A new U.K. trailer for the disaster drama The Impossible has been released.  Based on a true story, the film stars Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor as parents of a family caught in the tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004.  The tsunami scenes here look more terrifying than ever, but this trailer also has a strong focus on the human drama side of the story.  The pic premiered last month at the Toronto Film Festival to mostly positive reviews, with many noting director J.A. Bayona’s impressive work on the tsunami scenes.  The film also drew some criticism for being overly manipulative, but I’m a big fan of McGregor and Watts so I’m eager to see how this one plays out.

Hit the jump to watch the new trailer.  The film also stars Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, and Oaklee Pendergast.  The Impossible opens on December 21st.

Via Yahoo! UK.

Here’s the synopsis for The Impossible:

Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But on the morning of December 26th, as the family relaxes around the pool after their Christmas festivities the night before, a terrifying roar rises up from the center of the earth. As Maria freezes in fear, a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds toward her. Based on a true story, THE IMPOSSIBLE is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, THE IMPOSSIBLE is a journey to the core of the human heart.