Hunt For Red October Special Edition [DVD] [1990]

John McTiernan directed this great film based on Tom Clancy's novel and, for the most part, it sticks to the book. Although I had difficulties with Sean Connery's growling Scottish accent in the mouth of a Soviet sea captain, I grew accustomed to it and, in such a gripping story with superb acting from Connery, who really looks the part, (except the ...) and Alec Baldwin, it was easily forgotten.

It is a great Cold War story with limited sets (in submarines) which focus attention even more tightly on the characters. It reminded me of General Patton and Field-Marshall Rommel and other war leaders - "Know your enemy". It is fascinating in the way they develop understanding amid mutual suspicion until the startling climax.

Great film worth the investment - even the "expensive" collectible version (a concept I'm still not sure about. What makes the same DVD more collectible?).

The Hunt for Red October, a 1990 adaptation of the Tom Clancy novel, is set in 1984 and is one of the most celebrated movie productions to capture the Cold War era (grossing over $200 million). Ok, it's rather far-fetched and, of course, the yanks are portrayed in a better light than the Russians, but nevertheless this is a quality thriller and recommended viewing. In an age when nuclear submarines carry more firepower than can possibly be imagined, this film cost $30 million to make and represents a 130 minute high stakes poker game beneath the waves of the North Atlantic ocean between three main protagonists: a Russian nuclear sub commander intent on defecting with his nation's latest technology, his Soviet comrades who are seeking to deny him this course of action and the bewildered American Navy who are trying to second guess the situation.

Sean Connery plays the lead role of Captain Marko Ramius, a Lithuanian (known as the 'Vilnius schoolteacher') who rose to the top ranks in the Soviet Union navy, and who has great presence and distinction. Yes, a large number of submarine and Cold War clichés are all present here, but the Hunt for Red October is no doubt up there as one of the best submarine movies.

Extras include the Director's commentary and a behind-the-scenes documentary 'Beneath the Surface'.

Director John McTiernan has had a checkered past as a movie maker. He has made some of the best movies to come out of Hollywood in recent years (`Die Hard' and `The Thomas Crown Affair') and yet he is also the one responsible for some of the worst big budget productions (`The 13th Warrior,' `Nomads' and `The Last Action Hero'). Thankfully for fans of the Tom Clancy novel on which `The Hunt for Red October' is based, this movie falls into the first category. And equally lucky for fans of the novel and film is the fact that Paramount Pictures has seen fit to replace the previous movie-only bare bones DVD release with a special collectors edition.
In 1990 Paramount Pictures released the Sean Connery/Alec Baldwin starring adaptation of the novel. The movie was a triumphant success, even given its longer than usual running time and its lack of real action (most of the actual action occurs in the final moments of the film). What held the movie together, and kept the viewers rapt attention, was the simply incredible acting and presence of Sean Connery as Soviet sub captain Marko Ramius and the building suspense and tension that pervades the well structured plot.
The plot centers on the plan by Ramius to, with the help of some fellow crewmembers, to defect to the United States, taking with him the newest sub in the Russian fleet - the Red October (named after the October revolution. The Red October is capable of running silent with a new propulsion system that makes it almost invisible to sonar. The Russians launch a mission to destroy the submarine and even tell the Americans that Ramius is a rogue in an attempt to elicit their help in sinking the ship.
The one American who doesn't believe the Russian story is CIA analyst Jack Ryan (played in this movie by Alec Baldwin). Having met Ramius previously and studied him he suspects the true intention of the Soviet captain. He must convince his bosses and eventually an American sub captain (played wonderfully by Scott Glenn) to trust him and give Ramius a chance.
Taut and at times nerve wrenching (the blind timed navigating through the underwater trenches), the `Hunt for Red October' is simply one of the best techno-thrillers to come out of Hollywood in the past two decades. Sticking fairly close to the Clancy novel, McTiernan keeps building the pressure and ratcheting up of the stakes until an explosive final confrontation off the Labrador coast.
For the collectors edition Paramount has provided us with not only a commentary by McTiernan but also a nice "making of.." documentary. I have always been disappointed with McTiernan commentaries (`The Thomas Crown Affair' is a case in point) and again here with `The Hunt for Red October' there is a lot of dead air with not much being said. Where this DVD does score top marks is in the documentary. We are provided with some fairly in-depth insight into what went into the making of the picture.
Featuring all the leading actors in the movie and the production team responsible the documentary covers every angle and even reveals how close they came to not signing Connery when the Scottish actor was faxed the entire script sans the opening scroll.
A great movie and this well-made documentary make this DVD a must buy - Recommended.