A Perfect Storm is another one of those summer blockbusters that only seeks to live in the present. While you're watching it, it dazzles you, thrills you, puts you on the edge of your seat for one scene after another, and then, when it's all over, already it starts slipping from memory. The plot, based on a true story, is thin; it serves only as a continuity device. But the story is not really the heart of the movie. The storm is the central character and the only one that really matters. The movie isn't just decorated with stunning visuals, it's about its stunning visuals. On that level (and only that level), the movie is a remarkable success.