Ghosts of the Abyss

Rating:
Summary: First good Cameron film since T2.
Review: Ghosts of the Abyss (James Cameron, 2003)

[Note: this review refers to the ninety-minute DVD edition rather than the theatrical release.]

It is appropriate that James Cameron, who effectively ended his career as a serious film director with Titanic, should return to the same source material in order to attempt to redeem himself. He succeeds, though one wonders whether he will ever again be able to turn his camera to fiction (in a telling line, Cameron tells Bill Paxton, "there's no script. We don't know what we're going to find." Maybe that's why this worked when Titanic failed so... titanically). His follow-up to this (and the second big-screen project since the moneymaking machine slash critical joke that was Titanic) is another documentary. Praise be.

Cameron obviously watched a lot of Jacques Cousteau National Geographic specials back when we were all kids. This is, at its base, roughly the same beast as those old specials, except that Cameron has a bunch of new technology to play with, including remote cameras specifically designed for the excursion, and he also has CGI. In that way, he can explore pieces of the Titanic that no one's seen for almost ninety years, and give viewers perspective of the historical accuracy of the settings on his monumental bomb by overlaying short pieces of the movie into the wreckage with CGI. These scenes work so very well that it's almost as if Cameron made the big, bloated mess in order to get footage for these ninety minutes.

The photography is gorgeous, absolutely top-notch. And there's a certain feeling to seeing something that no one has seen for ninety years that you have to feel to believe. This is the rough equivalent of video cameras having been present at Carter's first entry into Tutankhamun's tomb. Definitely worth watching. *** ½

Rating:
Summary: Ghosts of the Abyss
Review: Ghosts of the Abyss is a documentary filmed in 3D for IMAX theaters. It takes you down to the actual Titanic site at the bottom of the ocean. It was done by James Cameron, who directed the Titanic movie, but this is pure exploration. They take you to the rooms and places and show you glimpses of the people who were there. The 3D is really what makes it. You feel like you are there. I really liked the way they would merge computer animation with the image to give you an idea of what it used to look like that enables you to really see and appreciate what it looks like now. If you're into the history of the ship, be sure to check it out.

Rating:
Summary: ghosts of the abyss...
Review: ghosts of the abyss is the best titanic documentary ever released! i absolutly LOVE this movie, and i am so glad it is finally coming out on 2-disc special edition DVD!!! Yes!

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat flawed masterpiece
Review: How I loved the awesome images from the quiet, sacred underwater grave of the Titanic. If only there had been MORE of them. I could have easily watched about two hours of just underwater footage. A mere 90 minutes, even on the extended version, simply wasn't enough and I found myself wanting more! The DVD is a must have for any Titanic buff, simply to have amazing footage from parts of the ship never filmed before. For those who've seen the DVD...I definitely DO think that they were looking right at the Renault down in the cargo hold! Some of this footage of the magnificent wreck site is very moving, and I never even had the chance to see it on an IMAX screen!

The crew that went on this expedition was a top notch cross section of Titanic experts, but the Disney folks decided to place WAY too much emphasis on the ever annoying Bill Paxton. Old Bill has a few "wise" things to say (but I'll wager they were scripted). Mostly, Paxton just really gets on your nerves with his dopey comments. Also, I would have liked more of the ship and less of the technical stuff. Like I said, about two full hours of just Titanic footage (without Bill Paxton) would have been fine by me.

I think I also need to comment on the special effects that overlayed "ghostly passengers" on the ship. Although I truly appreciate the technical skills of pulling off these visuals, I really had some decidely mixed feelings insofar as the results in the film. Maybe it would have had more of an impact if I had seen it on the big screen, but it really didn't do a whole lot for me. I can imagine the passengers on the ill fated ship, without James Cameron having to do it for me. A little bit melodramatic and contrived, I thought. Now, the overlays of the actual ship detail were cool and I did like those, because it really helped you to orient yourself, and get a clearer, immediate visual of what the great ship did look like, once upon a time.

Definitely worth having for the amazing, once in a lifetime footage of the famous ship...but it could have been better.

Rating:
Summary: Ghosts of the Abyss
Review: I absolutly loved this movie when i saw it in the IMAX theatre! I am so excited that it is coming out on DVD...and also that there are extremely awsome special features and 2 discs! HIGHLY reccommended for Titanic buffs and people who want to watch something that is actually worth watching!

Rating:
Summary: Ghosts Of The Abyss 3D or Not 3D
Review: I am a very serious Titanic Buff. I saw the Imax 3D Version of This in 2 theatres. Las Vegas and Rochester, NY (My Hometown).
Here's the real scoop... Disney/Imax chose not to release this in 3D because of synch problems in Imax Theatres. I too experienced bad synch in both Theatres 2000 miles apart. This must have been a common problem. For my Money producing the DVD NOT in 3D was probably a wise choice for Disney to avoid any home problems which are usually compounded with the lack of proper home equipment. The DVD is sensational. The Underwater shots and inside the Titanic Video is simply incredible and breathtaking. Highest Recommend!******* There is a French 3D version available which is also excellent but I only recommend this for serious 3D buffs who have Shutter Glasses and their 3D home system in order. Contact me for more info on where to get this in 3D. [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: This is cheap entertainment disguised as science...
Review: I am not sure what is more sickening about this movie, wither the film maker who turns a international tragedy into a cheap love story, or the very same man returns to the site felt like a guy came back to do more cheap things with it. It is not history or science, it's just cheap low standard film making, pure and simple.

Rating:
Summary: PRETTY GOOD!
Review: I LIKED IT ALOT!I LIKED THE MOVIE"TITANIC",MUCH BETTER,THOUGH!BUT THIS PICKS UP WHERE TITANIC LEFT OF!

Rating:
Summary: PRETTY GOOD!
Review: I LIKED IT ALOT!I LIKED THE MOVIE"TITANIC",MUCH BETTER,THOUGH!BUT THIS PICKS UP WHERE TITANIC LEFT OF!

Rating:
Summary: NOT WHAT I EXPECTED
Review: I WAS EXCITED WHEN IT FINALLY CAME OUT ON VIDEO .MY FRIEND BROUGHT IT OVER AND WE WATCHED IT. IT BORED THE SOCKS OFF ME .THE ONLY COOL PARTS WERE WHEN THEY FINALLY WENT DOWN TO SEE THE TITANIC . SHE'S STILL SO BEAUTIFUL AFTER ALL THESES YEARS . IT WAS MORE LIKE A DOCUMENTARY THEY NEED TO SHOW MORE OF THE TITANIC.IAM SO GLAD I DIDN'T BUT IT .