The Deep Blu-ray Review
Score: 50
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
A competent yet average home cinema setup meets the decent, mildly engaging 'The Deep' Blu-ray.
Disc Release Date
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 57
'The Deep' Blu-ray impresses with sharp, vibrant visuals, though grain and softness occasionally distract, faithfully preserving its 1970s charm.
Audio: 43
'The Deep's' Blu-ray remix offers a decent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack with clear dialogue and effective underwater sequences but shows its age with uneven audio quality and limited bass impact.
Extra: 43
Vintage 'The Deep' extras on Blu-ray: behind-scenes dive, cast scuba training, aquatic stunts; HD scenes & trailers, yet lacks expected treasure trove of content.
Movie: 61
'The Deep' intrigues with its Blu-ray clarity, engaging audio, and a blend of suspense and underwater adventure, starring an iconic cast, drawing viewers into a treasure-laden, dangerous pursuit.
Video: 57
"The Deep" makes its Blu-ray debut with a region-free 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer that impresses with clarity and adherence to its original cinematic aesthetics. Framed in a widescreen aspect ratio of either 2.35:1 or 2.40:1, the video quality showcases a commendable sharpness and detail preservation that respects the film's 1977 release, avoiding the overuse of Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) that often plagues transfers of older films. While there is an undoubted presence of grain, particularly noticeable in the opening scenes and intermittently throughout, it largely enhances the film's texture rather than detracts. The colors of Bermuda's lush landscapes and deep blues of the ocean are presented with great vibrancy and depth, complementing the natural skin tones and period costumes with a pleasing visual palette.
However, inconsistencies arise with occasional softness in longer-range shots and some interior scenes, which do not always match the level of detail found in close-ups or the striking exterior Bermuda shots. Despite this variability, the transfer manages to preserve a filmic quality that is both inviting and authentic to its era, with a good balance of sharpness where it counts, particularly in underwater sequences and scenic Bermuda vistas. The contrast ratio is well managed across various lighting conditions, ensuring that blacks are sufficiently deep without losing detail in darker sequences.
Moreover, the preservation of natural film grain, except for a few sporadic spikes, maintains the film’s original texture without veering into distraction. Flesh tones remain consistent and natural across different lighting environments, and while the underwater scenes might exhibit slight haziness due to the shooting conditions, they never lose their immersive quality. Minor artifacts such as banding and debris are noted but do not significantly impair the overall viewing experience. Ultimately, this transfer does an admirable job of presenting "The Deep" in high definition, carefully balancing between cleaning up the picture and preserving its original cinematic feel, making it a very good upgrade for fans and newcomers alike.
Audio: 43
The audio presentation of "The Deep" on Blu-ray, encoded in Dolby TrueHD 5.1, suggests an ambitious attempt to elevate its original mono or four-track stereo soundtrack to contemporary standards. Despite this, the sound mix remains predominantly anchored in the front center channel, with dialogue emerging clear but not without effort, a symptom of its age and the limitations of its original recording. The surround effects sporadically engage the rear channels, creating moments of immersion, particularly with John Barry's score, which activates the main stereo pair vividly. However, the underutilization of the Low-Frequency Effects channel results in missed opportunities to thoroughly engage the subwoofer and deliver a more dynamic auditory experience.
In underwater sequences, the Blu-ray attempts to craft a compelling soundscape with varying degrees of success. Early dives somewhat fail to convincingly immerse the audience, lacking a tangible sense of submersion. It's only during later explorations that the soundtrack manages to encapsulate the feeling of being underwater alongside the divers, through well-placed sound effects that exploit the full soundstage. The creaks of the ship's metal and the ambient pressure of deep water are convincingly conveyed, enhancing the atmospheric tension. In contrast, surface scenes suffer from less impactful sound effects and occasionally indistinct dialogue, necessitating volume adjustments for clarity. An ambient hiss persists, indicative of the soundtrack's vintage origins, yet does not significantly detract from an otherwise adequate aural presentation.
Technical enthusiasts, particularly those with advanced home theater setups like the one evaluated here, may find "The Deep's" audio mix a mixed bag of historical compromise and modern remixing effort. While it showcases decent fidelity in recreating an underwater world and benefits from a detailed remastering effort, it inevitably falls short of delivering a fully immersive sonic experience expected from contemporary standards. The soundtrack distinctly reveals its age and the technological limitations of its time, yet it also preserves a nostalgic charm that some may appreciate in the context of its cinematic ambiance and thematic elements.
