Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Neil Welch Gail (Meryl Streep) is a white water rafting guide. She, husband Tom (David Strathairn) and son Roarke (Joseph Mazello) are kidnapped by robbers Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C Reilly), who see rafting down the river as an effective escape route.It's pretty easy to understand the casting decisions for Bacon, Reilly and Strathairn, but Streep isn't the most obvious choice for action Mom Gail. Yet, as usual, she is superb (as is everyone else). The underlying marital problems give her a great deal to get her teeth into, but she also excels as the woman called upon to be a protective mother, a defiant hostage and someone on whose expertise on the river everyone's survival depends. Bacon is gloriously evil, a happy-go-lucky psychopath who is always a credible threat.And the action is terrific - lots of it, spectacular, beautiful, and clearly involving the actors a lot of the time, it makes this film a most enjoyable roller coaster ride (or white water rafting ride, I should say), and a movie which should have a higher profile than it has.

namashi_1 Curtis Hanson's box office hit 'The River Wild' is well-shot and even gripping in parts, but what really stands tall in this thriller and balances the film even when it dips, are the performances by it's talented star-cast. The story involves a family on a whitewater rafting trip, who encounter two violent criminals in the wilderness. 'The River Wild', which has been written by Denis O'Neill, offers some gripping moments, that truly manage to hold your attention. The characters, are nicely presented and executed. But, I would like to point out, that, the writing in the latter hour tends to drag a bit. The film surely could've been shorter by at least 10-15 minutes. And I believe if it had been trimmed, it's impact would have only enhanced. Curtis Hanson's direction, like always, is efficient. Cinematography is Striking. Editing is fair. Performance-Wise: Meryl Streep is superb, as expected. She carries the film on her shoulders and delivers with ease in each and every scene. Kevin Bacon makes a really interesting bad guy, and proves his potential as an actor. David Strathaim is first-rate. John C. Reilly is good. Joseph Mazzello supports well. On the whole, A decent one-time watch, that offers strong performances to sail it safe.

Atreyu_II This is like a Summer blockbuster. Only a more predictable kind of blockbuster. It isn't too groundbreaking and doesn't reserve many surprises, but it should please those who can live with that. In theory, its plot doesn't sound especially promising, but in practice it works reasonably... if you give yourself (and the movie) a chance, of course.Mostly this is adventure, but there is acceptable amount of suspense and thriller. Plus, the ending (to be more precise, the last 20 minutes or so) is a roller-coaster of intensity, thanks to the breathtaking (and very dangerous!) rafting scenes in the most fierce part of the river.Overall, this is a decent Summer movie - good to be watched anytime of the year, but particularly in hot weather.True, the plot has a certain lack of strength but it's still okay. Besides, the beautiful cinematography compensates any plot flaws. That alone makes this movie attractive and refreshing to the eyes and mind.Kevin Bacon makes a convincing lead bad guy. Meryl Streep, despite her versatility, isn't often seen in this genre of movies (at least I don't remember so), which makes this movie a different attempt for her. Her performance isn't as solid as in 'Kramer vs Kramer', but she still makes it fine.Joseph Mazzello, as usual, is fine. Joseph Mazzello even has an awesome name here, if not particularly pretty: Roarke.

Leofwine_draca For a conventional Hollywood adventure story, THE RIVER WILD isn't bad at all. While it lacks the rawness of similarly-themed independent fare and the kind of twists and surprises you'd expect from the best this genre has to offer, it tells the story it sets out to tell with a large amount of success, mainly thanks to the lean script and no-nonsense pacing. Much of the action comes from a series of spectacular white-water rafting sequences in which the stunt team are really put through their paces. These mark the film's highlight. The human plot, involving a couple of hostage-takers, is less spectacular, but the film still gets by thanks to the calibre of the cast.Meryl Streep, although a little too earnest in some places for my liking, takes plaudits as the outdoors expert who has to use her wits to survive both nature and the evils of mankind. Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly are fine as the no-good criminals, and Benjamin Bratt bags a nice little role as a good-guy ranger. Youngster Joe Mazzello is a more mature presence than in the previous year's JURASSIC PARK, and David Straithairn (THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM) gets to have some fun as the straight-laced father forced into becoming a hero. Okay, so you know the outcome from the outset (and in a 12-certificate family adventure nothing THAT bad is ever going to happen), but this is nonetheless a mildly entertaining little movie.