Rating: 
Summary: Voyage of the Nautilus
Review: Kirk Douglas and James Mason explore the mysteries of the deep in the Sci-Fi classic "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Rumours of a sea monster that attacks ships, has open the interests of a curious French scientist (Paul Lukas), his faithful aide (Peter Lorre) and an able harpoonist (Kirk Douglas). Upon a striking encounter, they learn that the "sea monster" is a powerful under-water vessel under the command of the vengeful Captain Nemo (James Mason). "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a remarkable adaptation of Jules Verne's stunning adventure tale. The film features a powerful story, great under-water photography and a rich music score. Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre are well cast but it's James Mason's intense performance of Captain Nemo that often drives the whole film. It also contains some impressive visuals and thrilling momments including a gripping battle against a giant squid. Disney gives "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" the full "2-Disc special edition" treatment. The movie is presented in it's original theatrical widescreen format. The DVD contains an amazing video transfer and clear digital sound quality. Disc 2 features exclusive bonus material including Behind-the-scene featurettes, Theatrical trailer, picture gallery and audio commentaries. Like previous Disney DVD, the disc also contains forced commercials and trailers of upcoming Disney releases. Overall, it scores an "A".
Rating: 
Summary: Superior DVD Package of a Memorable Film
Review: Loosely based on the celebrated novel by Jules Verne and set in the late 19th Century, LEAGUES offers the story of Professor Arronax (Paul Lukas), his assistant Conseil (Peter Lorre), and harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas), who are coaxed by the United States government to aid in the search for a sea monster said to be terrorizing shipping lanes. But the monster is not of flesh and blood, and soon the three find themselves in the hands of the mysterious Captain Nemo (James Mason) as prisoners aboard the Nautilus--a fully functional submarine capable of ramming ships and sending them to the ocean floor. Underwater photography was hardly new in 1954, but never had it been used so extensively nor to such visually beautiful effect, and the art designs--particularly those for the Nautilus--are justly celebrated. But for all its beauty, it is the performances which make the film work. James Mason does not merely play Nemo, he seems to be Nemo; after seeing his performance it is impossible to imagine any other actor in the role. Paul Lukas adds yet another brilliantly understated performance to his memorable career, and while Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre are hardly the Ned Land and Conseil of the Verne novel they have surprising chemistry and lend the film considerable dash. At the time of its release, LEAGUES was the single most expensive motion picture ever made (ironically it would loose that dubious distinction later that same year to yet another film featuring James Mason: A STAR IS BORN), and every penny of the money spent shows in the onscreen result. While many of Disney's live-action films are fondly recalled, few have had enduring fame, much less claim to status as art--but LEAGUES is the exception, and although the episodic nature of the story seems a shade languid from time to time it remains both a landmark and one of the most influential films of its decade. Truly enjoyable from start to finish. GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Top-notch fantasy movie
Review: Like most people who have seen this film, I admire and respect it greatly. A timeless classic. About the DVD: the picture and sound quality is very sharp and clean. On the other audio track, director Richard Fleischer is interviewed throughout the film, although he's not the most entertaining person to listen to. The bonus DVD contains a huge amount of extras, such as making of documentaries, TV spots, deleted scenes, production info, photo galleries, and much more. However, I did find navigating thru the DVD menus a bit tricky. Someone new to DVD technology might have some trouble finding everything.
Rating:
Summary: It's not just a Disney classic, it's a classic, period.
