Customer Reviews

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea / Fantastic Voyage

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

if you love movies that entertain you.The double feature is worth the money..fantastic voyage is in surround and is not bad but could have been better..the video colors are slightly faded but okay. widescreen gives you the full look..most times i've seen this movie on t.v. or video,in normal screen you miss a lot but this dvd gives you the full scope... voyage to the bottom of the sea is 4.0 surround and is pretty good,or 2 channel surround works good too. video is very good and the surround works when it needs to..it's been a long time till i've seen this movie in widescreen and it's well worth it...this is irwin allen at his best. if you love classic scifi, you'll love these 2 classics...

Let's give this movie the props it deserves. Considering the fact that the SPFX were done over 40 years ago, they are still very impressive. No CGI back then- 4 different sized Seaview models had to be used! L.B. Abbott did wonders with them, and they still look cool! The plot- ok, Irwin Allen always stretched scientific credibility, and characterization was never his strongpoint. But Allen delivers an action packed adventure that never lets up once things get rolling. The TV series used the sets from this movie, and Pigeon and Sterling were replaced by Basehart and Hedison. The first two seasons of VTTBOS are actually solid sci-fi fare- the "monster of the week" episodes came later. VTTBOS the TV series is slated for DVD release- start your collection with the movie that started it all! "Bon Voyage, Seaview!".

I just received this DVD in the mail and I was so impressed with the picture quality, I had to write a review. I have several other DVD's of older movies that do not come close to the picture clarity that Voyage/Fantastic do. I almost expected to see a grainy picture with a few flakes of snow now and then. But to see the picture in this clarity is great. Not to mention that the movies are two of the best all time classics. If you watched either of these movies when you were a kid, like me, you will not be disappointed with this double feature.

If you grew up during the early '60's and were fascinated by the real-life adventure and technology of the time you will find this film interesting. Most remarkable is the focus on both the use of the new atomic submarine and the newly discovered Van Allen radiation belt. Most modern viewers don't seem to know that the press of the time was abuzz with articles about the Van Allen belt of radiation, the high altitude nuclear testing we were conducting, known as shots Teak and Orange (to find a way to impede a Soviet missile attack) and the effect of this naturally occuring band of radioactivity on the man in space. There were unjustified and now disproved fears that a nuclear shot might affect the belt, hence the plot line about it "catching fire" and hurting the earth. These were real news items of the time and I have heard tapes of Kennedy discussing such with scientists at the White House. The Navy declined to help or make comment about the design of the Seaview for national security reasons, which means they took it seriously. It is unique as a commissioned research vessel (the glass nose) and a missle platform (SSBN). Of course the interiors could have been more realistic and we all know the deficiencies there, but if you've ever seen inside a real sub you will understand why Seaview was made to look so big! The cast was of the best, though Lorre looked ill. The movie was no doubt created with a view toward becoming a commercially feasible TV series, which explains many of the deficiencies fans nit-pick. The design of this Seaview always pleases me more than the later TV version (the design is more balanced). Sub officers tell me that they can make the boat pop up out of the water like it does in the opening credits, but they catch hell if they do because everything goes flying off the tables etc..Remember too, that the Nautilus had only just sailed across the top of the world under the ice, which was a remarkable feat of which we were all very proud. It was only fitting, and very realistic, that Seaview do the same thing! Voyage and it's Seaview help us all remember the courage and dedication of the men who patrol the seas in boats as incredible as the ficticious one. Veterans tell me that it was our nuclear missile boats (not unlike Seaview), undetectable and vigilant, which contributed MOST to the collapse of Communist Russia, not the Star-Wars program. In the film, Seaview carries the (then) new Polaris missile which you will see a real launch of. I would not, however want to be next to the hatch when it is shot. They are fired by steam catapult and the rocket does not ignite until it clears the surface, so you might become an instant boiled lobster if you tried to do what Captain Crane did! Fantastic Voyage offers us an equally pleasing vessel, very realistic and sadly destroyed by future owners in making it into a different prop. I'm sure you will enjoy both of these films and encourage you to explore the science which they focused on in those years.
I am both a film maker and a volunteer First Responder for Nuclear Civil Defense, allowing my viewpoint to cover both areas in the film Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

"Fantastic Voyage" manages to combine, as the critic mentioned above, taut cloak-and-dagger suspense with colorful sci fi fantasy and adventure. From the exciting, dramatic opening involving an assassination attempt on a brilliant scientist to the satisfying conclusion, this riveting voyage lives up to its name. In an attempt to remove a brain clot from the scientist that can't be undertaken in a normal way, five operates, including special government agent Grant (Stephen Boyd), are miniaturized to microscopic size in an experimental submarine, the Proteus, and inserted by way of a hypodermic needle into his carotid artery. Along with Grant, the crew includes premier brain surgeon, Dr. Peter Duval (Arthur Kennedy); Cora Peterson (Raquel Welch), his assistant; Dr. Michaels (Donald Pleasance); and Captain Bill Owens (William Renfield), pilot and designer of the Proteus. Traversing through his arterial system, the team will attempt to eliminate the clot through the use of a high-powered laser. However, time is imperative as they only have sixty seconds in which to complete their operation before reverting to their normal size. World security hangs in the balance over this mission since the scientist holds the knowledge that would break a stalemate between world powers.

