Profondo blu

Reading some of the previous comments I feel that I must have been watching a different Deep Blue. Although i found some of the visuals stunning i felt that much of it was appalling. Some of the 'out of water'shots looked horrible, reminded me of watching games on a Commodore 64!!! As some others have said, much of this footage has been seen before, so i really didn't see the point of this movie. The musical score was good and it did match the footage well. If sea life is your thing, I would recommend the Blue Planet. Note of interest: did anybody else actually find some of the footage very poor. I watched on a widescreen LCD (brand new), so perhaps the poor quality arose because of the screen size.

Liked "Winged Migration" and "Microcosmos," "Deep Blue" is a big-screen nature documentary patiently filmed over a period of years. As "Winged Migration" concentrated on the creatures of the air, so "Deep Blue" focuses on creatures of the sea. Reminding us how little we have explored the liquid space of our own oceans, the images here can be beautiful and graceful (dolphins playing in the surf), humorous (a mass of crabs laying eggs on the sand) as well as grim and deadly (killer whales attacking and eating seal pups). The moments of beauty are poignant indeed, and "Deep Blue" has it's share of "wow" moments. It divides itself into various themes; the shallows, the shoreline, the open seas, the polar seas, and the deep. The latter is shot near the deepest places on earth, and several creatures never before photographed are displayed in all their bioluminescent glory. The penguins shooting out of the ocean like biological missiles is quite amazing, and the feeding frenzy of the sharks is terrifying. Michael Gambon's narration is rarely intrusive, but it isn't as informative as I would have liked; they could have used some graphics to at least give you an idea of what creatures you were seeing, or where the shots were located. Still, this is a beautiful film, much of which was filmed for the "Blue Planet" BBC series. It looks frightfully gorgeous on the big screen, although parents should be warned that the seal pup death scenes can be terrifying to younger or more sensitive viewers.

We watched this film in school the other day. I thought that it would have just been some half-hour National Geographic special on the ocean, but it was actually a real movie. They showed us creatures at the bottom of the ocean, and more. The cinematography was excellent, and the music score was also well-done. It always fit with what was going on. It wasn't just some footage from Jaws 4 and an Australian-voiced cartoon character making shark jokes. It was a very well done film, and it was narrated by Pierce Brosnan of James Bond fame. I suggest renting it or something. Hope this review was helpful and all. I give Deep Blue an 8/10.

"So far we have only touched the surface (...) the greatest experience of nature on screen" proclaimed the leaflets advertising the documentary. Since such films on big screen in cinema are a rarity, as a matter of fact, not many people felt encouraged to see DEEP BLUE. Perhaps, we are too much addicted to action films and all fictions possible. In this way, many of us have forgotten that it is also possible to admire real nature on screen. I also must admit that I am not a fan of such documentaries. What usually bores me in them are the number of sophisticated terms provided to the viewer, which makes it all too scientific. Nevertheless, I went to see DEEP BLUE for the sake of images that addressed my curiosity. And I do not regret! It was wonderful throughout. The film is, foremost, a stunning image which pays tribute to the variety of life, mostly the life under the waters.

First of all, it is important to mention that the documentary is not very long and serves a useful purpose not being a too detailed insight into some facts of life in the ocean. Besides, the film is really visually stunning. You see the underwater world as if you were there. All kinds of fishes of various shapes and colors are a feast for the eyes. You see the entire joy and freedom of their lives as well as the necessity to defend themselves from deadly dangers. The atmosphere is great and the "action" is very involving. Moreover, the philharmonic orchestral music in the background makes the experience even more unforgettable. The most impressive moment for me was when the journey to the deep began and the pictures we could see were fewer and fewer due to darkness. How unbelievable it is how much the sunlight provides to the earth. These creatures that have never seen the light look completely different, as if not from this world. Some of them surprised me totally. Yet, they also have the desire to live... There are also other wonderful moments showing life on the ground, particularly the polar bear and penguins. This is filmed with great commitment, indeed.

DEEP BLUE is not a film for everyone. Some people may not find anything special in it. Perhaps, that is why the cinemas in Poland had it for only 10 up to 15 days while other films are being showed for two months or even longer. Yet, I would recommend DEEP BLUE to anyone who can still admire the variety of beauties on "the planet of life" that the earth, not unintentionally, is. But remember to see it on the big screen. The film is foremost an experience of image!

Water makes up most of the Earth and, unlike the surface ecosystems, it is the hardest for man to explore, inhabit or bulldoze. It is the closest thing to having a different planet, except right here on Earth. As such I was looking forward to watching this film because of the excellent footage of the many amazing creatures and ecosystems that ever improving technology allow us to get closer to. I'm not really one for nature programmes so maybe that is why I was extra impressed by the film – because such stuff has not become "ordinary" to me. At the start of the film I must admit that I was watching the "ordinary"; whales, crabs and seals fitted into that category to me but once the camera went deeper into the oceans it only became more and more fascinating with such weird and wonderful creatures on display.

This goes for the shallower depths as well, as fish, whales, sharks etc are all very well presented and gorgeous to watch. Indeed that is the strength of the film – the beauty of it. It is fascinating to watch and the expertise in filming shines through from start to finish. However it is the appreciation of the view where the film is weak. Gambon's narration is sparse and even but it only occasionally gives out nuggets of information. I didn't expect detail like David Attenborough would give but it could have done with something more to compliment the visuals. The music covers the lack of narration and generally the score is well pitched to support the air of wonder or pace to the film.

Overall this is a great visual treat, even if it is mostly going to be seen on the small screen. It all looks impressive and is fascinating but a bit more narration and detail would have been useful. Best viewed as a visual experience or as an entry into the wider genre of nature programmes.