The Impossible (2012)

An intense and compelling family melodrama that sets a new standard for disaster movies. The film is set at Christmas, 2006 in Thailand, where a winter vacation turns into a nightmare. While the children are playing in the pool with their father, a piece of the mother's book drifts away. She follows it, and as she bends to pick it up a roar that seems to come from the centre of the Earth rises up, and a wall of black water crashes over the resort.

The special effects of the tsunami are spectacular, but not as good as the directing by Juan Antonio Bayona, and the acting by the five main family members. The main plot of the story was true to real life, minus a couple of scenes - which included particular comments made by the characters that helped give meaning to the story.

The film is not especially complex, but a simple story told quite brilliantly.

The film was labeled as a disaster movie but was more about the resilience and will to survive displayed by the characters.

The film is a little predictable, but in this case it is perhaps more a good thing.

An amazing film, but be prepared to get through several boxes of tissues as soon as the first wave hits.