Deepsea Challenge 3D (2014)

A 3D documentary chronicling filmmaker James Cameron's diving expeditions in his Deepsea Challenger submersible.

Directors:

John Bruno, Ray Quint

Writers:

Andrew Wight, John Garvin

Stars:

James Cameron, Suzy Amis, Frank Lotito

7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
James Cameron	...	Himself
Suzy Amis	...	Herself
Frank Lotito	...	Giuseppe Buono
Paul Henri	...	Don Walsh
Lachlan Woods	...	Jacques Piccard

Storyline

DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D follows the dramatic story of James Cameron's odyssey as he undertakes an expedition to the deepest part of the ocean. This is a journey of historic proportion and risk. The film will mesmerize viewers of all ages with the thrill of true discovery and the allure of the unknown, of new life forms, and of vistas never before captured on camera - all right here on planet Earth.

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Plot Keywords:

submersible | filmmaker | cardboard box | trieste submersible | bathyscaphe | 

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Taglines:

Deep. Dangerous. Determined.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and brief disaster images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 2014 (Australia)

Also Known As:

James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge 3D

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$149,879, 8 August 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$149,879, 8 August 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Geographic Entertainment, Disruptive LA, Earthship Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the outside of the sub, attached to one of the arms, was a prototype Rolex Deep Sea "Challenge" Sea-Dweller watch. The watch is cabable of depths of 39,370 ft. Inside the Sub, James was wearing the commercial version of the Deep Sea Sea-Dweller watch, which can go to 12,800 ft.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Helen Mirren/James Cameron/Spoon (2014)

User Reviews

An Immersive Documentary

The first thing that stands out about Deepsea Challenge 3D is that a lot of effort has gone into documenting the missions in a cinematic way. There are cameras everywhere: mounted on smaller submarines to show you the bigger ones; built into the walls; carried by divers; etc. All this is fluidly strung together to recount a fascinating story, and supported by a dramatic soundtrack.

The documentary doesn't only show you the Challenger Deep mission, but everything that has led up to it, and this includes tons of film-worthy material. We are given a track record of Cameron's almost romantic relationship with the deep, and this includes some deep sea exploration missions he has conducted using submersible robots, taking us into the monumental wrecks of the Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck.

A lot of attention is given to the design of the Deepsea Challenger itself, and the engineering exploits that were carried out during its construction and testing. Creating this one-of-a-kind "metal coffin" is an adventure in itself, especially considering that the conditions down there are in many ways more difficult to deal with than outer space.

Cameron's narration of his expedition log bears an uncanny resemblance to Jake Sully talking about Pandora, and while there are no straight-out action scenes, Deepsea Challenge 3D feels like a science fiction movie in the way it draws you in - but this time, you know that everything you see is completely real, even the crazy stuff. Some scenes are very tense and will have your jaw hanging in disbelief, such as the dramatic submersion from deck-mounted cranes in sketchy weather, or the extent of multiple systems failure during one of the manned test dives.

In the end, Cameron says he hopes this project will also inspire children to live up to their dreams, and indeed this film is likely to mesmerize most kids who see it. It sure made me feel like a kid, and it's very inspiring to witness the adventures of real life explorers.