MartinHafer An earthquake under the ocean floor hits a lab on the seabed. As a result, it's umbilical cord to the surface ship is severed and the lab tossed over a sheer underwater cliff. Now it is so deep that conventional divers cannot reach it, so the only hope is a deep water submersible, the Neptune.Despite the film being about an ocean disaster, it's amazing just how static and dull the movie is. I think the main problem is pacing...not acting, as the actors are generally a very accomplished group of professionals. Too often, the director chose to portray the film in the least exciting manner....and I had to really struggle to pay attention or even to care.By the way, although I don't recommend anyone see this movie, scuba divers might enjoy watching some of the diving sequences...especially when the DIve Master is thrashing about in the water like he just got his certification yesterday!

I_should_be_reading_a_book *** May contain spoilers *** ...but when I watched it in 1973, it was one of the several 60's/70's films that got me into scuba diving. Reviewing it, 44 years hence, and with over 1500 dives under my belt, I'm amazed by the excellent underwater macro photography --probably done in an aquarium- with the extremely limited technology available at the time. No need to repeat the plot here but be only advised that the first two thirds of the movie will put you to sleep --and if you happen to know 1.01 about dive physiology and physics will surely get you angry at the goofy plot; guys diving to depths that would require a week inside a decompression chamber, etc... On the other hand, remember this was filmed at a time when diving was deemed adventurous and heroic. LOL! At the 2/3 mark, the "action" --consisting of macro shots of little tropical fishes, make you take an imagination leap where you are a one inch scuba diver, dropped inside a tropical aquarium full of small critters that usually feed on the likes of you- is probably even more boring. This film requires discipline for you to go to the end credits; however, seeing that there are people cheering the latest Alien franchise production, the creators of this amateurish movie deserve at least an accolade for the effort. Unless you cannot get your hands on a so-so reading or comedy, just skip it.

Chase_Witherspoon Not as exciting as the box cover artwork might suggest, with a painfully stilted characterisation by Ben Gazzara and capable supporting cast trapped in one-dimensional roles. The story concerns militant, officious salvage expert (Gazzara) contracted by an aquatic research team to recover a stricken underwater manned probe that has descended into a deep sea ravine. Gazzara makes it clear from the outset that his goal is only to locate the vessel for insurance purposes, except Mimieux's companion is one of those aboard and she ups the ante in spite of escalating challenges.Pidgeon and Borgnine have little opportunity to establish any characterisation, while Mimieux simply frets and affects anxiety to demonstrate her 'depth' of character. The friction between her and Gazzara is about the only palpable action in the whole picture. The special effects consist of intense magnification of gold fish and other aquarium species, while endless jolts and turbulence puts you in the environmental context. As far as dialogue goes, the technical spec consists mainly of references to rudder malfunction and oxygen saturation. Riveting stuff.Disappointingly, the film ends abruptly where it could have developed a more convincing, compelling climax. After waiting 95 minutes, the audience is treated to a Jules Verne moment in which 'giant' eels corral the probe's survivors as they run out of oxygen. But just as the action gains momentum, the film ends. Five more minutes of that encounter might have earned another star, but this underwater adventure is mostly talk and no action.

Dolittle-2 Wow, an underwater film shot completely on location - at the bottom of the production designers' fishtank! This action-drama basically involves about 80 minutes of the main characters staring out of their mini-sub's windshield/projection screen with awestruck expressions at... grainily blown up shots of common acquarium fish. The "model shots" (a generous naming) actually DO look to have been shot in a common home aquarium, complete with plastic ferns and oversize gravel. The stretch is so great, the disparity so big, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I think in the end I simply gave up and decided to vomit. Not sure how Walter Pidgeon took a wrong turn into this turkey, but it is worth noting that about half the cast of "The Black Hole" is featured here - doubtless in a dry run for their performances in that later classic...