The passengers of the cruise ship Poseidon come to realize what it feels like to have their world turned upside down as the clock strikes midnight on a fateful New Year's Eve in "Poseidon."

As a tidal wave rips across the ocean, the captain (Andre Braugher) of the ship finds himself helpless to stop the inevitable, leaving the ship to helplessly collapse under the force of the wave. As the Poseidon turns upside down, passengers are thrown about, flash fires are ignited by gas leaks, and the water begins to rise. Soon everyone is faced with the same question: Will they stay or take their lives into their own hands?

A small group, including a fireman and his daughter (Kurt Russell and Emmy Rossum), her fiance (Mike Vogel), a mother and her son (Jacinda Barrett and Jimmy Bennett), an ex-Navy man (Josh Lucas), a stowaway (Mia Maestro) and a suicidal man (Richard Dreyfuss) decide to take control of their destinies and find a way out through the bottom of the ship. Shocked by the vast numbers of dead due to drowning, flash fires and falling debris, they must fight their way through the bodies to uncover an exit.

Through various trials - flooding rooms, explosions, etc. - the group has many close calls that ultimately draw them closer to one another. Vowing to not leave anyone behind, Dylan (Lucas) is the ultimate hero of the group, though they all step up at various times to help out.

Seeing this movie in the theater is quite an experience, but to see it in the newly remodeled Crossroads Theatre, on the ultra-screen, is phenomenal. The sound effects and enormity of the theater put you inside the movie, right next to the actors and actresses.

But the majority of the credit, of course, goes to "Poseidon" itself. Without the great effects and acting, there would be no experience to speak of.

Kurt Russell, although absent from the big screen for longer than most would like, shows he definitely still has what it takes to be among the best. His performance was strong, but his screen time was minimal compared to that of Josh Lucas.

Taking the big screen by storm, Lucas pulled the entire movie together into one great performance. The others, although big stars in their own right, were merely supporting roles to his main character. And great support they were.

It's tough to get a remake right - the original was an instant classic in 1972 - but "Poseidon" stays afloat.

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'Poseidon'

Starring: Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Run time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

Rated: PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of disaster and peril

Now playing at: College Square, Crossroads 12 and Waverly Palace

***1/2 (out of *****)