Ghosts of the Abyss

Rating:
Summary: Where to find IMAX theaters
Review: I wrote in my eariler review of "Ghosts of the Abyss", the movie probably would have looked a lot better at an IMAX theatre, instead of at a local movie-plex. Here's how to find the nearest, (if any), IMAX theatre to your address. Go to [website]That will show the street/avenue locations of all the IMAX theatres in the USA. If you live outside the USA, perhaps they can help you find a nearby IMAX theatre. IMAX looks great, especially when it's a awesome film, such as "Ghosts of the Abyss".

Rating:
Summary: Incredible footage, but the film sometimes loses its focus
Review: In Ghosts of the Abyss, James Cameron returns to the watery grave of the Titanic in an effort to let the ill-fated ship tell the story of her own demise. Equipped with space age technology and twin little exploratory robots designed specifically for exploring the Titanic, Cameron and his team manage to take us into rooms unseen by human eye since April 1912. Not only do you get the theatrical version of this documentary film (albeit without the 3-D experience offered by IMAX), you also get an extended version featuring an extra half hour of material. Most people would just watch the extended version, but I wanted to get a feel for the difference the extra footage makes, so I watched both versions back to back. I was actually rather amazed to discover that the extended version is ten times better than the original - basically, all of the best material was left out of the theatrical release.

I have to admit I found Bill Paxton, the de facto narrator of the film, rather annoying at times. As he freely admits, he isn't really qualified for this type of deep-sea mission, and his giddiness and nervous humor tend to grow old pretty quickly. Like most people, I just wanted to see footage of the wreckage, not a chronicling of Paxton's anxiety over traveling to the ocean floor. I did enjoy the glimpses provided of the other crew members on the expedition, however - they are an interesting assortment of scientists, filmmakers, historians, and Russian seamen.

Ghosts of the Abyss does succeed in showing Titanic in all of her mysterious glory, and the underwater footage makes this film well worth watching. The footage obtained from the two submersible vessels floating around and above the ship is breathtaking, but the true magic happens when two specially-designed robots, Jake and Elroy, are guided (remotely) down into the ship herself. The bots move in and out of individual rooms, giving us glimpses of Colonel Smith's bathtub, ornate windows (still intact) from the main dining room, personal effects of passengers still lying where their owners left them, etc. This allows the filmmakers to further personalize the visual experience. For the first time, we are able to move down into the bowels of the ship herself and see, for example, the area where the firemen lived, worked, and died. The best footage of all can be found only in the extended version - only here, for example, can you travel down into the steerage section of the ship for the very first time. I was very surprised to see that this important and unprecedented footage was cut out of the theatrical release. If you're like me, you are also are curious about the animals you know must be calling the Titanic home, but only in the extended version will you find any footage of these mysterious, ocean-bottom dwellers.

Cameron makes extensive use of CGI in order to show the audience what we are actually looking at. You'll be watching the video footage of a certain location, and then the filmmakers will overlay pictures showing how the room would have looked back in 1912, and many times transparent, ghostly images are also overlaid over the footage. The intention is to really bring the past alive. It works to some degree, but some may see it as overdramatization. Of course, the bots steal the show. Jake and Elwood are fascinating little gizmos that become our eyes and show us the wreckage of the Titanic as we have never seen it before. One of them adds additional drama to the story by malfunctioning; the rescue mission is really the most exciting aspect of the entire film.

A second disc contains some 50 minutes of interviews and additional footage, most of which is quite interesting. I was very glad to see a feature on the "cowboys" who go out to hook the resurfaced submersibles to the surface vessel; seeing these guys work in turbulent seas is just incredible. You also get to watch a few minutes of one dive's footage from your choice of six different camera angles - you can switch back and forth between views from the submersibles, Jake and Elwood, and the submersible cabin views. All in all, this is a great DVD package, but it is not perfect. I think all of us would like to have seen more of the actual footage and a good deal less of Bill Paxton, but there is no denying the fact that Ghosts of the Abyss offers viewers the most eye-opening tour available of the proud wreckage of the Titanic.

Rating:
Summary: James Cameron goes back to "Titanic"
Review: It seems like James Cameron is going to be the David O. Selznick of his generation, by which I mean to indicate that both men had to try and figure out what to do next after they brought to the screen the biggest blockbuster film of all time with "Titanic" and "Gone with the Wind" respectively. Since 1997 Cameron had a hand in creating the television series "Dark Angel," even directing an episode, did a television documentary on an expedition to find the World War II German battleship "Bismarck," and then returned to the bottom of the North Atlantic to revisit the wreck of the "Titanic."

