"VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA: SEASON 2, VOLUME 2"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: ** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Richard Basehart as ADM. HARRIMAN NELSON Robert Dowdell as LT. COMDR. CHIP MORTON David Hedison as CAPT. LEE B. CRANE Not Rated Studio: 20th Century Fox Created by Irwin Allen Back to DVD Review Home |  |
It’s finally here! For everyone who has spent the last four months dying for the next volume of “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea”, the SSRN Seaview is back and battling the supernatural.
The premise of “Voyage” is based on the 1961 movie of the same name. SSRN Seaview is a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine research vessel. Admiral Nelson (Richard Basehart), Lieutenant Morton (Robert Dowdell), and Captain Crane (David Hedison) are the main characters aboard the sub. Their adventures always take them underwater and often involve unnamed foreign nations.
For those who found the flying sub ridiculous, Volume 2 of this season confirms just that. From the start of Season 2, the flying sub either crashes, crashes, or is hijacked, thus proving the vehicle is more trouble than it’s worth.
The one-hour episodes of Season 2, Volume 2 involve dinosaurs, a pesky ghost, and giant sea creatures galore. While most episodes are based in science fiction, a few retain believable plots.
The “special” effects for this show are horrendous by today’s standards. The so-called dinosaurs look more like lizards with extra spikes attached, and the giant underwater monsters are either obviously robotic, or obviously a person in a cheap costume.
Performance wise, Richard Basehart (“Being There”) is oh-so-dramatic as Nelson. Frankly, his performance is a little too much. Robert Dowdell (“Wicked Stepmother”) certainly plays a heartthrob, but beyond that his performance is mundane. To quote David Hedison, the acting is “bullshit.”
Season 2, Volume 2 has even fewer bonus features than Volume 1. We are once again treated to a still gallery and several 30-second recent interviews with David Hedison.
David Hedison said it best when he described the show as “unbelievable.” The story lines are dull, making the hour-long episodes agony to sit through. Individuals who watched and enjoyed “Voyage” in the sixties, may enjoy having the collection on DVD, but I’ll say it again, younger generations will have no appreciation for the show.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Full Frame (1.33:1). English and Spanish Language Tracks. English and Spanish Subtitles.
