30,000 Leagues Under the Sea

release year: 2007
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home DVD, 1/7/2012

synopsis: While trying to rescue a downed submarine, some Navy people encounter the Nautilus and its insane captain.

impressions: There were a few cool elements - the gigantic version of the Nautilus, the promise of neat inventions to benefit humanity - but this movie suffered from plot and logic holes. For example, U.S. Navy submarines can't sail at 20,000 feet of depth, and divers certainly can't go out in scuba gear at that depth. Nemo switched from benevolent genius to insane madman in a mere moment and with little apparent reason. Nobody could aim torpedoes, and sometimes things happened for no reason at all. Many scenes were too dark for the viewer to be able to follow the action. All in all, a good idea, but mediocre execution.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A miraculous device called "the oxygenator" that...is never explained! Including just what it does!

acting: Lorenzo Lamas is the main Navy good guy. Natalie Stone is his angry ex-wife who suddenly wants him again (she didn't even have to drown first and be brought back like Lindsey in The Abyss.) Sean Lawlor is Captain Nemo.

final word: Mildly entertaining.

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