'The Hunt For Red October' isn't aging well

Subnuts · 03-25-10, 11:33 AM

Ever love a movie to death when you were young, and re-watched it as an adult and couldn't get into it anymore? For me, I think The Hunt For Red October suffers from that problem. I used to watch it over and over when I was younger, getting caught up in the "big submarines!" aspect of it not really caring about the plot. I watched it again the other day for the first time in about three years. Good acting all around, great score, some nice tense setpieces...but I just couldn't get myself wrapped up in it like I used to.

I don't know why this movie doesn't do much for me anymore...and Sean Connery's accent doesn't really bother me at all. The whole film has this glossy, staged feel, and I can't suspend my disbelief and accept I'm watching more than just actors on a sound-stage, or models in a giant fog tank. Look at the titular submarine's control room - it's the size of a basketball court, plated in chrome, and has more blue and green-colored lights than an average disco. Some of the special effects in the last reel are horrendous, even for 1989. There are glowing white matte lines around the torpedoes and the final scene with Connery and Baldwin looks like a mid-90s FMV video game. I guess I'm just spoiled by movie like K-19 and Das Boot where they went out of their ways to make the interiors accurate.

Now, maybe I'm just bitching about the visual aspect of the movie, but there are pretty big plot problems as well. How did that DSRV end up on the Dallas in the 20 hours between it's run-in with Red October and Ramius evacuating the sub? How does Jack Ryan, a CIA defense analyst, tell the Captain of the Dallas to change course to the Laurentian Abyssal? The same captain who almost had in locked away in the brig a few minutes earlier? Did Alec Baldwin just hijack a billion-dollar attack submarine? That part has always bothered me. Oh, and why is the final battle play out like Snoopy versus the Red Baron? How do the three submarines detect each other even when they're traveling at flank speed? If the Red October is really "deaf as a post" in her baffles, how does it's sonar manage to detect a torpedo coming in from astern on three separate occasions? They make a big deal about "staying the baffles" repeatedly during the movie. Few things nag me more than a movie that breaks it's own rules.

Okay, enough complaining for now. It just sucks when one of your precious childhood memories deteriorates with age.

Oberon · 03-25-10, 04:09 PM

Watch U-571, suddenly it'll seem like Das Boot.

JSLTIGER · 03-25-10, 05:22 PM

I might be able to kind of answer some of these things...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subnuts

Now, maybe I'm just bitching about the visual aspect of the movie, but there are pretty big plot problems as well. How did that DSRV end up on the Dallas in the 20 hours between it's run-in with Red October and Ramius evacuating the sub?

Remember that Ryan's friend (the sub driver whose leg was messed up in the car accident, the guy who tells him about the caterpiller) told Ryan that he could get the DSRV anywhere in the world within 24 hours (at least in the movie). Presumably, off the eastern seaboard would not take all that long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subnuts

How does Jack Ryan, a CIA defense analyst, tell the Captain of the Dallas to change course to the Laurentian Abyssal? The same captain who almost had in locked away in the brig a few minutes earlier? Did Alec Baldwin just hijack a billion-dollar attack submarine? That part has always bothered me.

Remember that Ryan is traveling under cover as a Navy Commander, equal in rank to the Dallas' skipper Mancuso but with high-level orders. Also remember that Mancuso got orders diverting him to pick up Ryan (and also presumably telling him to listen to Ryan), so he knows that the guy is legit with orders straight from the top (i.e. Admirals far above his pay grade). "Someone must really have a burr up his ass to pull a stunt like this."

Presumably he's pissed off that Ryan has altered his plans and that he now has to listen to Ryan rather than being in charge of his own boat. That would explain the pissed off attitude he has, especially because his XO got injured recovering Ryan. Ryan didn't hijack the sub, he just convinced Mancuso that he knew what he was talking about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subnuts

Oh, and why is the final battle play out like Snoopy versus the Red Baron? How do the three submarines detect each other even when they're traveling at flank speed? If the Red October is really "deaf as a post" in her baffles, how does it's sonar manage to detect a torpedo coming in from astern on three separate occasions? They make a big deal about "staying the baffles" repeatedly during the movie. Few things nag me more than a movie that breaks it's own rules.

