Wind (1992)

Truly Dreadful Film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

After reading over 200 reviews of "Wind", most of which praise it to the stars and rave and rave on, there is little I can add to such comments as "stirs the soul", "takes your breath away", "one of the best movies of all time", "should be on the shelf of every family with children", and "should be required viewing for young people and anyone bored with life". This film, one of the best examples of director Carroll Ballard's magic, will knock your socks off and blow you away with its excitement but realism (you will hear and feel the boats groaning and keening with the wind stresses!), and GREAT MESSAGES - It is about losing everything, and winning it all back again through individual and team angst and sheer will (I have shown parts of it to my science students not just for the physics of sailing, but for these timeless messages). Sailor or not, no matter how many times you watch it, it leaves you glowing for hours.

This is undoubtedly interesting to anyone involved with sailing, however I wonder if it tells the real story. It is rather unbelievable that the US and Australian teams made such gross mistakes such as hitting a buoy or tearing each other spinnaker. It would be curious to know if these "details" have been added for sake of suspense and movie making. In addition, I find excessive the emphasis given to the American proud ("we are the best in the world and can overcome anything"). Humbleness does not seem to belong to the American team dictionary. Perhaps is this how one should be to win the America's Cup?Despite its cheesy, Hollywood take on the America's Cup and its retelling of Dennis Conner's adventures 'on-the-other-side-of-the-pizza' this movie is not only beautiful eye-candy but more importantly it is exactly what they say in the movie: it's good, clean fun. If you're trying to get friends and family interested in taking a sail, this is one of the best tools to get the blood following yup, there are a lot of yachts, but there is the scene with the 14s. Enough excitement to dispel the idea of sailing as a laid-back sport. For the AC die-hards, its a chance to see the 12-meters in action once again, to hear the legendary PJ Montgomery comment on the races and read the tech/advisory credits which reads like an AC who's who list. So it isn't "real" or even possible (the 'whumper' is what kills it for some) but after all, you're looking at a movie. Enjoy it for what it is and appreciate the fact that this movie is the product of a love of sailing!Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Pure enjoyment! I can't understand the low ratings given this movie. I don't care if the plot is obvious or silly or what because I have never had the experience of BEING out on the sea in a 12 meter sailing ship and I have wondered how the shots were filmed! Don't miss this and here's a big pppfffffth to the bums here who gave a 6 or 7 point rating to this incredible movie. If movies are supposed to be fun and entertaining instead of instructional and deep and troubling then this one is tops. You will enjoy the racing of the little wild sailboats near the beginning of the movie -- I had no idea sailing could be so much fun.

It's as far as i know the only movie about regatta sailing, which makes it automatically the best available. I love it, the sailing sequences make you feel as if you're on board yourself. The film does a good attempt to make you experience the excitement felt on the water. To illustrate: i was totally sucked into the regatta sequence and caught myself shouting directions and boo-ing people at a certain point. All other story-filling and plot is not that bad, it gives the movie an acceptable background and a good excuse to show the excitement and hard work which makes "the art of sailing" so great. The best reason to go and watch it? obvious, the sailing, so for non-sailors it's probably less interesting but still nice. I loved it the first time i saw it in 1995 in a regatta weekend, and i still love it after seeing it again today. (funny note: I think there is functional nudity implemented in the movie; half-naked cheering Australian women at the introduction of Geronimo @ the cup, just before the crew's tribal dance).