Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunately, the Director's Cut left me feeling empty.
Review: Well, I've read the other reviews and I find myself most decidedly in the minority. The movie is good, but it's not great. On the other hand, neither is it terrible. My first experience with The Big Blue was the American version, cut shorter and with Bill Conti's score in place of Eric Serra's. The Director's Cut (D.C.) is both longer and darker.Okay, I'll say it. I like the American version better. Period. It was, perhaps, my all-time favorite movie. But things have since gone downhill. Eric Serra's music is good, don't get me wrong, but I don't feel that it has the emotional impact of Conti's. Yes, we're talking about something very subjective here. If the D.C. is your first experience with this film, then you'll be lucky enough to enjoy it without having to compare and contrast. However, for me, something was missing in this new release. I found many of the extra scenes superfluous to both the story and the character arcs. For example, there's an added humorous scene midway through the film that exists, supposedly, to show that Enzo likes to take chances and flex his masculinity. I agree; the scene depicts just that. But there are plenty of other scenes that do the same thing; this one is redundant. (On a side note, the endings of each version are virtually identical -- don't let someone tell you otherwise. Ultimately, this movie is about a man's struggle to choose between Humanity and Nature, and that message remains unchanged from one version to the next.) Regarding the scoring, there are points in the D.C. where a given scene just didn't work for me with Serra's music (sometimes Besson chose no music at all, and the silence that falls over the action is absolutely stifling). I don't believe that Serra's score did the movie justice. Conti was able to capture the flavor of the film much more easily, yet without being disrespectful to Besson's message. At best, Serra hit the mark only five times out of ten. To be fair, I can't honestly say that my take on the D.C. is based solely on its own merits, as I saw the American version first. I'd suggest that you watch both and decide for yourself. Of course, it might prove difficult to find the older one these days (outside of rental stores, that is). In short, I was disappointed that they didn't come out with a DVD that had both the American and Director's versions. I realize that'd be more expensive, but it would've been a nice touch (and I'd have paid extra for it). I'm glad I saw the D.C., but I'd much rather own on DVD the American version and I regret that I now think less of the movie than I had previously. I would have given it two and a half stars, but it wasn't bad enough to warrant a solid two, considering how much I loved the American version; despite its flaws, this is still a pretty cool movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Visual, Aural and Emotional Ecstasy
Review: In the Summer Cinema under the stars next to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea in Monaco, I experienced the original (I suppose it's the European version after all I've read here) version of this unforgettable masterpiece for the first time. Luc Besson created and filmed the, based on fact, competition between freediving (diving to incredible depths without tanks) champions Jacques and Enzo, as the ethereal experience that the aching-to-be-active layman can only hope it to be. Roseanne Arquette (granted, as a ditsy blonde) brought welcome levity, yearning and romance to the story as we experienced the drastically varying levels of the storyline through her eyes, many of which she herself was unaware. The imagery, romance and chilling soundtrack (Eric Serra, who also did La Femme Nikita) of The Big Blue haunted me until I purchased the CD soundtrack (in France) and finally the PAL VHS version of the film in England (to be viewed countless times). I unfortunately loaned the video 4 years ago to an East German acquaintance who was learning English and never received it back. I look forward to re-purchasing this, my favorite film. Hmmm, do I buy DVD or VHS?
Rating: 
Summary: US version is wonderful . This DVD on the other hand stinks!
Review: I must admit that Bill Conti's music is much better and moving . . I miss it very much. Why couldn't we have both version on one DVD??? . . it's not impossible you know. This version is a major let down. Also have to say that I don't like the foul langauge that appears in this version . . . not needed. Rent it, don't buy!! This DVD gets one star . . US version (if you can find it) gets Five stars!!
Rating:
Summary: The most underrated film in 80's
Review: I can never forget when I saw this movie in Tokyo with 70mm print. It was beautiful, magnificent and very personal film about sea. It was unsucssesfull in box office, thou, the audience didn't forget the beauty of this film. When the movie was re-released as "Le Grand Blue" in director's cut with French Language (Original language is English, by the way)in 1992, it became the instant classic in Japan. Now thanks to the Columbia Trister, the American audience can experience this unseen classic. The quality of the picture and sound are much better than any other version, including expencive Japanese Laser Disc. It does remind my first experience of seeing this one of the best movie in 80's. If you love movie of Luc Besson, this is must-buy DVD.
Rating:
Summary: it's about time!
