Ghosts of the Abyss

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And so James Cameron directed his first movie release since Titanic. As one might expect of a James Cameron movie, it pushes the technical limits of film-making to show this 3-D documentary on the latest investigations of the wreck of the Titanic, lying four thousand meters beneath the surface of the cold cold Atlantic. We see the remnants of the ship, parts of it startlingly preserved, parts of it eaten away by the elements, and sometimes we see, superimposed the ghostly computer models of the original, actors playing the parts of long-dead people. The scientists who do the work tell us of their work, and they speak of their passion, but unconvincingly. Only the biologists can hint at the strange wonders that grip them, talking of the microbes that eat metallic iron into strange shapes. The rest seem to do what they do because they do it, like a mountain climber climbing a mountain "because it's there." James Cameron is an excellent film-maker, who is always interested in using the latest technical gadgets to tell his story. Yet in this documentary, we fail to see the human connection, even as humans tell us of their wonder. Perhaps the film maker is so close to his subject he cannot see it. Combining elements from his greatest financial failure -- THE ABYSS -- with his greatest financial success -- TITANIC -- he has produced a documentary fit for The History Channel, Alas.

Yes, the moment the shadowy wreck first looms into view sent chills up my spine. But what else was there to this mindboggling waste of time and money? Bill "Mr. Erudition" Paxton's embarrassingly vacuous comments? Unfinished thoughts and pronouncements from that motley crew (What rock, uh, wreck, did these people crawl out from under?)? Then there was the shameless co-opting of 9/11 for dramatic value. And worst of all, there's the bumbling, near-vandalizing of what the filmmakers purport to view as hallowed ground. I cringed whenever the 2 robot-cams raised dust (or is it bacteria or some other form of oceanic life as the marine biologist claims?) squeaking their way through some small opening that real scientists would probably leave unbreached. The climactic moment when they send Bot 1 back to retrieve Bot 2 reached the height of sheer lunatic insensitivity when the rescue rope got caught on something and Cameron panics he may have lost his second robot baby... instead of worrying about how he might be desecrating this relic he so worships. How self-serving can this scumbag be? And what did we learn from this crummy excuse for a movie that we didn't learn from that tearjerking behemoth 6 years ago? There was a recent news story about how the discoverer of the Titanic wreck was bemoaning its exploitation and vandalizing. Now I know who he was referring to.

One should see this film in an IMAX theater to get a real sense of scale. Other than Titanica no one has ever witnessed the the scale of the ship short of diving on the wreck. Its a magical experience. As a movie its odd. First off it was shot not on IMAX film but 35mm and blown up so the film is very grainy. Much of the non-Titanic stuff was shot badly for the IMAX screen. We see close ups that are too close and the camera moves much too fast. There is also the over use of multiple images which give us too much to look at, frankly its too much to take in. Cameron is a great filmmaker who needs to rethink his use of the format. There seems little point to the film other than being a 3D Imax exploration of the wreck. This isn't a bad thing, but seeing it as a 2D Imax film it kind of loses its reason for being.(I understand that the DVD has more material) That said if you have the chance see this IMAX. Its over powering to see the scale of the ship and to understand that people walked and died in this very spot. As an awesome IMAX experience 7 out of 10, though try for 3D rather than 2D.

it made me laugh and it made me cry. but it's strange. I started this documentary with a feeling of 'hey, I already saw this in the movie 'Titanic', so why must I watch this again? probably it will be exact the same story, but not so good as the original with Winslet and Dicaprio. why should someone make two times the same movie, or worse: why should a director want to make his first movie another time?' (I still haven't got an answer on that question) and I was right: it was boring and annoying as hell, I was eating my nails, it was a stupid documentary. but I wanted to watch it out, because some movies, as La Vita e Bella, are at their best in the ending. and I was right... the second part made me totally emotional, I even had to cry a little. it was so beautiful, documentary, movie and reenactments mixed with each other. it was sometimes tender too, so I had to laugh. I am a bit puzzled here, but I am going to give this movie 10 points. long live the Titanic!

Experiencing the ship firsthand and her mysteries, histories, details respected and moralities still teaching, it's a love, an awe inspiring and sad tale of Bibilical proportions. The mystery and history of the Titanic is fascinating and evocative; nearly Biblical. The largest liner, the ignorance to think it could never sink and the arrogance of not putting on enough lifeboats due to aesthetics, I'm just glad in this day and age we have life rafts which take up so much less space we will never run into a shortage of life rafts problem ever again. Paxton is great as always, and a documentary setting brings out the explorer within, and is respectfully and well made. Learning about the stairway floating out allowing for easier access to the interior of the ship for example I did not know about. Good movie. QUESTION: Anyone know why they were not supposed to go into C deck? They seemed to have a very good, albeit unspoken reason for this. I see nothing wrong with Cameron's love for the Titanic story, it's a near mythical experience and I find it truly a learning experience and a marvel. Soon the sea will claim the ship utterly, and the Titanic is a teacher of morality, of a past, and the failings of modern man, and the mystery of history in heart of exploration and awe. The Titanic will always have something to teach us, and that is important. The museum pieces are important because it allows for the memory to be respected and a teacher to future generations. That we can put a name to artifacts assures their memory lives on. There was no disrespect, in fact quite the opposite.

I attended a preview of this documentary this evening at the London Imax, whereafter Mr.Cameron turned up to field questions for the audience. Cameron has learnt nothing from his 1997 film and makes the same mistakes all over again. Cameron is NOT a documentarist and it his failings in this respect all laid bare here. The wreck alone would have been more than enough, a graveyard on the ocean floor that stands alone as a testament and all too real evocation of the 1912 diaster. For Cameron though the historical facts are not enough, even when they're a few feet outside the submersible door. Every time we try and get a good look at the wreck, actors appear in costume garb playing out their all too familar roles (the noble band, the captain walking the decks etc...) making it difficult to get a good look at the ship itself. The point, clearly to connect the artifact of the wreck to the ship of old and the poor unfortunates that walked on deck, backfires becuase it trivialises the haunting beauty of the ship beofore us. Our 'guide' Bill Paxton, (unscripted honest!) orates like his Titanic character, sometimes essentially quoting the screenplay. A scene early on tries to convince us this is all spontanous stuff but Paxton thinks hes in the sequel and acts accordingly. Also witness with horror ther moment when 'surprise' over the 9/11 attacks is retroactively incorportated into the narrative for the sake of making a cheap emotional and dramaturgical parrallel. You'll be grateful that the onboard scientist had the forsight to record the full date and year for no good reason, while paxton's contention that this is "the worst terrorist attack in history" hardly has the air of an authentic inital reaction to the news. Surely "S**t!" would have played better? In the end, Cameron overbakes the cake, sentimental score and all and although the photography is excellent and the 3-D camera system impressive, the finished doc. looks less like a serious record of the wreck and more like a feature length extra for a forthcoming Titanic DVD! We should all be grateful to Cameron for the pictures but why can't he let the story speak for itself without trivalising this highly serious subject with cliched cinematic devices. Highly disrepectful.