James Cameron, director of the hugely successful TITANIC, returns to a subject with which he appears infatuated. GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS sees Cameron assemble a team of scientists, documentarians, and actor-narrator Bill Paxton to descend 12,000 feet to the wreckage of the Titanic. The results are rendered in the stunning IMAX 3-D format, following two submersible vehicles that carry the crew members to the depths of the ocean floor. A visibly nervous Paxton takes his first trip to the wreckage, and muses on the historical and scientific importance of their journey. The Titanic appears from the murky gloom of the ocean depths, an eerie and startling occurrence that leaves Paxton and crew awestruck. Two mini robotic cameras are unleashed to explore the nooks and crannies of the ship, with director Cameron superimposing shots of actors playing out scenes that may have occurred in the final hours of the dying ship.Cameron has created an important historical document by filming a wreckage that is slowly decaying, and Paxton provides a sympathetic narration that is both in awe of what he is witnessing, and sympathetic to the tragedy that lies before him. The IMAX process is utilized to awesome effect, providing an edge-of-your-seat journey that you can almost reach out and touch.
A must-have for anyone interested in the story of the Titanic.
A 2 Disc Collection that offers an immersive experience, both past and present, of not only the story of the Titanic, but a detailed investigation and recreation of the interior of the most studied ship in history. Never-before seen photos and live footage of the exploration of the ship, outside as well as in. And a nail-biting rescue of one of the mini-underwater robots ($100 thousand dollars worth of precious equipment), with a suddenly dead battery and stranded inside the wreck.
I'm glad, having purchased this DVD set, that I will happily get to watch it over and over again, to see what I missed the first time through, and to imagine once more, with both sadness and admiration, what it was like for the passengers and crew of such an historic ship.
I bought this movie because I am a Titanic fanatic. I had thought that this included James Cameron's last dive to the Titanic, but it doesn't. This is however, a very good addition to my Titanic documentary collection and it is packed with goodies for the entire length of the film. Has plenty of wreck footage and doesn't disappoint.
Ghosts of the Abyss goes deeper into the Titanic than any other expedition to the wreck. The film combines archival photos and live action shots to produce then and now montages. The crew including Artist Ken marschall, Historian Don Lynch and Actor Bill Paxton dive on the wreck in Russian Mir Submersibles and explore areas of the ship that have been out of reach until now. Using custom designed ROVs as well as state of the art cameras they explore the first class reception room, Molly Browns stateroom, The wireless room - where Phillips sent out one of the first S.O.S. signals in history as well as Captain Smiths washroom and the Crows Nest. Another interesting aspect of the footage is the lighting system utilized. Using huge undersea lighting pods dubed "Medusa" Cameron is able to illuminate the wreck and get HQ shots previously unimaginable. By lighting outside the reception room with the second submersible we are able to see intact Leaded glass windows not seen by human eyes since 1912. We are also able to see the iron grills over the first class gangway doors - a feature that no photographs exist for even from the Titanic's Sister ship the R.M.S. Olympic. When the feature ends you are left wanting to see more of the ship but not to worry James Cameron has gone back to the Wreck again and you can see more in Last Mysteries of the Titanic a Discovery Film.Read full review
This DVD is excellent, and I have used it in my middle school classroom when teaching about the Titanic. My students really enjoyed it, and the scientific explanations, actual footage of the Titanic under water, and the super-imposing of the way the Titanic would have looked when the people were on the ship gave it a realism and increased the fascination of my students. I recommend this dvd as an instructional tool, and encourage more educators to look into such activities for the value it gives to teaching in the classroom.
I haven't watched it yet but I will cause I wanted this movie it will be a good addition to my collection on the Titanic it is going to the library thanks.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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