Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 12, 2023

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.

Captain Mike (Michael Caine) is struggling with his tugboat during a major storm, losing precious cargo in the chaos, facing a dire future without the potential for a financial score. Joined by partner Wilbur (Karl Malden) and passenger Celeste (Sally Field), Mike elects to follow rescue vehicles to the site of the capsized ship, “Poseidon,” claiming salvage rights as he prepares to enter the seemingly empty vessel. Joining the party is Dr. Stefan (Telly Savalas) and his Greek medical rescue squad, who’ve arrived to make sure there no survivors. Joining forces, the teams venture into the “Poseidon,” with Mike making it clear he’s only interested in the contents of the purser’s office, trying to find a fortune. Instead of an easy move to quick money, Mike’s escape route is soon blocked, and he encounters survivors desperate for help, including Frank (Peter Boyle), his daughter Theresa (Angela Cartwright), nurse Gina (Shirley Jones), Suzanne (Victoria Hamel), Dewey (Slim Pickens), Larry (Mark Harmon), and couple Hannah (Shirley Knight) and Harold (Jack Warden), who’s blind. Trying to find their way back to the bottom of the ship, Mike and the others encounter various challenges to their safety, forcing them to deal with physical and psychological dangers, also facing a different kind of threat with a mystery crate that certain members of the pack are looking for.

It's been years since “The Poseidon Adventure,” but “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” picks up mere hours after the original film, with Captain Mike sensing French Coast Guard rescue efforts, pursuing clues to the remains of the ship. Greed drives the character, as he’s hoping to collect a mighty fortune from whatever’s locked in a safe, but the screenplay by Nelson Gidding doesn’t dive right back into exploration, taking moments to establish new characters, including Celeste, a dim-witted young person hitching a ride to North Africa after striking out in France, hoping for better luck elsewhere. We also meet Dr. Stefan, who’s willing to be of service to Mike, making sure to stay out of his salvage ways as he completes his own mission in the name of medical assistance.

“Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” basically replicates the original film, once again following an expanding group of personalities as they navigate the crumbling ship, which is being rocked by periodic explosions, acting as a ticking clock for the story. We watch the team deal with big jumps over large holes, handle dead ends, and inch across makeshift bridges. We also experience their rising hostilities, with Frank initially desperate to find his daughter, only to have her emerge in Larry’s arms, triggering his protective father instinct. Dewey is a drunk refusing to leave a special bottle of wine behind. And Mike generally has a short temper with everyone, watching his simple salvage plan transform into an arduous fight for survival, which turns Celeste into a weepy mess, and keeps Wilbur pained due to a secret medical issue.

“Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” doesn’t push the brand name into a fresh direction, sticking with what worked before, only here there’s clumsy direction from Allen, who keeps the whole feature stiff and B-movie-ish, giving the endeavor a television sheen as poor screenwriting aims to generate a cartoon sense of threat, including the addition of a blind man and secretive activity involving the special crate. It turns the sequel into an action picture in the final act, complete with shootouts and chases, pulling “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” into silliness Allen can’t manage.

Two versions of “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” are offered here: a Theatrical Cut (114:33) and an Extended Cut (145:04, SD).

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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.

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Sunday Night Movie Promo" (1:03, SD) presents the opening of ABC's television premiere of "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure."

• "Sweepstakes Promo" (1:24, SD) showcases all the prizes available to those submitting their information for a "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure" promotional event.

• Image Gallery (8:14) collects film stills, lobby cards, poster art, BTS snaps, continuity photographs, preproduction plans, and newspaper ads.

• And a Trailer (2:06, SD) is included.

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.