The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Ladies, get out your handkerchiefs! No, you won't be crying, but you'll definitely be mopping up your drool while watching the curly-haired, bright-eyed, cleft-chinned, gorgeous, grinning, charming, singing sailor-also known as Kirk Douglas in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Out of all the extremely yummy roles he's had, this one might be the yummiest. As always, he's a likable bad boy, but thankfully-or regretfully, depending on how bad you like him to be-he's much more a scoundrel than an actual villain. In the story, he, Paul Lukas, and Peter Lorre come across a mysterious submarine that's been the demise of many sea ships. When the captain invites them aboard, Paul is anxious to learn more of the futuristic vessel, Kirk is suspicious and wants to escape, and Peter agrees with whoever he's talking to at the moment.Those of you out there who prefer your men to be a little smarter and full of emotional depth, you're in luck. James Mason plays the famous Captain Nemo, and he has plenty of swoon-worthy scenes as he wallows in pain, memories, and conflicted emotions. The characters and story of Jules Verne's classic are immortalized by the cast in this second film version; the first was a silent film that no one really remembers. Even though there have been countless remakes and spin-offs of Captain Nemo, his submarine, and the Mysterious Island, Disney's original is the best. Even today, the special effects used in 1954 are pretty exciting, and the Captain Nemo's sustainable creations are an inspiration. The film won two very deserving Oscars, for Art Direction and Special Effects. If you haven't seen this version yet, or have never experienced the story, this is a great one to rent. It's exciting, adorable, and even has a trained seal in the supporting cast! But seriously, the acting is great and the production values stand the test of time. James Mason fans will find a gem in this film-it's no wonder that Hollywood cast him in Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1959! And I know Spartacus is the go-to Kirk Douglas classic, but I liked this movie infinitely better. It has a much more original story, is less upsetting, and has just as much eye candy and shirtless scenes. What else is there?

NOTES: Won prestigious Hollywood awards for Special Effects (defeating Hell and High Water and Them!); and Best Color Sets (defeating Brigadoon, Desiree, Red Garters, A Star Is Born). Was also nominated for Film Editing, but Elmo Williams lost to Gene Milford of On the Waterfront. Negative cost: $5 million. With a domestic rentals gross of $8 million, number 4 at U.S./Canadian ticket windows for 1955. (Only Cinerama Holiday, Mister Roberts and Battle Cry took more money). The movie also did particularly well in Great Britain, scoring 11th place for 1955's highest box-office receipts. In Australia, if the movie's release had not been delayed by a year, it would also have taken solid coin (thanks to the CinemaScope boom). City seasons were a resounding success, but the film disappointed in its suburban and rural engagements.Underwater scenes were shot off the coast of Nassau in the Bahamas. Disney assigned a second unit to make a film of the filming. This documentary, "Operation Undersea", was aired on Disney's TV show and won an Emmy Award as the year's best television documentary!COMMENT: Starts excitingly enough, but the juvenile script and high- school dialogue cannot sustain audience interest once the heavy- handedly brooding James Mason comes on the scene. Paul Lukas is also a bore, but Kirk Douglas manages exactly the right, jolly tongue-in- cheek approach. We enjoyed his sprightly song too. Peter Lorre takes his cue from Mason and is likewise a bit too glum, though he does make an occasionally effective stooge for Douglas. It looks like Bob Wilke is going to be wasted in a minor, colorless role; but fortunately he comes into his own in a thrilling climactic fight with Douglas, no holds barred, — and no doubles either!At least director Fleischer makes a game try to fill up the CinemaScope screen, particularly in the first twenty minutes or so (which, oddly enough, turn out to be the most entertaining in the film). For all the hype, the submarine itself proves to be a disappointment. Though the fight with the giant squid is effectively staged, other special effects are both obvious and tedious, especially the drawn-out underwater water scenes which look fake. But thanks mainly to Kirk Douglas and his companionable seal (name of "Jackie Horner", would you believe, though the credits say "Esmerelda"), "20,000 Leagues..." turns out to be nowhere near the fidgety bore I'd expected.

