Customer Reviews
Excellent 
2008-07-13
Short and to the point, this movie is not intended to be the Jules Verne/Disney version. It's quality, scenery, graphics, and story line are far superior. If you like science fiction, you will like this movie.
Who the hell is cable attucks? 
2008-03-23
AHOY MATES
INSULT YE INTELLIGENCE !
THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S 20,000 LEAGUES.
THIS IS NOT EVEN JULES VERNE'S 20,000 LEAGUES?
SEE IDEAS STOLEN FROM JULES VERNE TURNED INTO PYSHCO-BABBLE!
At this time if I were to warn the uninitated, I could only compare it to a seemingly authentic imported cigar; innocent until the first puff when a strange stink is unleashed and if one continues to puff away will undoubtedly find that it blows up IN YOUR FACE leaving both tears of laughter and utter disbelief that you
did not recognise immediatley that it was a ruse to be for the best avoided.
20000 leagues - a classic revisited 2008-03-16
While nothing can match the Disney version of "20,000 leagues under the Sea", this movie is an interesting, and very enjoyable, re-telling.
Michael Caine as a superb Nemo and Patrick Dempsey as a young Professor Aronnox are a surprising good pairing. Ned Land as portrayed by Bryan Brown is also excellent. And Mia Sara is, as always, a vision; she takes the role invented by the writers to provide a romantic interest and makes her strong, smart and believable. Almost makes me wish Verne had added the role of Mara himself.
No, this book is not completely faithful to the book, but none of the movies really have. It is certainly a better effort than the Richard Crenna/Ben Cross version (love the actors, didn't like the directing and writing effort) made about the same time.
A Wandering Film 
2007-09-28
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has been adapted many times for television. Some of these film interpretations have been wonderful, and others are plain trash.
Regarding THIS version (with Michael Caine, Patrick Dempsey, and Mia Sara), the greatest positive I was able to find is that the film does have some action packed moments and makes the veiwer feel sorry for Captain Nemo (and sympathize with his cause).
However, the name of the film, a captain called Nemo, a ship-sinking submarine, a professor called Arronax, a harponer named Ned Land, and a lot of angry sentiment about the world above the ocean are basically the only things the novel and this film have in common.
In short, if you want a more accurate telling of the novel, purchase the classic Disney version (starring Kirk Douglas & James Mason). However, if you do not mind being surprise with a different rising action and climax, than this 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea could be just the adaptation for you.
This is not a "classical" 2007-04-01
I used to watch Disney's version. However, I did heard of this new one. But never got a chance to watch fully. Now I did, by borrowed from library because of what I read those reviews...
For me, it is not my type. That is because of popular novel but it wasn't classical. From what I see is more of modern... romance... Nemo wants to stop earthquake? Jules Vernes showed that Captain Nemo attacking ships for some reasons. I see very, very, very little of it in this new version.
This movie already put me to yawn level. I am sorry. Too modern like those that involves romance. Octopus wasn't attack Nautilus. Weird submarine. Did they copy part of Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker where Luke lost his hand? I am glad I didn't buy it. Just borrowed.
Truly awful 2007-03-18
The year is 1886 and New England's fishing harbor is the scene for a "creature of unknown origin" destroying all ships at sea. It is the job of a curious marine expert Professor Pierre Aronnax (Patrick Dempsey from the hit TV show "Grey's Anatomy") and the iron-willed sailor Ned Land (Bryan Brown) to learn the truth of the "monster" roaming the depths of the ocean. Their discovery begins when they encounter the reclusive Captain Nemo (Academy Award Winner Michael Caine) and learn of his surprising relationship with the terrorizing "creature" and all the other secrets lurking in the waters.Running Time: 178 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE UPC: 012569765009 Manufacturer No: 76500
The Mark of Caine 
2007-02-21
Protracted and tedious, this American TV adaptation is short on imagination and long on (tiresome) screen minutage. The effects work is weak, as is the charmless script. The only saving graces are some nice production design, especially the Nautilus' interior, and another spirited performance by Michael Caine, who is always a class act. However, despite Caine's performance, this rates a poor second to the Ben Cross version, also available through Amazon. That isn't great either, but at least isn't so retina-scorchingly long.
With Respect for the Jules Verne Classic Novel 
2006-05-26
Few knew when Jules Verne was writing his futuristic novels in the 19th century that such entertaining page-turners would foretell so much reality. In this 1997 adaptation of Verne's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' the screenwriter (Brian Nelson) and director Rod Hardy have elected to pay homage to the scientific aspects of the thriller rather than make the story into a cartoon. And though it is a long song (3 hours), it plays well and introduces some fine special effects and philosophical statements about environmental issues, slavery, feminism, familial relationships, and commitment to dreams. Not bad for a Sci-Fi novel!
The cast is solid: Patrick Dempsey makes a wholesome, handsome Pierre Arronax, Bryan Brown as the driven sailor Ned Land, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is excellent as Cabe Attucks (nice to see this fine actor in a role far different than the one he played on the TV series 'Oz'), John Bach is the arrogant father Thierry Arronax, and Mia Sara serves up the beefed up role of Mara nicely. But the submarine mysterious ship Nautilus surfaces or sinks at the hands of Captain Nemo and while Michael Caine isn't the embodiment of evil we so often see, he finds the soul of the driven scientist whose goal is to protect the 'surface' he has forsaken to scuttle the seas in search of ways to stop future earthquakes topside.
Originally made as a mini-series for television in 1997, the movie for sails along, holding our attention and fascination for the full three hours, not only because we care about the characters, but also because we are treated to some spectacular underwater sequences and a Nautilus that is as elegant a vessel as Verne described. And yes, Captain Nemo still plays the pipe organ as part of the musical score. The script gets a bit on the corny side, especially in the areas of father son relationships, and the unnecessary spin on romances that seem to be de rigueur in keeping an audiences attention. But in the end this is an entertaining interpretation of the Jules Verne classic that still stimulates our thinking and challenges our concepts of environmental concerns. Grady Harp, May 06
Micheal Caine is Captain Nemo 2006-05-24
This isn't just a movie; it's a ride on the Nautilus. There is no comparison between this version and the Disney one; they are two completely different entities. This version is much more intelligent and mature. The characters are treated with respect and portrayed believably by an incredible cast. Everything on the ship and in the underwater scenes are pure eye-candy.
Finally on DVD!!! Do not compare to the original and give it a chance!!! 2006-04-29
This mini series may not be as popular as " The Odyssey" or " Merlin". In fact, many people may not recall it because it recieved a poor rating. But this version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is the first mini series I can remember sitting all the way through and enjoying it. I think part of the reason it was rated so poorly is because it was compared to the Kirk Douglas film of the same name. I am one of those people who are strongly against comparing so called "remakes". Pretend you have never seen the original and just enjoy the movie for what it is. Michael Caine (Batman Begins), Patrick Dempsey (Scream 3), and Mia Sara (Legend) are 3 good reasons to at the very least give this mini series a shot. I am not saying that everyone will like this movie, but how will you know if you don't try it out? It may be a future addition to your DVD collection.
