I fought with myself on whether to see this movie or not.  I heard good things about it.

Pros: It was competently made (same guy who did The Orphanage) and it was about the boxing day tsunami (which is kind of an interesting subject).  

Cons: it was going to be drama-y, a tear-jerker,  I thought I knew how it ended and it was about the boxing day tsunami so it would be likely to show people drowning.  I absolutely hate films that show people drowning ever since I watched this one Silly Australian TV movie about an avalanche at Thredbo - therefore my aversion to this movie.  

Even worse, I feared it could quite easily venture into religious territory.  

However, I watched it anyway, nervously.  It started out calm enough establishing something about the characters, pretty standard start for your average disaster movie. But I knew that the tsunami was coming and that there would probably be *gulp* drowning in the future.  I was ready, prepared to turn away when the drowning got too intense.  

Then it hit but it was presented in such a suspenseful manner that there was no way my eyes were going anywhere but the screen.  Though there was surprising little on-screen drowning, the film became quite tense and difficult to watch at this point.  It was like real torture porn instead of that made up stuff.  To my surprise this film was a bit of a horror movie as well as a drama as well as a disaster movie, all rolled together.

There was zero religious aspect to this film, which surprised me.  

What also surprised me was that even though I thought I knew the ending of this film, it kept me guessing.  I suggest if you don't know how this film ends go into it blind because in a sense that is exactly what is stated as the theme of this film (you will understand that statement if you see the film).  

I even cried a bit in appropriate places - if you don't then you should immediately see a cardiologist because you have no heart.    

I ended up really liking this film and I heartily recommend it.  I'm not saying it's perfect because some of the emotion tugging scenes get a bit cloying in the dialogue department - but it's a well-made film and it takes you on an impossible ride that is somehow both disturbing and uplifting.

Enjoy.  

This is a movie I really went back and forth between whether to watch or not also. I'm not too sure why now, I guess I knew it was going to be quite the emotional rollercoaster since when the trailer played in theaters everyone was holding back tears as soon as that Damian Rice song came on. I'm glad I watched this, it's an extremely well made film and Naomi Watts is terrific. The film manages to set up a family of characters better in the first ten minutes of this movie than I have seen done in full length films. When the tsunami hits, the tension is high, probably one of the most intense scenes I've seen in quite awhile. I know exactly what you mean about knowing the outcome but still questioning it throughout the movie, I felt the same way. Overall, I'm happy I watched this, it's a well made film and it's an interesting and scary story.

I enjoyed this too and I think I was the only person in the cinema who wasn't crying...not sure what that says about me?  I'll admit I was holding it back at times though lol.

I've ahd this in my NEtflix que for some time and finally got around to watching it this weekend.

I was very impressed in pretty much everything.

The power and horror and the actual tsunami was downright amazing - I actually wish it took up more of the film, as it's quite gripping.

The power and horror of trying to find your family after it hits, is also amazingly well done,a d I also didn't know how it was going to play out, even though I did know.

Great performances from all, including the kids.

I have to say I was shocked and even appalled that Ewan McGregor's character decided to leave his 2 young boys alone to search for his wife and older son.  I can't imagine too many fathers making that decision.

THis film works on many levels and exactly how it was intended.

Grade - A-