This is a great story and a great adventure for all ages and it could and should have ended differently and better, but, that's all fantasy.Things have to get worse before they ever get better, hence, Captain Nemo and The Nautilus.Jules Verne was WAY ahead of his time when he wrote, and, then published this masterpiece of "Utopian-idea-through-means-of-Distopia" novel in 1870. Yet, way back then, he knew exactly what governments, any government in the world, would do with such power as Captain Nemo's notes described; and, what his supra-genius creation, The Nautilus, could do...in the wrong hands.Even if Professor Pierre Aronnax was sent by Captain Nemo as an emissary and he successfully contacted some 'seemingly-agreeable' government for "Peace On Earth"...they'd have invited him in as a friend and tortured him to death for information, as they did with Nemo's wife, to get everything and give nothing.In many ways, this novel (and, movie) can be related to and compared with many others since - "The Killer Elite"(1975); "The Eiger Sanction"(1975); "Sneakers"(1992); "War Games"(1983); "The Osterman Weekend"(1983); "The Sicilian"(1987); not to mention "The Count Of Monte Cristo;" "The Departed;" "Payback;" "Prince of the City;" etc., and, many more...all about misplaced trust, deceit, treachery, lying, and, traders!In many ways, Captain Nemo and Professor Aronnax were very much alike - educated; loved peace and harmony; were at one with nature and the earth; etc. However, Captain Nemo experienced a tragedy that Professor Aronnox couldn't possibly imagine nor understand unless he'd seen and felt it himself from a personal point of view. This is why two people who share all the same values and interests can be so incredibly different. Under other circumstances, whether good or bad, these two could have been great friends; but, this isn't the case here.Then, just to make all of this advancement and intelligence in the story seem crazy to the average and typical viewer and reader, we have Ned Land, the bull-headed simpleton who cares nothing for learning; right and wrong; nor, the world in which he lives. He cares only for material wealth, drunkeness, and, living in the moment. Idiotic viewers and readers cheer him on while condemning advanced thinking and possible resolution to war; starving; enslavement; etc!?!? WHY? Mr. Land is the monkey who threw the wrench into the great program; the bumbling knuckle-dragging clown whose big muscles did the thinking for his little brain; the fool who began with nothing and ended with nothing when he could have made a 'real' difference in a great way.As I wrote - This is a wonderful book and movie, but, like with others, the protagonist, Captain Nemo, had to be made to seem 'crazy' to make for an acceptable ending and an acceptable explanation for why the world will never be harmonious. Case in point - "Magnum Force" and "Death Wish." People who were disposing of those whom society would do better without had to be made to look 'crazy' to please readers and viewers who're thin-skinned and unrealistic dummies who don't know how the world works and always expect a senselessly short-lived happy ending. The concept of Captain Nemo's hatred of war and enslavement may have made a good difference in the world. It's such a shame when people actually cheer when Nautilus sank. Much like how people cheered when the European nations gave up their colonies and left the native peoples in those colonies to butcher one another as a result!?!? As Bertolt Brecht wrote - "Do not rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world has stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again." This applies to most every single event in history when man thought that the 'next' government and/or the 'next' leader will be better - Stalinist Russia after Czar Nicolas II; Adolph Hitler after Germany's WW1 defeat; Pol Pot's takeover of Cambodia; Idi Amin; Alfredo Stroessner; Saddam Hussein; etc...etc!Do your own thinking or lack there of!Either way, I love this movie and book - easily 10 Stars! :)

Richard Fleisher directed this big-scale, Walt Disney produced adaptation of the famous Jules Verne novel about the futuristic submarine Nautilus under the command of Captain Nemo(played by James Mason) who is tired of humanity's wars, and decides to sink all warships, regardless of nationality. This brings on the attention of the U.S. government, and a ship goes to investigate the sinking's(not meeting Nemo until later.) Kirk Douglas plays whaler Ned Land, while Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre play a professor and his assistant. Exciting film does have its share of lulls and slow spots, but makes up for it with thrilling action involving the attack of the giant squid, vividly brought to life during a sea storm.