Movie Review
Review The Impossible
The Impossible is based on a true story of a Spanish family (transformed here as a British one) trapped in Thailand by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as they were taking a christmas vacation at a Thailand resort.
The Bennetts are a well-off family living in Japan. Henry (Ewan McGregor) is a businessman whose job is perhaps in jeopardy and his wife Maria (Naomi Watts) is a doctor who has taken some time off to raise their three sons, Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin), and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast). They try to set all family tensions aside as they take a family vacation to an exclusive resort in Thailand for Christmas. When spending some time poolside one afternoon, the tsunami suddenly strikes, leaving a severely injured Maria with Lucas, and Henry with the youngest two children. The film nearly occurs in two sections: the first of Maria and Lucas’ travails as Maria’s health starts to decline, and the second as Henry tirelessly searches for his wife and eldest son.
The movie was actually very good, a simple search story made gargantuan by the amazing effects used to portray the actual Tsunami, it literally comes at such a speed and power that leaves you in bewilderment and gives you a better idea that news reports of what it was all like at the time. A wonderful true story, some great actors, great music and shooting makes it a very good dramatic movie. The child actors are so very talented, and really make this film so real that you forget you are watching a movie and really live this tragedy out with them. I had goosebumps & has been able to make me shed a tear while watching it.The movie contains quite a bit of action to keep you occupied and heart warming emotional moments to smile and weep.
The movie’s special effects are also executed to an uneven effect. There are many moments, especially an early shot of the back of Maria’s leg completely ripped open and hanging off, when the realistic-looking gore is needed. For instance, Maria is strong and soldiering on despite her injury. However, there is another moment of people vomiting blood in a hospital that seems unnecessary – like something out of a horror movie. Bayona needed to curtail his horror skill set and remember that this is a suspenseful drama that doesn’t need moments of gore to work.
Bayona achieves a rare sense of balance between the big and the powerful as well as the small and the intimate in the family's survival against impossible odds, no doubt the inspiration for the title. Their situation was heartbreaking, their courage in the face of it humbling. It is the kind of ode to the human spirit that you hope comes along, and not just during the holiday season.
This movie made me think back upon eight years ago, when this disaster happened in Aceh, Indonesia. This was a very heartbreaking event.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants a good realistic movie to watch.
Watch the trailer over here :
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