"Fantastic Voyage" is one of the most perfectly realized uses of Technicolor to come out of that period and a simply fantastic film. We might have become more advanced with special effects, but that certainly doesn't mean they are better; with all our advanced technology, in fact, architecture and even art has seemed to regress in some ways. In this case, even the hokiest special effects have a feeling of imagination, but more often the effects here are gorgeous in a psychedelic way. Apparently, as one reviewer pointed out, it is because some of the backgrounds are beautiful matte paintings. Whatever the case, it's a wild adventure as they scuba dive in the body, battle white blood cells, and pass through the heart. The film remains taut and electrifying, never losing its momentum. To make things more exciting, there is a mole on board who seeks to sabotage the mission. Absolute great fun.

My favorite moment: the antibodies attacking Welch. (In trying to remove them, the crew seem to be grabbing all the wrong - or right - places, but it's all done with complete deadpan!)

As is often the case with double-feature DVDs, there is usually one decent movie and one lousy one, the B-side being a movie which probably would not sell well on its own. In this case, Fantastic Voyage is the good movie and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea the weak flip side.

In Fantastic Voyage, several people are reduced to cellular size to heal a man from the inside. The science may be flimsy (Isaac Asimov had enough problems with the ending to rewrite it in his novelization), but the tale itself is good and the special effects are nice. The human body comes off as a surrealistic dreamworld, far from reality but neat to look at.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, however, is a seriously flawed movie. The science is below par even for a movie like this (in one scene, we see ice sinking in water!), and the story and characters are nothing very spectacular either. Even the effects are not very great, although there are a couple scenes that do look nice.

Fantastic Voyage is a four star flick, VTTBOTS just two stars. As a pair of movies, this is okay, but if you only watch the former film, you will still get your money's worth.

If you love sci-fi even a little bit, and especially if you came of age in the 60's and 70's, how could you possibly go wrong getting both of these movies in widescreen format for the price of a few espresso beverages?

Sure, the science is nutty, and the effects are dated, but it's about being entertained! The effects are enjoyable and pleasing in their own retro kind of way.

My one complaint regarding "Voyage..." is that there is no ambient "ship noise", like the deep, barely perceptable humming of engines. That would have made it seem much more like a submarine than a bunch of sets.

To me, the greating single reason to watch "Voyage.." is to see Walter Pidgeon play a character so very similar to the mad scientist he played on Forbidden Planet. This time he's a "mad admiral", and he drives most everyone else mad too.

And that's only half the DVD! You also get Fantastic Voyage. I remember when this movie was first released. It made quite an impact, and it spawned a Saturday morning animated series of the same name that was one of my favorite morning cartoons.

This DVD has more "bang for the buck" than most any other single DVD I know of.

Irwin Allen (Poseiden Adventure / Towering Inferno) was definitely one of the most over-the-top directors ever. His ability to turn horrible disasters into movie gold was unrivaled. VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA is his most exhaustive effort. Admiral Nelson (Walter Pidgeon) and the rest of the crew of the ultra-mod submarine "Seaview", are called upon to save the world after the "Van Alan" radiation belt catches fire. On their way to launch a missile into the flaming belt, they must battle the UN, sabotage, a religious nut, underwater mines, an enemy sub, a giant squid, a giant octopus, and the clock. All this and we get to see Barbara Eden dance too! Throw in Peter Lorre and Franky Avalon, and you've got quite a popcorn fiesta! FANTASTIC VOYAGE is about a tiny submarine and it's crew of scientists who are miniaturized to the size of microbes, in order to perform a delicate brain operation. There's lots of cold war paranoia to go around too. The man they're trying to save is a famous scientist whose secrets (about the very miniaturization process itself) could either help us, or the "other side". After a rather long shrinking sequence, our team of aquanauts are finally injected into the man's bloodstream and the fun begins! They are immediately introduced to glowing, bubbly blood cells that make it look like they've accidently wandered into a lava lamp. Our heroes must race against time and navigate the labyrinth within their host. Can they save his life? Or will time run out, causing them to grow back to normal size? Donald Pleasance is excellent as the claustrophobic head of the mission. Racquel Welch is not in it enough in my opinion, as she would be the only reason I'd get in the sub in the first place! Great double feature...

Fantastic Voyage was always a cool movie, but the reason for my purchase of this set is Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. While it's not as much fun as the classic TV show, it's a grand example of Irwin Allen at his best. The cast is watchable and the effects still hold up. It's fast paced and fascinating. I only wish Fox would release the TV series as well. You haven't seen Voyage until you see the TV cast do their stuff. Richard Basehart blows Walter Pidgeon out of the water.

Great stuff!

The difference? They may have looked fake, but you knew they were real-ie: had mass-they were models of varying sizes;-todays CGI often looks 'fake' ie: too perfect- and you know whatever being shown only exists on a hard drive!
Would YOU put up with a CGI USS Enterprise?-I think not.
No, LB Abbott was THE MAN at 20th Fox in the day-if he was given a good budget.

I love the shots of the larger, detailed Seaview-it was 20 feet long-and SUPER detailed-though some of the bubbles trailing after the smaller models gtve the scale away-today they would have used condensed milk to stand in for massive small bubbles/foam for prop-wash..
---
I still think FANTASTIC VOYAGE stands out over much of todays SPFX-and the design of the Proteus is divine;
One glaring error of continuity-in the novel, the crew COAXED the antibodies containing the wreckage to follow them out through the eye, where, while still small, were put on the floor of the chamber to grow-
in the film, they simply ASSUME that the antibodies have digested it, and thus it is of no danger to Benes.
NOT SO-
even if it were ground to jelly, that blob of jelly would have grown, after 60 minutes-to the size of the former sub inside or outside of Benes-thus killing him (Death by exploding internal sub wreckage!)