Tuesday, February 16, 2021

20000 Leagues Under the Sea

Image credit: Rotten Tomatoes

Book vs. Film is an interesting skirmish in the creative realm because it’s one where there are more than two sides. Some people are staunch readers before viewers. Others prefer to have some semblance of the story mapped out for them first, as reading is a harder venture. And then there are some, like me who stand behind the ‘circumstance’ banner: I do both depending on whichever piques my interest first. I recently closed the cover on Jules Verne’s 20000 Leagues Under the Sea and it was only after doing that that I was curious to see how it’s been adapted for film. So yesterday I sat down with Disney+ and 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. 

A pretty close adaptation, the film follows professor Aronnax, his apprentice Conseil, and harpoonist Ned Land, as they venture on a voyage to prove or disprove the existence of a sea monster that has been ravaging warships. When the monster attacks their ship, the three a thrown overboard and find themselves at the mercy of the monster: the monster being a giant submarine and its captain a bitter, eccentric genius that has washed his hands of civilised society. Prisoners aboard the Nautilus, the three heroes embark on a voyage around the world under the sea, all the while trying to make sense of their strange captain. 

When we think ‘Disney’ we think animation, musicals, we don’t think of science-fiction action-drama. Yet here we are. 20000 Leagues is a close adaption to Verne’s classic novel, though with a few narrative liberties taken so that there is more action and drama to the story. A solid action-adventure film, it’s got everything from majestic underwater shots to outdated, but still hugely entertaining creature effects and climactic fight scenes. 

Image credit: Pinterest

It’s also got quite an interesting cast behind it with Kirk Douglas as the hot-headed hero Ned Land and James Mason as the cool and calculating Captain Nemo. Mason is glorious, bringing great depth to an already complex character and Douglas ticks all the boxes for swashbuckling adventure on the high seas (despite the lack of pirates). 

It’s certainly a fun take on a classic tale and Disney does right by making it a close adaptation as well as one that the whole family can enjoy. 

Director: Richard Fleischer, 1954

Cast: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas, Robert J. Wilke, Ted de Corsia, Carleton Young, J. M. Kerrigan, Percy Helton, & Ted Cooper.


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