Water Flicks
10/13/2006 4:35:35 PM by Eric Rey Sylvester
There’s no substitute for being out at sea, but on rare occasions a few films have come close. Whether they made you long for a cool ocean breeze or want to run for dry land, our picks for the Top 10 water movies of all time capture the best of the underwater experience — no air tanks required.
1. Jaws
1975 // Universal Pictures
Director: Steven Spielberg
Not too many flicks can make people never want to swim again the way that Jaws has. From the second the hot chick at the opener of the movie is sucked into the dark sea, the audience knows this ain’t your average fish. Roy Scheider plays the chief of police trying to save the small island community of Amity from a terrorizing Great White shark during their busy tourist season. The film served as Steven Spielberg’s first blockbuster and features the genius pacing of a traditional Hitchcock film, with shots that are half in, half out of the water, making you feel as if you’re in the middle of the action…and potential prey to the monster that looms below. The film is also known for brilliant scores by John Williams. Its haunting sound (ta-na, ta-na…), still to this day, instantly sends chills down your spine — especially when frolicking amid the waves.
2. Titanic
1997 // Paramount Pictures
Director: James Cameron
The highest grossing film of all time was ironically one that everyone already knew the ending to. Despite what many considered a sappy love story and mediocre acting, the movie succeeded in realistically recreating one of history’s most horrific sea disasters. James Cameron’s uncanny attention to detail and intricate camera movements help propel the viewer into the world of the doomed ship, and at once makes you feel as though you were there, from the warm underbelly of the lower class, to the breath-chilling waters of the Atlantic that eventually engulf the “unsinkable” ship.
3. Finding Nemo
2003 // Disney
Directors: Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
Life at sea life never looked so beautiful and fun as it does in this modern classic. A father clown fish goes on a journey to find and save his son, Nemo, who is taken by a diver for his fish tank collection. PIXAR succeeds in deftly recreating typical sea life using stunning, often photorealistic, 3D animation. It’s as close to diving as you’ll get without getting soaked. Every scene is a feast for the eyes with vibrant rainbow-colored corals, fluorescent pink jellyfish, and bright orange clown fish continually popping up all over the place. But don’t mistake this as being a simple kid’s movie. Witty humor, hidden innuendos and great voice work make this an entertaining film for all ages.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean:
The Curse of the Black Pearl
2003 // Disney
Director: Gore Verbinski
Who would have thought that a successful franchise could be created out of a dated Disney ride? Leave it to Johnny “I’m still a heartthrob at 40” Depp to help create what could have been an otherwise terrible idea into a cinematic classic. He stars as Captain Jack Sparrow, one of the greatest — and funniest — anti-heroes ever to grace the silver screen. Throughout the film, he tries to reclaim his ship from his cursed undead crew that mutinied him on a desert island. Slapstick comedy, lightning-quick sword fights and explosive pirate-ship battles make this movie fun for the whole family.
5. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2004 // Buena Vista Pictures
Director: Wes Anderson
Take the dry humor and observations of a Woody Allen film, mix it with equal parts Jacques Cousteau and Sesame Street and you have The Life Aquatic. Bill Murray plays the title character, an oceanographer in the twilight of his life, on his last adventure to find a rare exotic shark that killed his best friend. In the process, he hopes to leave behind a legacy. This charming little film was shot on location in and around the beautiful waters and cities of Tuscany and the Isle of Capri in Italy as well as in the Alpes-Maritimes in France. The movie is often overlooked and well worth a Netflix nod if you’re in the mood for something light-hearted and fun.
6. Thunderball
1965 // MGM Studios
Director: Terence Young
When the terror organization Specter holds the world for ransom with two stolen nuclear warheads, it’s up to James Bond to stop them. This is epic James Bond at his best. With close to 50 scuba divers fighting each other in 30-plus feet of beautiful Bahamian crystal blue water, Thunderball’s underwater battle is undoubtedly the best ever filmed. Masks getting ripped off, harpoons screaming back and forth, and speeding personal underwater submersibles make you want to strap on a tank and take on the terrorists yourself.
7. The Abyss
1989 // 20th Century Fox
Director: James Cameron
What do you get when you add tough-as-nails deep-sea oil drillers, a homicidal Navy S.E.A.L. with a nuclear warhead, benevolent aliens that control water, and the director of the Terminator and Aliens? An instant sci-fi water classic. Gripping action sequences, a great romantic subplot and convincing characters make this a memorable action film. Shot in a half-completed nuclear reactor in South Carolina, the Abyss’s seven million-gallon underwater set was the largest in the world. All of the actors had to be scuba certified before filming could begin.
8. Waterworld
1995 // Universal Pictures
Directors: Kevin Reynolds and Kevin Costner
After the end of the cold war, Hollywood needed a new take on the apocalypse. Swap the age-old Soviet nuclear threat with global warming and you have Mad Max on the water. With the ozone gone as a result of SUV over-usage, among other things, the polar icecaps melt, engulfing the world in undrinkable seawater. Kevin Costner plays The Mariner, a half-man, half-fish that gets caught up with some drifters in their search for the mythical “Dry Land.” Seeing the Mariner’s boat in action, a modified racing trimaran from the French company Jeanneau, is reason enough to watch this exciting and campy movie. Waterworld was infamous for being the most expensive film of all time at one point, although some have criticized it for not living up to it’s over-the-top budget.
9. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
1954 // Buena Vista Pictures
Director: Richard Fleisher
Disney’s classic adaptation of the Jules Verne novel tells the story of a French professor and his companions attempting to uncover the mystery of a sea monster destroying battle ships. The sea monster turns out to be a powerful submarine called the Nautilus. A terrific giant squid battle, exhilarating attacks by the submersible, and wonderful performances help bring this classic story to life.
10. Poseidon
2006 // Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Naming a cruise ship something mightier than the sea is asking for trouble. If you happen to find yourself on one of these arrogantly named ships, here are some tips to surviving the eventual disaster: Learn to hold your breath. Get in good with one of the staff. Memorize how to navigate the ship upside down. Have some spelunking equipment handy at all times. Bring along either Gene Hackman or Kurt Russell (Borgnine optional) and you’re golden.
Splash (1984)
You may be shocked this movie didn’t make our Top 10. But the bad table manners did this movie in for us — and there was something fishy about the acting.
Cast Away (2000)
Diving deep into the psychological effects of solitude never had such a great view, but the second he named the soccer ball and started talking to it, he was off our list.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ariel’s overacting and exaggerated song lyrics gave Nemo the water cartoon thumbs up over this classic flick.
Cocoon (1985)
The second we watched the bevy of nursing homers jump on the boat in search of eternal life by heading toward the middle of the ocean to be sucked up by a spaceship, the entire movie was notable-mention bound.
The Perfect Storm (2000)
A true story of brotherhood, but lack of common sense and disregard for sea safety bumped this one out of the Top 10.