michaelRokeefe Review of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997 TV Movie)

Another view from "The Nautilus".

[5/10 · 22 May 2005]

This is a pretty fair TV version of the Jules Verne novel. No way does this come close to the 1954 classic starring Kirk Douglas and James Mason. The U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln is commissioned to investigate attacks of ships at sea. The ship is carrying marine scientist Henry Arronax(Richard Crenna) and his daughter Sophie(Julie Cox). The Lincoln is suddenly rammed by what is thought to be a giant whale. The damage has been done by the evil minded Captain Nemo(Ben Cross) who has been attacking vessels at will from his advanced submarine "The Nautilus". Arronax and his daughter along with harpooner Ned Land(Paul Gross)are taken aboard the futuristic submarine in the hopes of studying underwater marine life. "The Nautilus" comes under attack itself by huge sharks and a squid-like creature. Some of the visuals are pretty good and others not so good. It is obvious this is a classic on a shoe-string.