Atlantis

Rating:
Summary: Finally surfacing
Review: At last. Long have I heard rumors of the magnificence of Luc Besson's ATLANTIS, but found nary a showing in the years since becoming enamored with the serene moments of Besson's THE BIG BLUE. [The DVD's release date] can't arrive too soon.

Reportedly, ATLANTIS is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack of a stunning Eric Serra score. Also included are the trailers for this and one other Besson film. What's notably (and thankfully) NOT included is a voice-over narration.

Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: Ever since I saw this film years ago I've been searching for it on VHS or DVD. In short, the movie opened with a few lines of dialog as the camera flys over the ocean. Suddenly we dip beneath the waves and for the next hour and 40 all images are from underneath the water. The only sounds you hear are the film's excellent score and some occasional sound effects to enhance the scene.

The film itself is broken down into sections which represent themes. Each theme is then appropriately scored by Eric Serra. Using this structure helps in the film's pacing as the theme can be scary, lighthearted, or awe inspiring. If anyone enjoyed the movie Baraka I think you'll enjoy this one as well.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding. Finally released on DVD!
Review: I am so pleased to finally be able to watch this on DVD. I remember seeing the movie's origianl release in France in 1991 and being amazed by Luc Besson's brillant camera work and vision. Set, as usual, to Eric Serra's music, there is no comparable underwater film.

Rating:
Summary: Yes ... It Really Is That Good....
Review: I saw this film in the theaters. I was a die-hard Besson fan from La Femme Nikita and The Big Blue -- two movies that got me into the film business. When I saw Atlantis in the theater I was one of five people in the audience. We were all awe-struck. Besson must've angered the head of the studio that released it because it vanished soon after. He had spent two years traveling the world (Besson's an avid diver and grew up in Greece where his parents were divers) and photographing the incredible images in this picture. I actually found a French VHS that i had for a while, then got a LaserDisc via Hong Kong, and people used to come to my house, watch it and beg me to tape it for them. Lucky divers around the world have a couple bootleg copies they were grateful to receive. So when my laserdisc player barfed, i could no longer watch it. So now its finally coming out on DVD. Well if you can't gather my opinion from what i've already written, not much more will help. If you're interested in the ocean -- or just want something to put on in the background to calm you down after a long day -- this is it. But watch Atlantis the first time very carefully. It's all about the last scene to find meaning in what Besson was getting at in this gorgeous visual underwater opera, and i think it's point is as poignant as the DVD's arrival is exciting.

Rating:
Summary: Yes ... It Really Is That Good....
Review: I saw this film in the theaters. I was a die-hard Besson fan from La Femme Nikita and The Big Blue -- two movies that got me into the film business. When I saw Atlantis in the theater I was one of five people in the audience. We were all awe-struck. Besson must've angered the head of the studio that released it because it vanished soon after. He had spent two years traveling the world (Besson's an avid diver and grew up in Greece where his parents were divers) and photographing the incredible images in this picture. I actually found a French VHS that i had for a while, then got a LaserDisc via Hong Kong, and people used to come to my house, watch it and beg me to tape it for them. Lucky divers around the world have a couple bootleg copies they were grateful to receive. So when my laserdisc player barfed, i could no longer watch it. So now its finally coming out on DVD. Well if you can't gather my opinion from what i've already written, not much more will help. If you're interested in the ocean -- or just want something to put on in the background to calm you down after a long day -- this is it. But watch Atlantis the first time very carefully. It's all about the last scene to find meaning in what Besson was getting at in this gorgeous visual underwater opera, and i think it's point is as poignant as the DVD's arrival is exciting.

Rating:
Summary: i'ts just like being there
Review: it may have french audio but it is the best nature DVD that i've ever seen because not only is it relaxing and new age, it does not have (thank god) narration, the only reason that i dont want narration in a film like this, is because all the audio is in french. all i can say is that this film is great except this one thing that you cannot change, but that's alright

Rating:
Summary: i'ts just like being there
Review: it may have french audio but it is the best nature DVD that i've ever seen because not only is it relaxing and new age, it does not have (thank god) narration, the only reason that i dont want narration in a film like this, is because all the audio is in french. all i can say is that this film is great except this one thing that you cannot change, but that's alright

Rating:
Summary: incroyable
Review: This movie is overwhelming in its effect on the viewer. I am a big besson fan and came across this older movie a few years ago (before the dvd release) when I found it at a tag sale in a box of Laser Discs. Being a diver and realizing what the movie was about (life underwater as if you ARE a creature of the sea, with the music to match the sea creatures "personalities", among other things) I actually shopped ebay to buy a Laser Disc just to watch this movie. It was worth it. I think this is much better than the Koyaanisqatsi series because of its simplicity and compactness. The essential Luc Besson if you will.

Rating:
Summary: Shameful.
Review: This movie simultaneously introduces me to Besson and puts me off him forever. Why the overbearing music ? I was so sick of it that I muted the TV after 15 minutes and switched a stream of 20th century classical instead, and it was much more appropriate. That's just shameful. Why does he spin the camera around like we're in the middle of a dryer ?

At the half-hour mark, there was a shot reminiscent of the opening of Solyaris. Having been provided with this fortuitous inspiration, I removed Atlantis from my DVD player and watched Solyaris instead. It eased the pain.