The Finest Hours, Disney’s (yes) old-school recreation of “the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Rescue” starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck who portray the generations ingenuity and sensibilities as they are thrown into the usual genre tropes of unwavering disaster and relief.

The film is a parallel story of daring from Pine’s straight-shooting, small-town Coast Guard coxswain, Bernie Webber, and Affleck’s tanker engineer, Raymond Sybert, separately thrust into roles of authority amidst overwhelming danger. Although a man of few words, Affleck, makes his character the most interesting on screen.

The main premise of the story is on a February night, not one, but two oil tankers have been sheared in two. Most rescue teams have gone to one ship, when news of the seconds reaches Pendleton. The Chatham Coastguards new station boss Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana), orders Webber and a small crew into the storm on what is described the local fisherman as a suicide mission, but Webber, with something to prove to his past sets out.

The tanker sliced in two, and with little hope of survival, Sybert has become the captain of sorts to the surviving crew; although many are not keen to follow his orders. Like Webber, he is an outsider, his home is his ship. In one of the most interesting scenes Sybert responds to a shipmate who dismisses him for being a lonely man with no family, after saving his life, responds with the simple “I’ve got a life just the same as you”. Syberts side of the story is a series of ingenious ideas to help buy as much as time for someone, whoever might be out there, to rescue the him and the crew.

Most of the remaining story follows Webber battling through the storm, but the visuals are far from impressive, large waves in just a sea of blackness, but perhaps this is all you have of evidence of a storm at sea? The 3D adds further unnecessary darkness, and no real depth.

The film is a nice touch to the story and certainly an enjoyable watch, if only to wonder what could be next for Webber, and what brilliant idea Sybert might come up with next.

A solid 8/10 and a recommendation to see in 2D only.