"Ghosts of the Abyss"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) STARRING Bill Paxton as HIMSELF James Cameron as HIMSELF Lewis Abernathy as HIMSELF Dr. Lori Johnston as HERSELF Don Lynch as HIMSELF Ken Marschall as HIMSELF Rated G Studio: Disney Directed by: James Cameron Back to DVD Review Home |
 |
Shortly after James Cameron’s “Titanic” chewed up the record books in 1997 and 1998, my mother-in-law bought me a T-shirt with the phrase “THE BOAT SANK. GET OVER IT” printed on it in bolted steel letters like the lettering of the movie title. Sometimes I wonder if I should pack this shirt up and mail it to James Cameron.
To say that Cameron has a Titanic obsession is an understatement. More of an educational documentary than a narrative feature, “Ghosts of the Abyss” follows Cameron, his long time buddy Bill Paxton and a slew of Titanic experts to the middle of the North Atlantic for a new journey more than 12,000 feet below the surface.
Paxton was brought along partly because he played the treasure hunter who was raiding “Titanic” in the 1997 film, but also to provide a layman’s view of the entire expedition. Paxton narrates some rather pretentious dialogue that really could have been left out. In one scene, we see him writing in a journal and we get the sense that this is where much of this forced poetry comes from, going to show us that Paxton probably shouldn’t quit his acting career for a writing career any time soon.
Still, Paxton is refreshing in the film, considering that everyone else (including Cameron) is so knowledgeable about the legendary ocean liner that the audience would be otherwise left in the dust. In fact, there is one hysterical moment when Paxton launches into an interview in the flavor of the “Chris Farley Show” sketch on Saturday Night Live.
Along with the dive footage are newly shot images of “Titanic” passengers superimposed on the wreck. This is where the “ghosts” come in. Cameron spends plenty of time trying to right some wrongs in this film as well. In 1997’s “Titanic,” First Mate William Murdoch takes a bribe, shoots a passenger, then commits suicide while trying to control the crowds at the lifeboats. The real life Murdoch did not do this. In fact, he stuck it out to the bitter end and lost his life when the boat sank.
Cameron faced an irate family of this hero when his film went on to gross close to $2 billion. While 20th Century Fox donated $8,500 to Murdoch’s home town in Dalbeattie, Scotland, Cameron (who wrote the cowardly actions into the script) has largely remained silent. Now, he takes his chance with “Ghosts of the Abyss” eagerly (almost too eagerly) pointing out Murdoch’s heroic deeds and crediting him with saving at least two thirds of the passengers.
Ultimately, the best way to have seen “Ghosts of the Abyss” is how it was originally released - on IMAX and in 3-D. It was not just a 60-minute documentary about the Titanic. It literally took you to the wreck. Watching the crystal-clear image in stunning 3-D, I could almost truly believe I was standing on the ocean floor at the bottom of the North Atlantic. The real test of this film is whether it can stand up when it’s not projected onto the massive IMAX screen. Even if you watch it on a 36-inch television, you’ll never recreate the feeling it delivered at the theater.
With all that taken into account, “Ghosts of the Abyss” is still a very good film. Sure, it loses a lot without the 3-D and with an image that is a mere fraction of its original presentation size. But the documentary of the Titanic dives still works.
“Ghosts of the Abyss” comes in a special 2-disc set, which doesn’t have as much material as you might expect for two whole discs. One nice feature is that the first disc has both a 60-minute and 90-minute version of the film. The 90-minute version ads extra footage and covers things more in-depth, but does not reveal anything truly remarkable. However, it allows you to watch the film in a more traditional length so you don’t feel cheated in having only a 60-minute documentary.
On the second disc is a 35-minute behind-the-scenes documentary that shows the crew’s experiences - from their bonding moment while cooped up together on the high seas for several months to their reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This documentary can be at least as entertaining as the movie itself.
Also included is a multi-angle portion of one of the dives. Using your remote control, you can select different camera angles, including the exteriors and interiors of the MIR submersibles as well as the on-board cameras on the remote rovers, Jake and Elwood. While you’ll never recreate the immersive 3-D experience, this is a nice step towards putting the viewer in the driver’s seat during one of the dives.
There’s also a hysterical Easter egg on the second disc that shows the more whimsical side of the crew - from the producer sabotaging Cameron’s lunches by ordering only cheese sandwiches with extra butter to be served to him on his dives to the Russian commander making a morning announcement that says, “Good morning shipmates. Here is today’s schedule. From 9am to 6pm, the Americans will film each other and drone on and on about Titanic.”
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. THX-certified. French language track (60-minute version); French subtitles (90-minute version); English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.
