5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Deep in the Atlantic, the Ocean Lab II, a state-of-the-art underwater habitat, houses a team of scientists studying man's ability to live on the ocean floor. When violent undersea earthquakes send the lab sliding down into a trench, a rescue team is assembled to locate the damaged station and save any survivors. In the cold depths, no man is welcome, and nothing could prepare the team for the bizarre — and deadly — world lurking below!
Starring: Ben Gazzara, Walter Pidgeon, Ernest Borgnine, Yvette Mimieux, Donnelly RhodesSci-Fi | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Music: Dolby Digital 2.0
Music: Dolby Digital 2.0
BDInfo. Note: there are "2" separate Music Only (theatrical & alternate) tracks
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1973’s “The Neptune Factor” takes viewers into the depths of the ocean on a rescue mission that encounters its share of fantasy challenges and enormous amounts of exploration. It’s meant to be engrossing escapism, showcasing actors concentrating on the moment, attempting to turn some crude filmmaking magic into a pulse-pounding ride of bizarre discoveries. Intention is there on the screen, often carried along single-handedly by co-star Ernest Borgnine, but “The Neptune Factor” can be quite ridiculous if one doesn’t buy into the special effects wizardry on display. Its cheesiness is pronounced, making any viewing of the effort a game of stifling laughs and battling yawns, as director Daniel Petrie is so enamored with his submersibles, he forgets to build an engaging thriller, with long stretches of the feature devoted to characters staring out of windows, trying to project a feeling of awe the picture doesn’t inspire.
The AVC encoded image (2.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation does "The Neptune Factor" justice, preserving a satisfying amount of detail to help the feature and its bizarre take on fantasy and horror. Sharpness runs up against period cinematography, but it remains textured and dimensional, handling deep sea distances and set decoration, while facial particulars (close-ups are prized by the production) are available for study. Colors show life, taking in blue waters and brighter sets, with primaries healthy and skintones natural. Hues on sea creatures are also compelling. Delineation is crisp. Grain is managed. Source is in excellent shape, without significant points of damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix has some significant responsibilities to big screen magic, mixing elements as the action heads underwater. Atmospherics are enjoyable, providing the feeling of cramped spaces and ocean depth, while sound effects are clean and purposeful, adding to the strangeness of the environment. Dialogue exchanges are enjoyable, with performance attitude secured, along with intelligibility with radio communication. Scoring sounds fresh, with pleasing instrumentation, supporting dramatic moods and violent encounters.
"The Neptune Factor" eventually makes it into the abyss, encountering a kingdom of monstrous sea life that threatens to gobble up the submersible, rudely ending the rescue mission. Instead of following genre expectations for ghoulish creations, the production merely uses everyday fish and crustaceans to stand-in for devils from the deep, attempting to dazzle viewers with a peek into…the average aquarium. Scoring efforts from Lalo Schifrin strive to turn average fish behavior into killer instinct, but all Petrie can do is fuss with editing, turning casual swimming into a flurry of violence. It's ridiculous, making the 1973 feature look like it was made in 1953, with bathtub heroics standing in for inventive special effects. Even those with profound admiration for model work may find themselves chuckling at Petrie's conception of an oceanic nightmare, which is perhaps why the film takes forever to arrive at the colossal creature discovery. "The Neptune Factor" starts off with a mild sense of wonder, but it closes with pure absurdity, keeping the viewing experience reserved only for those with the utmost patience for B-movie construction.
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