The lengthy film tells the 1926 story of a hard-to-get-along with US Navy engineer who's transferred to a gunboat smack in the middle of a war torn China. It's a film that works on an intimate level about a man who knows how to do his job well but struggles to understand his place within others and his purpose. On a larger scale, it mirrors the racism and questionable involvement of the U.S pretty much any war they've stuck their overly proud noses in, past and present. Considering it's length, the impact of the story struggles to maintain it's quality but is mostly upheld by it's colorful photography, powerful performances from McQueen, Richard Crenna & Mako and great early score composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
3½ homes away from home out of 5
