Yes, it's unrealistic. Yes, it's corny. But then the plot twist happens. And it hit me hard. I felt like I was watching a much better movie during than the last twenty minutes or so. Without spoiling anything, if the first part of the film had been like the last twenty minutes, it would have been considered a gem.

That being said, it's an oddly nostalgic product of it's time with surprisingly witty dialogue, excellent, excellent special effects - mostly due to the fact that they used live animals during the filming process. This movie has none of those CGI abominations we have today - it looks realer than even Jurassic Park. The theme, though repetitive, is beautiful and somehow manages to not be intrusive, even during the most dramatic and heart wrenching scenes. Anthony Hopkins is on his A-game as usual, and he manages to make a somewhat bland character likeable, though the talent if the scriptwriter does aid in this at least somewhat. Alec Baldwin is surprisingly loveable as well, and eventually, you become quite attached. Additionally, the sets and locations are beautiful and the sound design is excellent.

In conclusion, this is an unrealistic yet heartfelt survival movie that works well as simple entertainment while delivering some heartfelt moments. Definitely worth a watch.