These things I can't explain, other than the torpedos might be actually loud enough (not caring about stealth at all) that they can hear them. Also, deaf as a post may have referred to Red October attempting to detect a modern SSN like Dallas. Remember that the LA class was state of the art in 1984 when the movie is set.

Akula · 03-29-10, 03:38 AM

We'll the plot and acting for U-571 leaves lots to be desired, but the effects and interiors were pretty good. I am not sure about the US Sub but for the VII it looked pretty accurate.

Trool323 · 03-30-10, 04:29 AM

No I can always get into Old RED its a classic.....

geosub1978 · 04-06-10, 09:39 AM

I recently watched The Hunt for Red October and Copola's Dracula. I experienced the same feelings...I am sorry for that... Though other movies like Star Wars episode IV, Rambo, Indiana Jones, The Godfather, etc I am still very attracted.

A movie that is all time classic is MURMANSK with Humphrey Bogart. Liberties, Uboots, Planes, Tankers!

03-25-10, 11:33 AM	#1
Subnuts The Old Man Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,658 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	'The Hunt For Red October' isn't aging well Ever love a movie to death when you were young, and re-watched it as an adult and couldn't get into it anymore? For me, I think The Hunt For Red October suffers from that problem. I used to watch it over and over when I was younger, getting caught up in the "big submarines!" aspect of it not really caring about the plot. I watched it again the other day for the first time in about three years. Good acting all around, great score, some nice tense setpieces...but I just couldn't get myself wrapped up in it like I used to. I don't know why this movie doesn't do much for me anymore...and Sean Connery's accent doesn't really bother me at all. The whole film has this glossy, staged feel, and I can't suspend my disbelief and accept I'm watching more than just actors on a sound-stage, or models in a giant fog tank. Look at the titular submarine's control room - it's the size of a basketball court, plated in chrome, and has more blue and green-colored lights than an average disco. Some of the special effects in the last reel are horrendous, even for 1989. There are glowing white matte lines around the torpedoes and the final scene with Connery and Baldwin looks like a mid-90s FMV video game. I guess I'm just spoiled by movie like K-19 and Das Boot where they went out of their ways to make the interiors accurate. Now, maybe I'm just bitching about the visual aspect of the movie, but there are pretty big plot problems as well. How did that DSRV end up on the Dallas in the 20 hours between it's run-in with Red October and Ramius evacuating the sub? How does Jack Ryan, a CIA defense analyst, tell the Captain of the Dallas to change course to the Laurentian Abyssal? The same captain who almost had in locked away in the brig a few minutes earlier? Did Alec Baldwin just hijack a billion-dollar attack submarine? That part has always bothered me. Oh, and why is the final battle play out like Snoopy versus the Red Baron? How do the three submarines detect each other even when they're traveling at flank speed? If the Red October is really "deaf as a post" in her baffles, how does it's sonar manage to detect a torpedo coming in from astern on three separate occasions? They make a big deal about "staying the baffles" repeatedly during the movie. Few things nag me more than a movie that breaks it's own rules. Okay, enough complaining for now. It just sucks when one of your precious childhood memories deteriorates with age. __________________ My Amazon.com reviews

03-30-10, 04:29 AM	#5
Trool323 Sparky Join Date: May 2007 Location: southwest ohio Posts: 154 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	No I can always get into Old RED its a classic..... __________________ My old Warp to patrol area tutorial is below for SH4. It allows you to jump to the patrol zone. Just like we use to be able to do in SH 1. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=158704

04-06-10, 09:39 AM	#6
geosub1978 Samurai Navy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Salamis Base Posts: 567 Downloads: 229 Uploads: 0	I recently watched The Hunt for Red October and Copola's Dracula. I experienced the same feelings...I am sorry for that... Though other movies like Star Wars episode IV, Rambo, Indiana Jones, The Godfather, etc I am still very attracted. A movie that is all time classic is MURMANSK with Humphrey Bogart. Liberties, Uboots, Planes, Tankers! __________________

03-25-10, 04:09 PM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Watch U-571, suddenly it'll seem like Das Boot.

03-29-10, 03:38 AM	#4
Akula Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 137 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	We'll the plot and acting for U-571 leaves lots to be desired, but the effects and interiors were pretty good. I am not sure about the US Sub but for the VII it looked pretty accurate.