"Ghosts of the Abyss" was originally a 61-minute IMAX documentary in 3D and is now available on DVD as a 92-minute documentary, without the 3D effects. This is not the first documentary to go back to "Titanic," but Cameron has the resources and the drive to make it one of the most interesting. By now the thrill of just seeing these ghostly images from the ocean's floor is starting to wear off, so Cameron has to do something slightly more ambitious that voyage to the bottom of the sea. His advantage are the technological toys he brings with him to the expedition, which includes not only the pair of remote-controlled underwater cameras nicknamed Jake and Elwood in honor of the Blues Brothers, but an array of lights that is suspended over the "Titanic" to illuminate the scene.

Brought along for the ride is Bill Paxton, who know gets to find out for real what it was his character did in the film. Cameron is such an expert on all of this that he leaves the documentary's narration to Paxton, who surves as a surrogate for us common folk on this underwater journey. Through the eyes of the camera we can see the Tiffany cut glass windows in the ship's grand ballroom, the settings the telegraph operators used to send out their distress calls, the entrance to the mast that sailors used to crawl up to the crow's nest, and answer the question of whether the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown had a brass or a wooden bed in her cabin. Then there are all the familiar objects, such as hats and glasses, that amazingly remain where they were left by their owners on the fateful night of April 15, 1912.

As was the case with "Titanic," Cameron uses digital effects to bring the wreckage alive by adding ghostly images of passengers and the way these parts of the ship looked the night it sunk. But as was the case with the maiden voyage of "Titanic," the drama in "Ghosts of the Abyss" comes as a surprise. While exploring the interior of "Titanic" one of Cameron's little robots has a major problem and suddenly we are engaged in an deep sea rescue mission. The question is whether Cameron will risk the second robot to rescue the first, but there is never a doubt as to what the director is going to do. Still, he never could have written a story that would be as fascinating as what happens down there among the ghosts of "Titanic."

Rating:
Summary: Take the dive . . .
Review: James Cameron hasn't made a movie since 'Titanic'. His critics have argued that since he won the oscar, he was too frightened to step behind the megaphone again - scared that he couldn't top the success of that movie. Well, the critics better start eating humble pie because his long awaited new production is bigger, better and a giant leap in the way that all of his movies have been technically on-the-button and visually amazing.

Historically, Jim Cameron movies are big. From the very nature of the stories, the budget and the talent involved in his past productions, his films have always been larger than life. However, none have been as breathtaking as this. From the opening shots of the scientific research vessel powering through the sea to the dark and gloomy abyss of that famous ghostship, Cameron takes you on a journey of discovery, sadness and wonder. The doucmentary (if I can use that phrase, as the expert cutting and general feel of the piece likens this to a big summer action flick) tells the story of Cameron's obvious obsession with the famous sinking of the Titanic. With state-of-the-art technology at his fingertips, he allows us to accompany him as he journeys to the site of the ship, discovering its secrets, and justifying myths and stories.

The 3D camerawork is fantastic. You actually feel that you are part of the action. From the soft bubbles of the ocean roaming around in front of you, to the gentle rocking of the sea giving you that 'rocking' feeling. The score and beautiful visuals are comforting, with a great symmetry running throughout the picture. For example: when we are on the surface, preparing for the dives, it feels like a muscular action movie (very reminiscant of 'The Abyss' if you will), with scientists scrabbling around and people pysching themselves up for the discovery ahead. But, when we are below, the picture becomes serene and beautiful, very human. Actually, just like any other Jim Cameron movie - as he has that great ability to combine a very strong masculine fascination regarding technology with an excellent understanding of humanity.

Bill Paxton is great too. Once you get past him saying 'Wow!' all the time (and lets face it, who can blame him?), he is very warm and you genuinely feel for him in the sequence when he dives for the first time, as his anxieties about the submersible failing are funny and touching. The sequence when he informs Cameron about the September 11 tragedy seems to resonate throughout the films core, cementing the ideals of the project. The scientists and crew reflect on the events (then and now) and this presents the audience with equal feelings of sorrow and sadness.

Summing up, at only 60 minutes long this movie succeeds to envelope you in a dark yet beautiful journey to the most famous ghostship in the world. Catch it a movie theatre projecting in 3D if you can, it truly is an amazing ride. I can only image what Jim Cameron has in store for us next . . .

