Takes a little time for the story & characters to develop, however, the special effects are incredible & need to be seen on the big screen to be truly appreciated.

Actually, I'd rate it closer to 3.5 stars. Full of action, but with all the explosions and strobing lights or dark lighting I sometimes found it hard to really "see" the picture. Overall, I enjoyed the 'story' and the film. So, sad that there were 11 lives lost! Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to preview the movie in advance.

The movie had tension and excitement. The viewing time went by fast. The close up scenes of seabed bubbling, pipe and control panels confused us. We are neither oceanographers nor oil drillers. At the end, the we didn't believe the woman and man in the control room would not have the authority to close the well. The fire was spectacular, but there were a few too many explosions. Good overall.

The movie was intense with great special effects, but the background noises, especially at the beginning, tended to interfere with hearing the dialogue. Possibly this problem was symbolic to show that the characters weren't communicating properly. Oddly, John Malkovich sometimes spoke in ebonics. His performance, however, was the best in the whole movie. Hudson & Rodrigues were sadly bland.