This is undoubtedly interesting to anyone involved with sailing, however I wonder if it tells the real story. It is rather unbelievable that the US and Australian teams made such gross mistakes such as hitting a buoy or tearing each other spinnaker. It would be curious to know if these "details" have been added for sake of suspense and movie making. In addition, I find excessive the emphasis given to the American proud ("we are the best in the world and can overcome anything"). Humbleness does not seem to belong to the American team dictionary. Perhaps is this how one should be to win the America's Cup?

Despite its cheesy, Hollywood take on the America's Cup and its retelling of Dennis Conner's adventures 'on-the-other-side-of-the-pizza' this movie is not only beautiful eye-candy but more importantly it is exactly what they say in the movie: it's good, clean fun. If you're trying to get friends and family interested in taking a sail, this is one of the best tools to get the blood following yup, there are a lot of yachts, but there is the scene with the 14s. Enough excitement to dispel the idea of sailing as a laid-back sport. For the AC die-hards, its a chance to see the 12-meters in action once again, to hear the legendary PJ Montgomery comment on the races and read the tech/advisory credits which reads like an AC who's who list. So it isn't "real" or even possible (the 'whumper' is what kills it for some) but after all, you're looking at a movie. Enjoy it for what it is and appreciate the fact that this movie is the product of a love of sailing!

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

My father and I would stay up late to watch Dennis Conner win the America's Cup back from the Aussies in 1987 on ESPN. From that time on I became hooked on the sport of Yachting.

Perhaps for that reason I have always been drawn to "Wind." Like others it happens to be one of those movies that I enjoy watching over and over if it happens to be on television.

Yes, the plot is a bit formulaic and predictable, the acting not always sterling, but the film has very strong characterization and amazing cinematography, especially in the middle second act which I think is actually stronger than the very good sailing scenes.

There is an atmospheric and entrancing quality to these desert scenes, a kind of sleepy seduction to the sweep of the shots and the austerity of the environment. I always find it powerfully persuasive in its understated beauty and relaxed pacing.

This film may mark the end of Matthew Modine's arc as an '80s acting icon--"Cutthroat Island" perhaps being the more likely candidate--though he has consistently stayed employed. He always seemed an odd fit as a leading man but I enjoy him in the occasional character acting he now does. He is stronger in this role than he's given credit for, carrying several scenes well.

Cliff Robertson doesn't entirely phone this one in - the scenes where he has gone around the bend after losing the Cup are funny and well acted.

Taken on the strengths of the amazing cinematography, a nicely paced and composed, if predictable, plot, and fine acting make "Wind" easy to recommend.

But you best like movies about sailing.

This is one of those movies where I feel like I'm the only person who has ever seen it. No one I know has ever talked about this film, I stumbled across it one time surfing through old school cable. I've always been a fan of Matthew Modine and while he's pretty good in this one, Jennifer Grey is at her very best. She's the brains and Matthew Modine is the ambition. Neither one can do much without the other, blah blah.

It's straight out of the late 80's and it's cheesy as hell, but I enjoy it every time I see it. I loved the Australian guys - party animals that sail like pirates, it's just fun.

It's one of those rare movies where nobody is tied to the mafia, nobody shoots anyone and nobody traffics a metric ton of cocaine out of Peru...and it's still fun to watch. Actually it would have been a lot better if it had those things, but hey I'll take what we got.