The Guardian, with Kevin Costner

The Guardian, with Kevin Costner

The subject of this film is familiar, but it still makes for a meaningful, gripping story.

In addition, I believe Kevin Costner is excellent.

I can't say that about his partner, Kushner.

In fact, I have such an allergy to the latter that I stopped watching Two and a Half Men, when he took the stage.

I see him as over the to, artificial.

Without him, The Guardian would have been so much better.

For this viewer anyway.

The motion picture dives straight into action.

Literally.

In the first few scenes, the hero, a Coast Guard rescuer, jumps from a helicopter into the rough waters of the Ocean.

A couple is there and they could very well drown, in the next couple of minutes.

It is a climax reached after a few minutes into the film.

Nevertheless, this is not the only one.

The husband is trying hard to get into the cage that takes victims from the water.

The Guardian tells him that he will take the wife first.

The man would not listen.

The hero has to get rough, but it is still without effect.

In fact, the husband is pushing the spouse into the depth of the ocean.

And the rescuer has to dive to get her.

Incredible!

In some way, the film could be over after these few moments.

So much was packed inside that it felt fulfilling and exhilarating.

Later on, the hero explains to his wife that:

The man was driven by the survival instinct.

It is natural.

The scene has reminded me of a Nordic film wherein an avalanche hits the hotel and the man runs for his life, abandoning wife and children.

The Guardian explains to his wife that he realized something of vital importance:

He was doing the same thing to her...

Pushing his wife to suffocate and die.

Not in water and without intent.

But with the same effect.

It is an awkward, poignant and remarkable moment.

This man is actually ready to sacrifice his life to save others!

What more could one do?!

It is the ultimate Role Model!

The Ubermensch!

Superman without the cape, with the diving costume.

And yet, he realized that being always on call, he made his own wife suffer.

He is on duty and in danger all the time.

And she cannot cope with that.

She needs a husband.

Not a dead body...even that could be denied, if his corpse is taken by the ocean.

So the protagonist understands, belatedly, that his spouse needs him.

However, when the call comes and he has the chance to save his best student, the Guardian does not hesitate for a moment.

And this notwithstanding the fact that he had discovered that he has some limitations now, with age and all that work and effort, he had been ready and had resigned his post.

The Guardian has all the imaginable Character strengths.

Bravery, Persistence, Love, Hope, Gratitude, Citizenship, Modesty, Fairness, Self-regulation, Vitality and the list would never end.

There are other , more popular films that are similar in some ways to this very good motion picture:

Full Metal Jacket and Biloxi Blues are just two of them.

The end of the film is also interesting, without having the sweet, banal conclusion that we are so used with.