Review: i have been waiting for this picture on dvd for a long long time! and to finally get it, with additional footage, no less! this was the first besson picture i ever saw. i was immediately taken with his style & feel for subject. the american version was good, only, unbeknownst to me at the time, it felt somewhat incomplete-- now i know why. this director's cut fills in so many gaps, answers so many unspoken questions. it rounds out the romance between jacques & joanna as well as gives more depth to the friendship/competition between jacques & enzo. the "drinking in the diving bell" scene is a riot, mimicking the drinkng in the pool scene. in my opinion the film needs those extra "director's" minutes to evove from a good picture with potential to an awesome picture, period. i am so much happier seeing this movie with those formerly "lost" european additions. Mr. Reno is worth his weight in gold, a great job by Mr. Barr, and Ms. Arquette provides a nice american counterpoint to these euro stars. interesting to see arquette & griffin dunne together again (from "after hours-- m. scorcese"). a great "new" ending... you'll see when you compare it to the version americané.
Rating:
Summary: Universal Truth: Review from Power vs. Force by D.R. Hawkins
Review: [Refers to original theatrical release. Please see "The Big Blue" in VHS format for the original version, ASIN: 6302801249] "We've made [kinesiological] calibrations of various kinds of records of athletic achievement, including movies. Of all the movies about sports studied, the French film 'The Big Blue' produced the highest calibration. This is the story of Jacques Mayol, the Frenchman who held the world record for deep-sea diving for many years (until very recently). The movie calibrates at the extraordinary level of 700 (universal truth), and has the capacity to put viewers in a high state of consciousness -- the manager of one movie theater that showed it described audiences wandering out lost in silence or crying with joy they couldn't describe." David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D, from "Power vs. Force", page 173
Rating:
Summary: Universal Truth: Review from Power vs. Force by D.R. Hawkins
Review: [Refers to original theatrical release.] "We've made [kinesiological] calibrations of various kinds of records of athletic achievement, including movies. Of all the movies about sports studied, the French film 'The Big Blue' produced the highest calibration. This is the story of Jacques Mayol, the Frenchman who held the world record for deep-sea diving for many years (until very recently). The movie calibrates at the extraordinary level of 700 (universal truth), and has the capacity to put viewers in a high state of consciousness -- the manager of one movie theater that showed it described audiences wandering out lost in silence or crying with joy they couldn't describe." David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D, from "Power vs. Force", page 173
Rating:
Summary: Original music changed from VHS version :(
Review: I first watched this movie on VHS video, and loved the movie soundtrack and recurring theme-- I *hate* the music soundtrack on the DVD, which for reasons I can not figure out is completely different from the videotape, the DVD music sounds like elevator music. Yuck! So if you own this movie on VHS videotape, do not dump it when you get or order the DVD version. Aside from the music, the DVD of course is nice because it is digital and is is letterbox format.
Rating: 
Summary: An enchanting movie about the world of deep-sea diving
Review: After watching the movie, I looked at the clock and was surprised that I'd spent 3 hours of my life watching one movie comprised mainly of underwater scenes and European coastlines, and it was all so pretty. Its a pity I've only heard of this movie recently and can only watch it on DVD... I wish now that I had been able to watch it on the big screen because I think it would've been a breathtaking experience to watch this in a good cinema with good sound system. One can't help but notice the stark contrast between the lives of Jacques and Johanna. Jacques is the deep-sea diver who grew up on Mediterranean shores living a slow-paced lifestyle. He is not tied down by material possessions, places (he travels around a lot) and women(well, perhaps it was just Rosanna he didn't want to be tied down to). The only thing that really matters to him in life is the sea and diving. Johanna is a New Yorker and works for the insurance company. Her character is somewhat shallow, constantly whining, shrieking, crying, whimsical, unstable (emotionally and mentally)...etc. And this is one of the main problems I have with this movie - the obvious incompatibility of the 2 lovebirds, who make up the other main focus of this movie. Jacques somehow knew all along in his heart that their relationship was going to be nothing more than a short-term fling... but Johanna with her child-like shrieking and demanding ways... I don't know... just felt like the movie could have done much better to use a female lead character with more depth and maturity. Rosanna Arquette is a good actress, she has her funny moments and can be really endearing in the right movie, but certainly not in this one. Another problem I had with this movie is the musical score. The worst thing about it wasn't so much that it sounded 80s and very outdated, but that it often sounded laughingly like some background music from a soft porn scene in some lousy old C-grade movie. It ruins the viewing experience, especially during some of the beautiful underwater scenes - complete silence would still be better than having this music playing in the background. Still, this is a memorable movie. The storyline is very simple, and some parts of it remind me of Free Willy. The backdrop/scenery on which this drama is played out offers us a beautiful perspective of life along the coasts of the Mediterranean. This is a unique movie that shows us not only the beauty and tranquility of the sea through the eyes of the divers, but also tells us that we don't need to chase the dollar and have lots of material possessions to be happy. The length of the movie is irrelevant. If you love the sea, dolphins and/or enjoy diving, then this is definitely the movie for you.
Rating:
Summary: The best movie based on the beauty of the Sea.
Review: I have seen both American and European versions. The only long version I could find for region 2 is the German printed version. It has german and spanish audio in 5.1 format, but English audio is in 2.0. In the English format, the dialogues in the beginning B/W scenes are in English. It was Italian in the original version.
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