Review: Among the live-action output of the Disney studios there are precious few _truly_ great films. One of them is "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." It was the first wholly live-action movie made at the Burbank studios (the previous live films having been made in England, one of which -- "Treasure Island" -- is another classic, recently reissued in a gorgeous DVD transfer). "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a classic example of how simply throwing money, talent, and imagination at a project can result in a masterpiece. It is difficult to overpraise this film. Earl Felton's imaginative rethinking of Jules Verne's novel and his script's focus on the moral issues at the center of the story; James Mason's subtle and controlled performance as Captain Nemo; the startlingly realistic miniatures (which have not been surpassed); and Richard Fleischer's simple, uncluttered direction are standouts. But all these pale in the face of the incredible art design, which deservedly won an Oscar. The interior of the Nautilus cleverly imagines how a Victorian submarine (had there been such a thing!) would be furnished. The exterior is the most-fanciful submarine design ever conceived. It does for this film what Robby does for "Forbidden Planet." Did I forget to mention the fight with the giant squid, one of the most-memorable scenes in the history of movies? My only complaint is that I'm not a fan of Paul Smith's music. His principal theme for this film is inspired, perfectly invoking the fundamentally somber mood of the story, but the rest of the score doesn't come up to it. (It might be that the dreadful style of Disney's "house" orchestrations -- which afflict dozens of other Disney films -- keeps me from properly appreciating Smith's work.) I can only note that, while Disney was hiring one of Fox's model designers to create the miniatures, he might also have borrowed Bernard Herrmann, who, five years later, would produce a classic score for another Jules Verne story, also starring James Mason. This transfer is the best yet (including the LV). The color is rich and varied (quite unlike the overly-red/muddy-green mess Technicolor would soon become), and I didn't see a single spot or scratch. There's a lot of supplemental material, including an hour-long "making of" feature that's well-above-average for this sort of thing, Disney or otherwise. There is also a intermittently interesting running commentary from the director and Rudy Behlmer, the film historian. Note that the "Operation Undersea" episode of Disneyland -- an hour-long "commerical" for the film that won an Emmy -- is _not_ included. Despite its half-century age, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" has lost little of its freshness or excitement. If your kids don't like it -- get new kids.
Rating:
Summary: The best Disney movie ever... and a DVD to match it!
Review: Finally! The definitive edition of a Jules Verne classic brought back in all its pomp and glory. The price, for once, is right. I remember it when it first was released in Europe, and I can safely say that this version beats even that showing back then. Extremely clear image, stupendous surround sound, make this a must have in the most absolute way. Forget all the other versions ever made. This remains THE classic of them all! Forget the dated special effects which, by the way, you may not even notice, since the story is so gripping and fast paced, that you may not even realize they are. James Mason gives a wonderful portrayal of Captain Nemo. One of his best roles, together with Fieldmarshal Rommel in "The Desert Fox", Cicero in "Five Fingers" and Professor Arronax in "Journey to the Center of the Earth" of about the same period.
Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre form a perfect if not odd comical duo, to ease the tension of the story. The score is beautifully remastered and brings you immediately back to those long bygone days of great moviemaking. I won't be long reviewing this movie, since many others before me, have already praised it and described it in detail. I can only say, buy it, buy it, buy it! Oh, and by the way, don't forget about another Jules Verne classic coming out soon on DVD and in Widescreen:
"Around the World in 80 Days".
That's another "absolutely must have". In the meanwhile, have you checked on "Journey to the Center of the Earth".
Do you have it on your DVD shelf?
No?
Shame on you...
Go and get it fast.
It's been remastered and it's a worthy companion to the other two Jules Verne movies.
So, what are you waiting for?
