Big Blue, The: Director's Cut (1988/2000)
Runtime: 2 hrs 48 mins
Synopsis: BIG BLUE, with its gorgeous underwater sequences, its exotic ocean-side settings in Greece and Sicily, and its transcendent 1980s electronic score, is director Luc Besson's "baby." Unlike LA FEMME NIKITA or THE PROFESSIONAL, two signature Besson films that feature stylish urban... BIG BLUE, with its gorgeous underwater sequences, its exotic ocean-side settings in Greece and Sicily, and its transcendent 1980s electronic score, is director Luc Besson's "baby." Unlike LA FEMME NIKITA or THE PROFESSIONAL, two signature Besson films that feature stylish urban backdrops and violent plots about hit men, BIG BLUE combines romantic comedy with a deep spiritual quest. Long shots of the ocean define BIG BLUE, as Besson's camera skims speedily over its silver surface, or floats underwater in deep aqua surrounded by dolphins. A dramatic 20-minute black and white introduction shows protagonists Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo (Jean Reno) as 10-year-old boys free diving (with no oxygen tanks). A transition to color marks a time lapse and now Jacques and Enzo are adults. Enzo is living in Sicily where for 6 years he has been the uncontested free diving world champion. He sends for Jacques, who is living in the Peruvian Andes, and insists that he compete for the title. Jacques comes to Sicily and easily beats Enzo. The competition mounts, each man diving at increasingly life-threatening depths. But when Jacques' girlfriend Johana (Rosanna Arquette) arrives from New York and pleads for the risky dives to stop, the film takes an unexpected turn resulting in an unforgettable dark, mysterious, and torturously beautiful conclusion. [More]
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette, Griffin Dunne, Paul Shenar
Screenwriter: Luc Besson, Robert Garland, Marilyn Goldin, Marc Perrier, Jacques Mayol
Producer: Patrice Ledoux
Composer: Eric Serra, Bill Conti
DVD Info
Release:
Aug 15, 2000
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35:1
- Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
- Dolby Surround - English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
- Dolby Surround - French
Additional Release Material:
- Filmographies - Cast/Crew
- Trailers - Original Theatrical Trailer
- Bonus Trailers - THE PROFESSIONAL, THE MESSENGER: THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC
- TV Spots
- Isolated Music Score
Interactive Features:
- Scene Access
- Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
- Stills/Photos
- Production Notes
- Biographies - 1. Luc Besson - Director
- 2. Jean-Marc Barr - Star
- 3. Jean Reno - Star
- 4. Rosanna Arquette - Star
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
Is an extra 50 minutes of bad footage reason enough to re-release an already problematic movie? I wouldn't think so.
No matter which version you see, the story doesn't really make sense.
Silly as the narrative may sound, The Big Blue is nonetheless intriguing in its quaint originality.
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by: mystwoman 8/19/05


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