. Tolstoi, who was considered by many to be out of his mind, would have very much appreciated this film. Another entity who might appreciate this effort would be the force, god, the grand wazoo. How could anyone press the button, whether authorized or not? In a comic strip from a while ago, Pogo, the principal character stated that "We have met the enemy and they is us." What this story does so well is to place you and me in the situation where we must make a choice --- am I a human being, or am I an American, or specifically, am I a United States citizen? This film discusses not so much democracy as it does the difficulty that we human beings have simply getting along together. We seem to need bigger and bigger weapons to protect us from ourselves. The conflict in "Crimson Tide" is not between authority and discipline, and laxity and laziness. It is between love and fear. All actions in this story originate in either love or fear. Read "Conversation with God." It is the same story, except much more challenging. Love or fear. Think about it. Tony Scott currently produces "Numbers," which is another story that presents, in each show, some sorta moral dilemma, or at least provides the viewer with the challenge of choice.
Not sure if this is a spoiler. Most probably is. I've only read some of these reviews. None, in my opinion, made a point of the point (forgive the pun) of the film. It is not about the military. It is not about politics. It is about the moral dilemma of use of power. And even more so about the choices we make, individually and collectively. Actually, it is about the power of one, of you, of me, to affect, in this story literally, the fate of the world. Tolstoi, who was considered by many to be out of his mind, would have very much appreciated this film. Another entity who might appreciate this effort would be the force, god, the grand wazoo. How could anyone press the button, whether authorized or not? In a comic strip from a while ago, Pogo, the principal character stated that "We have met the enemy and they is us." What this story does so well is to place you and me in the situation where we must make a choice --- am I a human being, or am I an American, or specifically, am I a United States citizen? This film discusses not so much democracy as it does the difficulty that we human beings have simply getting along together. We seem to need bigger and bigger weapons to protect us from ourselves. The conflict in "Crimson Tide" is not between authority and discipline, and laxity and laziness. It is between love and fear. All actions in this story originate in either love or fear. Read "Conversation with God." It is the same story, except much more challenging. Love or fear. Think about it. Tony Scott currently produces "Numbers," which is another story that presents, in each show, some sorta moral dilemma, or at least provides the viewer with the challenge of choice.