In 2004, a devastating tsunami hit southeast Asia. This is one family's true story of survival.

Starring: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast, Samuel Joslin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Lucas, look at this place. They're so busy in here. You get to go and do something. Go help people. You're good at it." - Maria Bennett, to her son Lucas after they reach the hospital

Why watch this? ... the tsunami, as it smashes into the resort, is harrowing footage.

Plot Summary: Maria, Henry, and their three sons take a Christmas vacation to Thailand. Unfortunately, that is interrupted by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The family is separated in the chaos and devastation, forcing them to fight for survival and desperately search for each other amidst the aftermath.

Dad's Preview: During the actual event, I was glued to the news and watched all the footage - the tsunami killed tens of thousands of people. This film is intense to say the least. The scenes of the killer waves are incredibly shot, with well-done, realistic effects. In such a disaster film, it is hard to find anything cheery, but there are some very uplifting moments, as victims pull together to get people to safety and medical treatment. Look for a young Tom Holland in his major film debut.

Apaches Ent., Telecinco Cinema; Warner Bros.