This was a movie where I was glad I caught it late in the game, so to speak, because the theater was pretty much empty when I went to go see it.  I like it when I catch a movie where the theater is practically empty in general anyway, but the main reason why this was such a good thing for me this time around was because I did so much cringing and involuntary gasping at various points in the movie, which may have annoyed other patrons.  I honestly hate to be that audience member, if you know what I mean.  There were just some parts that were a little too graphic for my personal taste.

Aside from that, I thought this was a well-done movie.  There was only one scene that I found to be a little unnecessary, but that didn’t really lower my overall opinion.

Oddly enough I don’t really feel the need to say too much about this movie other than the fact that this time, unlike my Chasing Mavericks (2012) experience, this time I walked in fully aware that what I was about to see was the true survival story of one family’s experience in the aftermath of a Tsunami in Thailand.

As I’ve mentioned previously in my Brian’s Song (2001) entry, a lot of times when a movie claims to chronicle or be based on a “true story,” I immediately wonder how much of the facts they really bothered to use.  With this movie though, I got the feeling that they mostly stuck to the facts of the ordeal.  It all seemed to be presented in a fairly straightforward manner, with nothing seeming like it was a little too over the top.  Of course, I could also be biased because I read in a news article several months back where one of the family members were interviewed and they expressed their initial hesitation with even allowing their story to be turned into a movie in the first place.  I found that the story itself was inspirational, not to mention an amazing miracle.  For a whole family of five to survive a disaster like that is as the title states—impossible odds.

FINAL VERDICT: A-

Being that this is a true story, as well as the fact that I found the movie to be very well done, I don’t think there is really anything that could be added or subtracted to make the movie “better.”  At the same time, I think the re-watch value for this movie is debatable, and I think it really comes down to personal preference.  For myself, I can’t really see myself itching to watch this movie for a second time.  Again, this does not mean I thought it was a terrible movie.  I think that it is definitely worth at least a one-time viewing.  So if you have the time and the opportunity, I recommend giving The Impossible a chance.