THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: foul language

Rated:

The Soviet Union has just released a new submarine with the highest technology available into the Atlantic for a test run under the direction of Captain Ramius, causing the Americans no end of stress as this new war weapon is as silent as death in the deep.  A young CIA agent, Jack Ryan, is brought in to investigate and discovers something more may lay beneath the surface of the sub. It has vanished completely from the radar of one of their patrol subs. As the Russians launch a full-scale search for this craft that has disobeyed their orders, Ryan suspects that there's something kept secret about this vessel... and Captain Ramius, whom he personally has met.

On board the Red October on receiving his orders, Captain Ramius takes complete control of the vessel and they aim toward the United States with unclear intentions... they could be ready to lay time bombs all along the cost without ever being detected... or they could be abdicating. It's a rush of time and trauma as each side races to intercept Red October and her mysterious crew... with a saboteur on board. The Americans aren't quite willing to believe Ryan's beliefs the Russian Captain is desperate to leave his country... and the delay could cause Captain Ramius and his crew their lives as the saboteur begins to strike closer and closer to home... and both American and Russian subs begin to close in upon Red October.

This film was named one of the best films of the nineties and it's not hard to see why. Non-stop action and suspense keep you riveted in your seat and then rocket you out of it, reaching for the stars with twists and turns that keep you guessing -- wondering who is who they claim to be or if someone on the crew is deadly. With a cast of big-name actors such as Sean Connery, Sam Neill, Tim Curry, and James Earl Jones, it spares no expense in special effects and weaponry tactics and while it's difficult to follow at times, the story is terrific! It's not hard to see why the novel was a bestseller! With an excellent soundtrack by the composer of the 1998 film Les Misérables, the music only enhances the suspense.

The one downfall of this film is the extreme language. While Connery and his crew use few profanities, the Americans and other Russians seem to use it in every other sentence, including the foul-mouthed head of CIA Security played by James Earl Jones. One of the first spoken sentences we hear is, "Jesus, you look like hell, kid," and it doesn't get much better. I counted four inappropriate uses each of "Jesus" and "God," two of "Christ," several of "Mother of God!" and seven of GD. At least fifteen uses of "hell," five of "d_mn," two of "ass," and three each of "bastard," and "son of a..." There's intense suspense to rival even Frequency and a moderate amount of violence... some gunplay, three men are killed, one with several bullets at close range, another hit by a bullet (not seen) and the last (or rather first, during the first half hour of the film) by being personally killed by the Captain.

If you can look past the language and enjoy riveting suspense, this film's for you, but some families will be pushed away by the profanity level, which could have easily been eliminated. But that's Hollywood for you.