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Original produced for the Imax Theater chain and in 3-D, this "flat" 2-D version of James Cameron's "Ghosts of the Abyss" still packs a visual wallop. Cameron, actor Bill Paxton along with the crew of a scientific vessel go back to the grave of the Titantic on the ocean floor. Using new equipment for the first time they get comprehensive views of many of the interior cabins and sections of the sunken vessel that were previously unexplored or inaccessible with the technology that was available when Cameron made his fictional ode to the tragic sinking of the vessel. ***

We get to meet the crew, an undersea biologist and many others on this expedition. The most enigmatic of the crew are "Jake" and "Elwood" the two tiny robots that do peer inside the shell of the Titanic. What's fascinating aside from seeing the sunken vessel are the overlays of the look of the ship before she sank and after. Cameron also uses footage of actors portraying the various real-life figures that sailed on the ship and superimposes these figures on the real footage of the ship on the ocean floor. We also see 3-D computer generated footage of what various rooms would have looked like based on the original blueprints and diagrams compared to now.

The awe inspiring footage takes your breath away. It's like peaking into the tombs of Egypt. Since it's unlikely most folks will be able to visit the ship and at the rate the ocean is claiming the vessel, this will be as close as we get to investigating one of the great disasters of the twentieth century. Cameron fashions a fascinating and dramatic documentary out of the footage. His research into the sinking and his experience shooting the first undersea footage of the ship for "Titanic" clearly had an impact. His return to the grave of the Titanic clearly was motivated by the chance to get a better look and appreciation of the marvel that sailed only on her maiden voyage. ***

Not surprisingly, the sharp resolution of the undersea footage looks great. Cameron's little robot cameras peak into areas most folks could never imagine seeing. The grainy footage contrasts with the footage shot on the scientific vessel but looks very sharp considering the low level lighting used and fast film stock used. Both would usually doom a film of this sort but with the computer enhancement available and better film stocks plus the sharp DVD transfer "Ghosts" looks unusually good. The film also looks terrific because of the use of a dual layer disc allowing enough room for a rich, vivid picture. ***

The 5.1 sound captures the underwater experience quite well dropping viewers into the abyss along with the crew of the two miniature subs. The sound effects and music add to the experience creating the impression that, while you're looking at something at the bottom of the ocean, you're also peaking into the past. ---

We get both the original 60 minute theatrical version and an extended 90 minute version that appears here for the first time. The 60 minute version packs most of the dramatic footage of the vessel into it while the extended version provides a glimpse into life at sea. We also get a peak at some of the unique undersea life forms that have moved into the Titanic. Some of these life forms have never been seen before by humanity. ***

The second disc comes with two interesting featurettes. The first "Reflections from the Deep" focuses on interviewing Cameron, Paxton and the rest of the crew about their experiences and what led them to visit the grave of one of the most famous disasters in history. We also get a look at previously unseen footage of the dive. It's not discussed in the main body of the film, but we do hear about the dangers in diving over two miles to the bottom of the ocean. ***

The second featurette allows the viewer to manipulate the footage shot for parts of the film. We get a multi-angle glimpse of the famous grand staircase under the sea. Here viewers can choose different camera angles shot during the dive allowing one to glimpse it from almost any angle imaginable. It's a less passive experience and gets one involved much more in the experience of visiting the Titanic bringing a better sense of reality. ---