Rating:
Summary: The footage of the Titanic alone
Review: makes this an absolute must. As has been noted, the way Cameron presents each area is extremely well-done, and never ever boring. Some seems hokey at first, but then you realize it was done to humanize the ship even more than it already has been, and in a toally positive way. You find yourself wishing for even more. But I have to agree with what others said -- there's way too much Bill Paxton. I'm sure he's a nice guy and all that, but I bought this to see the ship, not him. The extras disc is pretty decent, too, especially if you're into the technical aspect of the expedition. Easily the best available Big T footage available.

Rating:
Summary: A HIDDEN EXTRA!!
Review: On Buena Vista Home Entertainment's release of the James Cameron documentary 'Ghosts Of The Abyss' the studio has hidden some additional feature that is not immediately evident.
Insert the second disc of the DVD set and on the Main Menu highlight the menu entry 'Reflections From The Deep.' Now press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control and the handles of the Marconi apparatus will be highlighted. If you press 'Enter' now you will get to see a reel of outtakes from the production, some of which are quite funny, especially the cheese sandwich set-up, so make sure to check it out.

Rating:
Summary: An In Depth Look Further Inside the Titanic
Review: This documentary was exactly what I was looking for: Going back inside the Titanic, deeper and farther than anyone else has ever been before. Anyone expecting another movie about the ill fated ocean liner will be disappointed; this is a Discover Channel-ish documentary. But if you're looking for some new shots and recent infromation about this ship, this is your DVD.

James Cameron, along with author Charles Pellegrino, and actor Bill Paxton take viewers back two miles beneath the North Atlantic to the Titanic's resting place. You'll see woodwork, previously assumed to be lost forever; beautiful lead glass windows, still intact; the staterooms of Molly Brown, Bruce Ismay, and Captain Smith; various cargo holds; as well as previously unexplored regions in the 3th Class areas of the ship. I especially liked when Cameron would frame indistinguishable areas of the ship with how they looked on Titanic's maiden voyage.

If you are into undersea exploration and archeaology, or are a Titanic buff, this is definitely worth looking into. Also check out Charles Pellegrino's book, "Ghosts of the Titanic," for other details the movie wasn't able to cover. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: For fans of the event
Review: This DVD will appeal to fans of the sinking and others will find it only interesting. The strengths of this DVD are the fantastic photography and the overlays of actual pictures of the ship and recreations of events (the ghosts) acting out some of what happened. [For historical accuracy, many of the actual photographs are probably of the Titanic sister ship as the actual ship was not fully recorded photographically.] One really gets a good understanding of where the photographs were taken within the ship and those photographs are remarkable. This is a much better dive record than the previously released National Geographic 'Secrets of the Titanic'. I found the second DVD in this set unnecesary but fans will find it useful. Those who have an interest in the fate of the Titanic will want to add this to their collection.

Rating:
Summary: THE BESTEST TITANIC ADVENTURE OUT OF TIME
Review: This movie "GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS" is the maddest most thrilling movie of all time. Though the begining is kinda boring an all, but the rest is amazing, the 3d glasses at the imax are cool. James Cameron the one who made "TITANIC" in 1997 goes back to the wreck site with jake and elwood, two robotic machines that goes into the ship. The ghosts walking on the ship are just breath taking, and the Grand Staircase the way it was before it was destroyed during the sinking was beautiful, with its glass dome overhead and carved clock on the foyer. This movie makes you feel like your really exploring the wreck. This also shows historic parts example: Elizabeth Lines who overhears the conversation between Ismay and Smith about the ship speeding faster to New York, Captain Smith calls back lifeboat 6 through his megaphone, though Molly Brown protests to go back, but Quartermaster Hichens refuses to go back, the card players in the smoking room having a final game of cards, the steerage family returning to their cabin and waiting for their time to come, the ship in the air with people sliding down the deck, the lights going out all the way to the break up and to the final plunge. Though when i was watching those horrible last moments as the ship began its rise into the air made me almost cry, in my mind i kept on saying "OH MY GOD!" It was too horrible to watch. But if you ever have a chance to go to the imax go now cause you dont know what ya missin, this movie will capture your hearts forever and ever.

Rating:
Summary: Journey into the Heart of the Titanic
Review: This Movie is stunnung and beautiful. I just bought the DVD and there's two versions of this movie on disc1 (the original, and the extended 90 min). On disc 2 the special features are AWSOME, and I mean AWSOME! I highly reccommend purchase of this DVD!