Extras: 43
The Blu-ray release of "The Deep" presents a modest collection of extras that, while not as extensive as fans might have hoped, offers notable high-definition exclusives. The highlight is 'The Making of The Deep', a 48-minute featurette originally aired in 1977 and narrated by Robert Shaw, available in both HD and SD. It provides an insightful look into the film’s production, emphasizing the challenges and dangers faced during underwater shooting, alongside interviews with the cast and crew, and a glimpse at some of the movie’s most perilous stunts. Additionally, viewers are treated to six selected scenes from the three-hour special edition, showcasing extended plot elements and character developments not included in the theatrical release. Also included is a selection of 1080p trailers for other Sony titles, though the BD-Live feature appears underutilized with no movie-specific content. Despite the meager assortment, these extras add value by offering a behind-the-scenes look at the film's creation and glimpses of what might have been in an extended version.
Extras included in this disc:
The Making of 'The Deep': A detailed documentary exploring the making of the film, highlighting the challenges of shooting underwater and including cast and crew interviews.
Selected Scenes from the 3-Hour Special Edition: Six scenes extending the narrative and character backgrounds, offering a taste of the expanded edition.
Trailers: High-definition previews for several other movies produced by Sony.
Movie: 61
"The Deep," presented on Blu-ray, delivers a visual and auditory treat that authentically captures the essence of its Bermuda setting and deep-sea mystery. Framed at 2.35:1 with a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer, the film showcases excellent sharpness and detail, preserving the natural film grain that adds to its cinematic quality. The colors are vibrant, bringing the lush beauty of Bermuda and the eerie allure of the underwater scenes to life with striking clarity. Accompanied by a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track, the audio is crisp, allowing for clear dialogue and enhancing the suspenseful atmosphere with well-utilized surround effects and an emphatic score by John Barry. This auditory experience complements the visual splendor, making the deep-sea exploration and high-stakes adventure even more immersive.
Based on Peter Benchley's novel, "The Deep" follows Gail Berke (Jacqueline Bisset) and David Sanders (Nick Nolte) as they dive into a world of sunken treasures, piracy, and danger beneath the waves. Their discovery of a WWII freighter's wreck—and its dangerous cargo—thrusts them into a conflict with a Haitian drug lord (Louis Gossett, Jr.) and allies them with treasure hunter Romer Treece (Robert Shaw). The narrative weaves a thrilling tale of suspense and adventure, rich with historical allure and the thrill of discovery. As much a journey into the heart of human greed as it is a treasure hunt, the film explores the depths of both the ocean and human ambition with a moderately paced narrative that keeps viewers engaged without overwhelming them.
Technically, the Blu-ray presentation of "The Deep" excels in bringing out the atmospheric tension and picturesque beauty of its maritime setting. The underwater cinematography is particularly noteworthy, offering breathtaking visuals that serve as a window into a rarely explored world. While the film itself may navigate familiar waters story-wise, its presentation benefits from strong performances and a dedication to crafting an immersive experience. Scenes both on land and undersea are handled with care, balancing action and drama effectively. Though it may not reach the iconic status of its predecessor "Jaws," "The Deep" stands on its own as a solid entry in the adventure genre, bolstered by this high-quality Blu-ray release that should please both Benchley enthusiasts and fans of undersea adventure.
Total: 50
The Blu-ray presentation of "The Deep," although not heralded as a cinematic masterpiece, has proven to be a competent release that provides an adequate home viewing experience. The movie itself, characterized by a storyline that is engaging yet occasionally sluggish, and performances that are solid though not particularly standout, manages to maintain viewer interest through its mystery and peril. The technical aspects of this Blu-ray release mirror the film's overall competence. It boasts a decent 1080p video transfer that shines particularly in its rendering of underwater sequences and the picturesque beauty of Jacqueline Bisset. The audio quality, delivered through a lossless soundtrack, is satisfactory, effectively supporting the film's dialogue and action sequences without offering anything remarkable in terms of auditory experience.
On the subject of extras, this Blu-ray edition falls somewhat short. The bonus materials provided are limited and only mildly captivating, which may leave enthusiasts wanting for more. Despite this, the very act of bringing "The Deep" into the high-definition era with such clarity in visuals is commendable. The equipment used in the review process, including a JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector and an assortment of high-end audio-visual peripherals like the Oppo BDP-83 Universal disc/Blu-ray Player and Denon AVR 5308CI Preamp/Video Processor, underscores the release's capacity to satisfy a high standard of home theatre experience, even if it doesn't push the boundaries of what current technology can achieve.
