Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [DVD] [1954]

Bargain for the money.

In its time (1954) Disney's rendering of Jules Verne's novel was an epic of high adventure. Starring Kirk Douglas at the height of his fame, and cool, enigmantic James Mason, we have all the ingredients for excitement. There's a strange submarine that is so ugly it's beautiful, rather like Cameron's Alien queen many years later. There's battles with an amazingly realistic giant squid that compares favourably with modern CGI. There's conflict, story and wonder. And being Disney - there's also comedy. It's for kids as much as adults.Today, it's not quite so exciting in its impact, but this should be measured against its near-60year vintage. The Disney DVD supplied by Amazon is still an amazingly detailed and clear print. There is no mention of remastering in the blurb, yet I'll swear detailing is finer than the remastered `Journey To The Centre Of The Earth' which followed from another studio a few years later. Colouration is still excellent, the sound score crisp & clear. Run time is given as 122mins, and there's a 2.55:1 widescreen ratio. Viewer rating is `U'.Tastes have changed in the passing of time, and most viewers beyond primary-school age may find the thoughtful interludes begin to drag a little. Nice subtle details abound, but these may pass unnoticed by a modern audience for whom special-effects and CGI can render them commonplace. It is still far superior to a recent Micheal Caine remake.I've given it 4 stars on account of its vintage and quality, but as a piece of entertainment today it might only pass muster for 3. It certainly needs a BIG screen to give its best. There's a bunch of extras, mostly about squids, that I haven't watched yet.Worth a punt, but don't chase the price; it's already jumped 50p since my purchase on 17/8/2011.

The depiction of the Nautilus is inspired.

Saw this for the first time when I was 9 years old and had to wait 25 years before it came on TV and was made available on video. The UK DVD is very good but only has a few special features. If you want a complete package you need to buy the US 2-disk region 1 only version. The special features are legion and amazing, especially the lengthy "making of" programme. The film itself is well photographed, well scripted, well cast and well acted. Not entirely true to the book but enjoyable nevertheless. James Mason is amazing as Captain Nemo. Other actors have tried to play this part (Herbert Lom, Robert Ryan, Jose Ferrer, Michael Caine, Ben Cross and Patrick Stewart amongst others) but have never come close to James Mason's brilliant potrayal. For 1954 the special effects were pretty good and Walt Disney had another success on his hands. Most people will remember the film for the submarine, a beautiful interpretation by designer Harper Goff of Jules Verne's Nautilus. As a child I thought it was real and not a series of models and a full size mock up of the deck. No other film version has a Nautilus as striking as Harper Goff's and it's a pity the submarine was restricted to one film only as it was the real star of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!

Watched this one recently and was delighted to find it stands the test of time as one of the better Disney live action films on the market. A quality take on Jules Verne's advanced story of subs and the atomic threat that was to become ever so prominent in the public conscious. This adaptation is a corking sci-fi adventure that benefits from great work from all involved.The cast are just smashing, James Mason is the stand out as the barmy but intelligent protagonist Capt. Nemo, gruff and menacing with a dandy slice of camp into the proceedings. Then we have Kirk Douglas who out Popeye's Popeye, tough and rugged with a song and dance to help moral along, and even taking time out to befriend a seal to help jolly the film in heart. Peter Lorre is solid as ever, and Paul Lukas almost steals the show as the conflicted Professor Pierre Aronnax. The sets are wonderful, the direction seamless, and the special effects make it hard to believe this was made back in the early 1950s, but ultimately its a story for adults and an adventure for the kids. Containing a giant squid sequence that sees Mason & Douglas fighting it to the death serves as proof positive that 20000 Leagues Under the Sea is an unadulterated joy. 9/10