5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A monstrous tidal wave has left the luxury liner Poseidon capsized mid-ocean and its few survivors struggling to reach safety in an upside-down world. But THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE was only the thrilling start. You must go BEYOND THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE to complete the white-knuckle suspense. Under producer/director Irwin Allen, Michael Caine and Sally Field head an all-star cast caught in the crippled craft's flaming corridors and bursting bulwarks. Tug skipper Caine, first mate Karl Malden and passenger Field enter the foundering vessel hoping for salvage rights, miraculously finding more survivors. But others have come aboard, led by sinister Dr. Stefan Svevo (Telly Savalas). He wants a priceless cargo of plutonium - and will kill for his plunder!
Starring: Michael Caine, Sally Field, Telly Savalas, Peter Boyle, Jack WardenAdventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
Theatrical cut only
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1972 was a big year for filmmaking, with top directors solidifying their reputations in endeavors such as “The Godfather,” “Deliverance,” and “Cabaret.” Somewhere in the middle of all this artistic adventuring and tonal mastery was “The Poseidon Adventure,” with producer Irwin Allen turning his attention from making television hits to the possibilities of the big screen, looking to cash in on the developing trend of disaster cinema, trying to make a proper PG nightmare for all audiences. “The Poseidon Adventure” was the big Christmas release of the year, intended for mass appeal, and it connected, making a huge haul at the box office (it’s the second highest-grossing feature of the year, right behind “The Godfather”), but it also rattled the awards race, scoring nine Oscar nominations. Not bad for popcorn entertainment. With insane profit comes sequels, but Allen couldn’t slap one together quickly, taking seven years before unleashing 1979’s “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure,” also claiming helming duties from Ronald Neame. The original endeavor is no great achievement in the art of moviemaking, but Allen really loses his way with the follow-up, which is mostly a remake with his usual formula, following a large collection of characters as they encounter various survival challenges, returning to the “Hell, upside down” arena of a capsized ship gradually coming apart. “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” is fairly terrible, with crummy writing and stiff direction, putting pressure on a cast of talented people to support a production that’s sinking faster than its setting.
The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a decent viewing experience for "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure." Detail is softer but appealing, with some sense of skin particulars and wet costuming. Interiors retain some expanse, following the characters through upside down rooms and trashed decoration. Exteriors are limited to a few above water adventures, but dimension is preserved. Color is strong, with rich primaries throughout, including the redness of paint and lighting. Ship particulars bring out varied hues, and costuming retains sharp whites on the medical outfits. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is decently resolved. Source is in good condition.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix handles with welcome clarity, finding dialogue exchanges defined and argumentative behavior stable. Scoring carries compelling volume and instrumentation, supporting suspense sequences. Sound effects are appreciable, including louder explosions and snappy gunfire.
As the gang makes their way through the ship, people are battered and challenged to survive the whole ordeal, and the truth is exposed concerning the real identities of a few of these characters. "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure" isn't a career highlight for anyone (Field actually gives her worst performance here), but the cast tries to make something happen with all the ridiculousness they've been handed. Caine is commanding, and while the light in his eyes is missing, he remains appealing as the leader, with Mike in charge of finding a way to the ship's opening, laboring to drag a fortune with him. The supporting cast is also game to sustain the material, but it's all for naught, as "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure" is just too similar and inane, and, as a sequel, it arrives much too late to coast on the fumes of the original blockbuster.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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