James Cameron's 'DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D' Review

Director James Cameron’s latest effort – DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D – captures his depth-defying mission to travel to the bottom of the Mariana trench, the deepest trench in Earth’s seas.

Cameron first became fascinated with underwater exploration as a young boy, which DEEPSEA illustrates with a dramatic recreation that shows a young James constructing his own miniature underwater vessel. James had been inspired by witnessing the launch of the Trieste, the first manned watercraft to hit the bottom of the Mariana trench – and the last. Unfortunately for the young James and the 1960 mission’s crew, sand obstructed the view of the surrounding area, making the trip historical but not terribly significant from a scientific perspective.

The clips with actors playing the explorer/director could seem cheesy – like the recreations on low-budget, made-for-TV documentaries. Are they necessary? No. But they provides a backdrop that’s an alternative to the idea of simply a rich man spending his money on a pet project just because he can. Yes, James Cameron “can,” but he wanted to explore the ocean depths way before he helmed two of the most successful films in the history of cinema. The backdrop of DEEPSEA is a grown man’s childhood wonder being satiated, and dream being realized.

Of course, it’s also impossible to watch DEEPSEA without thinking to yourself every five minutes, “This must have cost a fortune!” It assuredly did cost a fortune, which is why other private programs and government programs haven’t done it.

Smartly, Cameron ties his commercial successes into his passion project. Never before seen footage of a more recent trip to the Titanic mesmerizes, while a glimpse of the Papua New Guinea vistas that inspired the lush landscape of Avatar enchant. Cameron even delves back into footage from his 1989 picture The Abyss.

Going along with Cameron on his aquatic odyssey, there’s all the palpable tension of a feature film. You imagine his journey must be somewhat successful, otherwise there wouldn’t be a movie, but there were so many setbacks, so many dubious circumstances that make his mission seem nearly impossible. After all, this is a man known primarily for his work behind a camera going to an ocean depth only traveled to once before in a virtually untested contraption comprised of custom-made materials. Myriad things could conceivably go wrong.

The danger involved in the mission is highlighted in the film when Cameron’s friend and the leader of the expedition Andrew Wight and underwater cinematographer Mike deGruy die in a helicopter crash while flying to shoot a test drive of the submarine. The tragedy, more than anything else, threatened to derail the mission. Yet, even after that massive loss, Cameron and his team pushed forward.

Puns aside, Cameron does run a tight ship. Men and women on his payroll are held to what would seem to be impossible standards. He had a time table with a deadline and they were going to make it. One young engineer looks close to exasperated tears at one point, but Cameron maintains that all that is needed with the talent he’s assembled is an unfaltering can-do mentality to accomplish what others say can't be done. There’s nothing that can't be done, according to Cameron and, at least in this case, he's proven right.

For those going to see DEEPSEA for a 3D experience of the deep seas there will probably be something left to be desired. The moments in which rarely seen marine life take over the screen are some of the documentary’s best: the sting rays, giant squid and more are truly impressive and uniquely engaging. However, they're few and far between. DEEPSEA is more of a true-life adventure movie than a marine documentary. Cameron's impulse to be a story teller prevails over his explorative astuteness.

Despite the dearth of footage of the seas outside of Cameron's CHALLENGER and the near-constant reminder of Cameron's excessive wealth, DEEPSEA succeeds in being an inspiring tale of perseverance and sharing a man's wonderment in a way that makes it contagious. It seems unlikely that one could leave the theater without more curiosity and interest in life below sea level than one had upon entering.

DEEPSEA stokes a latent interest and perhaps, as Cameron is likely to wish, invigorates a passion in others to do something to facilitate further exploration. And, perhaps, like the footage of the Trieste, it’ll inspire a young man or woman who'll dream, like he did, of becoming a deep sea explorer, navigating depths fewer people have traveled to than the moon.