In conclusion, Sony's Blu-ray issue of "The Deep" stands out as a solid, though not exceptional, addition to the catalog of available titles. With a video transfer that beautifully showcases its underwater visuals and a competent audio presentation, it justifies itself as a worthy pick for those with a fondness for the film or collectors looking for an above-average representation of late 70s cinema. While the supplementary content may not excite, the overall package is enough to merit consideration for purchase or rental by fans of the genre or era. In a landscape filled with varying degrees of quality releases, "The Deep" manages to hold its own as a reliable, if not dazzling, option.
avforums review by AVForumsRead review here
Video: 70
It looks as though the complaints about the use of DNR causing a lack of detail and image softness on other titles may have been heeded by Sony as this one retains its sharpness, clarity and detail, while...
Audio: 60
There was no great use of LFE to give the subwoofer a shake down though overall, the sound is good for a film of this vintage but not spectacular....
Extras: 60
Although the 3-hour version of the film may not be included on the disc, we do get certain segments in SD including: Prologue - The Goliath Sinks (3:06) How the Goliath sunk during World War II Romer Treece's...
Movie: 70
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track provides us with clear dialogue and the occasional use of surround effects while the John Barry score enlivens the main stereo pair....
Total: 70
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 70
Land-based interior shots look good enough; Treece's home features plenty of warm colors and wooden accents and decor that look a bit soft in the background but otherwise help to create an inviting, nicely-rendered...
Audio: 70
During the first underwater expedition, there's not much of a sense of submersion created by the track, but subsequent returns to the derelict Goliath deliver a much stronger sense of actually being submerged...
Extras: 40
The Making of 'The Deep' (1080i, 48:40) is a comprehensive vintage piece, narrated by star Robert Shaw, that looks at the "danger, challenge, excitement, and fear" of making an aquatic-based film....
Movie: 60
A moderately paced adventure that offers the discriminating viewer a sense of history, danger, and cinematic novelty while also delivering enough thrills to make for a slightly-above-average time waster...
Total: 60
Featuring a fairly good 1080p transfer, an adequate lossless soundtrack that delivers all that is expected of it in most every area, but failing to include all that much in the way of bonus materials,...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
The footage under the opening credits is quite grainy, possibly due to the optical compositing used for the titles....
Audio: 40
Scenes underwater, for which all of the audio was dubbed or foleyed, sound better than those above water....
Extras: 40
It contains a mix of plot recapping and behind-the-scenes footage of the cast learning to dive and to act underwater....
Movie: 60
Beyond the sex appeal, beyond the beauty, she's also a very fine actress, and delivers a compelling performance mixing plenty of intelligence and raw emotion....
Total: 60
'The Deep' may not be a great lost masterpiece, but it's an entertaining couple of hours that have held up pretty well in the three decades since the movie's release....
AVSForumRead review here
Video: 78
This was more the exception than the rule as many of the longer range visuals didn't have that level of deep image penetration....
Audio: 74
Extras: 40
The making of The Deep - 48 minute documentary hosted/narrated by Robert Shaw (HD) 6 selected scenes from the 3 hour special edition (HD) 6 BD Previews BD-Live enabled...
Movie: 60
Gail Berke (Jacqueline Bisset) and David Sanders (Nick Nolte) are on a romantic holiday in Bermuda when they come upon the sunken wreck of a WWII freighter....
Total: 63
Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier Philips TSU9400 Pro Series Touch Panel Remote Control Canton "Ergo" Series speakers Axiom Audio...
Director: Peter Yates
Actors: Jacqueline Bisset, Nick Nolte, Dick Anthony Williams
PlotWhile scuba diving off the Bermuda coast, a young couple discovers a sunken WWII ship with a valuable cargo of morphine. Eager to recover the treasure, they team up with an experienced underwater salvager, but their excitement is tempered by the discovery of a century-old shipwreck nearby. The ancient shipwreck holds a far more mysterious cargo: thousands of ampules of a rare and valuable substance. Their find attracts the attention of local criminals, who see the morphine as a lucrative opportunity and are willing to go to great lengths to claim it for themselves. The couple's discovery sets off a dangerous chain of events as they navigate the perilous waters of treasure hunting, unaware of the true danger that lies beneath the surface.
Complications arise when the young couple and their salvager partner find themselves entangled with a ruthless Haitian drug lord, determined to seize the morphine for his own illicit purposes. The trio's moral and ethical boundaries are tested as they are pulled deeper into a world of deception, betrayal, and escalating violence. Their quest for treasure becomes a fight for survival, pitting them against cutthroat adversaries and the treacherous ocean depths. Amidst this turmoil, the significance of the ancient ship's mysterious cargo becomes increasingly apparent, hinting at secrets far beyond their understanding. It's a race against time, adversaries, and the elements, as the line between friend and foe blurs in the pursuit of wealth, power, and history-hidden beneath the waves.
Writers: Peter Benchley, Tracy Keenan Wynn
Release Date: 17 Jun 1977
Runtime: 123 min
Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Language: English, French