This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

BBC produced documentary focusing on the seas and oceans of the globe. Light on narration (Michael Gambon does the British version Pierce Brosnan the US one) and heavy on visuals this is an often beautiful film to look at. I can only imagine how this film would have played on the big screen. I picked this up since it was recommended in connection with the BBC film Earth that knocked my socks off a few months back. As amazing as the film is I found it at times a bit too much of a good thing. There is too much slow motion at times and while I understand that fish travel in schools there is to many shots of the swarming schools for my complete enjoyment. I think seeing the film in relative close proximity to a repeat viewing of Earth hurt my enjoyment since a couple of the sequences came off as very similar. Reservations aside this is a film that demand to be seen on as big a screen as possible because there are things in the film that will make you ooh and ah.. Worth a look.

"So far we have only touched the surface (...) the greatest experience of nature on screen" proclaimed the leaflets advertising the documentary. Since such films on big screen in cinema are a rarity, as a matter of fact, not many people felt encouraged to see DEEP BLUE. Perhaps, we are too much addicted to action films and all fictions possible. In this way, many of us have forgotten that it is also possible to admire real nature on screen. I also must admit that I am not a fan of such documentaries. What usually bores me in them are the number of sophisticated terms provided to the viewer, which makes it all too scientific. Nevertheless, I went to see DEEP BLUE for the sake of images that addressed my curiosity. And I do not regret! It was wonderful throughout. The film is, foremost, a stunning image which pays tribute to the variety of life, mostly the life under the waters.First of all, it is important to mention that the documentary is not very long and serves a useful purpose not being a too detailed insight into some facts of life in the ocean. Besides, the film is really visually stunning. You see the underwater world as if you were there. All kinds of fishes of various shapes and colors are a feast for the eyes. You see the entire joy and freedom of their lives as well as the necessity to defend themselves from deadly dangers. The atmosphere is great and the "action" is very involving. Moreover, the philharmonic orchestral music in the background makes the experience even more unforgettable. The most impressive moment for me was when the journey to the deep began and the pictures we could see were fewer and fewer due to darkness. How unbelievable it is how much the sunlight provides to the earth. These creatures that have never seen the light look completely different, as if not from this world. Some of them surprised me totally. Yet, they also have the desire to live... There are also other wonderful moments showing life on the ground, particularly the polar bear and penguins. This is filmed with great commitment, indeed.DEEP BLUE is not a film for everyone. Some people may not find anything special in it. Perhaps, that is why the cinemas in Poland had it for only 10 up to 15 days while other films are being showed for two months or even longer. Yet, I would recommend DEEP BLUE to anyone who can still admire the variety of beauties on "the planet of life" that the earth, not unintentionally, is. But remember to see it on the big screen. The film is foremost an experience of image!

Water makes up most of the Earth and, unlike the surface ecosystems, it is the hardest for man to explore, inhabit or bulldoze. It is the closest thing to having a different planet, except right here on Earth. As such I was looking forward to watching this film because of the excellent footage of the many amazing creatures and ecosystems that ever improving technology allow us to get closer to. I'm not really one for nature programmes so maybe that is why I was extra impressed by the film – because such stuff has not become "ordinary" to me. At the start of the film I must admit that I was watching the "ordinary"; whales, crabs and seals fitted into that category to me but once the camera went deeper into the oceans it only became more and more fascinating with such weird and wonderful creatures on display.This goes for the shallower depths as well, as fish, whales, sharks etc are all very well presented and gorgeous to watch. Indeed that is the strength of the film – the beauty of it. It is fascinating to watch and the expertise in filming shines through from start to finish. However it is the appreciation of the view where the film is weak. Gambon's narration is sparse and even but it only occasionally gives out nuggets of information. I didn't expect detail like David Attenborough would give but it could have done with something more to compliment the visuals. The music covers the lack of narration and generally the score is well pitched to support the air of wonder or pace to the film.Overall this is a great visual treat, even if it is mostly going to be seen on the small screen. It all looks impressive and is fascinating but a bit more narration and detail would have been useful. Best viewed as a visual experience or as an entry into the wider genre of nature programmes.

I've always been slightly surprised by the popularity of nature documentaries , it seems to be the new soccer . You go into a really rough pub that makes Al Swearengen's place in DEADWOOD look like a tea room and hear from the toughest hardest men in there how much they've been enjoying the National Geographic channel . I always keep silent that I much prefer the History channel over National Geographic . Perhaps the reason so many people enjoy these documentaries is because the skill and manipulative nature of the docu film makers makes these films what they are DEEP BLUE lives up to its name . The water is unbelievably blue as we see dolphins leap out of the ocean in slow motion . Sorry to break this to people but dolphins can and do jump out of the water , but only in real time and never in slo mo . We see a massed army of crabs running around the sands and through some clever editing and sound effects it appears they're having a game of soccer . The music used matches the mood perfectly graceful music is used for graceful animals like dolphins , menacing music is used for sharks and humorous music is used for the penguins You see the point I'm making ? It's a manipulative beautiful documentary featuring animals that the film makers have humanised and will appeal to the more urbane and abstract nature loves amongst the human race . If I sound cynical perhaps it's because the day after I saw this I took a dip in the Atlantic Ocean where I had to dodge aggressive jellyfish and hungry gulls who were very interested in my picnic . I eventually got home with sunburn on my back and blisters on my feet . Nature is a thing of great beauty but it can be painfully cruel too