Rating:
Summary: A Great DVD of a Great Film
Review: Like many of the other reviewers of this movie, I'm a pre-boomer who was dazzled by the film as a child. Somewhere in my aging mom's attic, I have a few bolts (painted wood) from the movie set of the Nautilus, which I "borrowed" from one of the Disney properties as a kid nearly a half century ago. I remember taking a bus from LA to Burbank to stare through the slats of the fence in the back lot of the Disney Studios and seeing a partial model of the Nautilus, perhaps 1/3 scale, tossed in a corner like so much debris. What I would have given to be able to drag that model home. When I viewed the VHS version of this film a couple of years ago, I was bitterly disappointed by the poor quality which made the watching experience actually painful to a fan like me. But, let me tell you, this DVD is as thrilling as the VHS was painful. This fully-restored version of the film comes roaring back to life in all of its glory and then some. It's the best film restoration these old eyes have ever beheld. Watched on a state-of-the-art widescreen TV, this is every bit the experience it was in the '50's and I think it's wonderful that this great film is now preserved for the ages, just as it was when it was first released. Is this a perfect movie? No. Even as a kid, I noticed that the background music was too cheesy, that Kirk Douglas's songs seemed gratuitous, that the fish swimming outside the large porthole were cartoonish, and that the electrically-illuminated eye of the Giant Squid made an otherwise perfect special effect look a bit fake. I'm just as puzzled by those weaknesses today as I was then, especially since all other aspects of the film, including the numerous, Oscar-winning special effects involving the Nautilus, are masterful. But no movie is perfect and this movie, minor warts and all, is nothing less than a memorial to the genius of Disney, the acting of James Mason, the passion of the Disney staff, and the vision of Jules Verne.
Rating:
Summary: Classic adventure movie
Review: This movie was to its time what Pearl Harbor was to ours-a trailblazing film. I've watched this movie many times and I highly recommend it. It's a classic and was created more than 50 years ago, yet the quality of production is very high. This movie is about a sailing expedition that turns awry when the ship meets a strange submarine that attacks it. What follows is three men's adventures in meeting the captain of the submarine, Nemo. This movie is very exciting and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Still the Best Version!
Review: Neither of the abysmal recent television adaptations of Jules Verne's classic novel manage to capture the tragically noble essence of Captain Nemo as well as this sweeping and colorful 1954 Disney adaptation. Whereas the predictable contemporary direction is to create an obsessed sociopath consumed by his own rage, Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" sticks to Verne's original vision of an elegant but tortured genius who vows to rid the world of war by hunting the seas for those who traffic in human suffering. The spot-on James Mason brings Nemo to life with just the right touch of brilliance and sadness-we know he is doomed to failure, yet despite his misguided methods, there's a part of us that roots for him and his cause. Paul Lukas is wonderfully sympathetic as Professor Arronax, the soft-spoken, Victorian biologist who begins to identify with Nemo; Peter Lorre, as the professor's skulking assistant, Conseil, and Kirk Douglas, as Ned Land, the brash harpooner that ultimately causes Nemo's undoing, provide much of the comic relief. But even the solid cast must compete with Harper Goff's version of the Nautilus, quite possibly the most successful blend of technology and imagination to ever grace the silver screen. In a production that shines--from the beautiful cinematography to Richard Fleischer's sure-handed direction to special effects that are wonderfully tangible in this age of cold computer effects--there is a feast for the senses in every scene, and Paul Smith's evocative score--Douglas' musical number notwithstanding--will stay with you long after the credits roll. Disney deserves kudos for producing a DVD that is lovely to look at and packed with extras, though we probably could live without the myriad commercials at the beginning of the main disc.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: After your children watch Finding Nemo -- make sure they take time with the real Captain Nemo! Also - if you're children are ready to learn more about the ocean, check out Captain Jon Explores the Ocean on DVD on Amazon.
Rating:
Summary: Finally 20,000 Leagues Under THe Sea is on DVD
Review: I just got my copy of this great DVD. And I love it so much. I always had been a huge fan of the movie. I really liked the fact that Disney Vault Disneyized this feature. And included exclusive interviews and specail features. Here Is a Brief Description: A Doctor and his Secreatery take a sea voyage when there boat is sunk by a mysterious monster from the deep, they also meet the Hansome , And muscular Kirk Douglas. Well they go on a small voyage and they find a platform of a ship. Well they climb down it and they find themselves in the ship of Captain Nemo (James Mason) the Nautilus which they later find out is the same ship that sunk their boat and many others. They have lots of adventures which inculde a Squid Attack and a lot of other neat stuff. Great Movie. 5 Star Rating.
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