It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea holds up surprisingly well after almost 60 years. James Mason's portrayal of the eccentric Captain Nemo is both endearing and terrifying. Jules Verne's classic science fiction story is ahead of its time and I feel that this movie does it justice.

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?

12/9/2016 - Happy 100th Birthday Old Man Douglas!Walt Disney's grandiose production of Jules Vern's novel "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" has withstood well the passage of time and still proves to be an arresting experience to the senses. Obviously the cast was as close to perfect as it gets and they have much to tell by movies end, it's as rousing a tale on the high sea's that's ever been told; filled with action, intrigue and humor from both man and beast. This timeless nautical adventure comes with a wealth of wonder and imagination, boasting many extraordinary action set pieces often being set in exotic locales and what's more this classic film sounds every bit as grand as it looks; featuring a phenomenally effective musical score by veteran composer Paul Smith. At the heart of the film is the Nautilus (of course) and Nemo's creation has to be the most artful and elegant looking of designs that there's ever as been and a first-rate effects crew brings it to gloriously life in many clever guises, (full scale set or scale-size miniature) which is still every bit as effective as it was then. And of course all of it's visual splendor was lensed in such a way, making full use of the newly invented Cinema-Scope process, framed at the ratio of 2.55.1, which is wide-wide-screen essentially. Cinema-Scope was the perfect option for large-scale action films. The Player's: Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, James Mason and Paul Lukas, these four actors were perfectly cast for their respective roles and they make the most of it from start to finish - none more so than Kirk Douglas, as the swaggering seaman Ned Land. In this film Douglas gives a spectacularly high-spirited performance, one which surely rates as one of cinema's all-time most lively performances. While Lukas and especially Mason give performances that exude an air of high-sophistication (no more so than when Nemo's sporting that AWESOME smoking jacket - one must give high praise to the wardrobe department), where as Peter Lorre's character, often seems to be the odd man, he falls somewhere in between them and the free-spirited nature of Douglas' character. From what I've heard the two of them got along famously during filming. Ultimately these four fine actors create the core of one of the best casts that's ever been assembled for any movie. And the varying moods that rise up between them makes for an interesting and wide-ranging atmosphere, one that fluctuates from annoyance to hospitality, from curiosity to incarceration. I can't say enough about how great Kirk Douglas' acting is in this, such energy!From a purely visual stand-point 20,000's is a remarkable achievement, from the amazingly vivid underwater photography to it's striking submarine effects, this is a film, grand in every way, that's bound to leave a lasting imprint on your memory. Some highlights worth mentioning (and there are several) range from, the Oscar-winning giant squid sequence, the underwater harvest/treasure hunting/shark attack sequence, an "electrifing" boarding by unfriendly natives, a singing/cigar-eating seal named Isme, 19th century prostitutes dressed-up in lace and feathered hats, impassioned pipe organ-bashing Bach-infused jam sessions, a state-of-the-art "volcanic" submarine base, underwater burials, thundering cannon fire, explosive high-speed ship collisions, Ned Land's "Whale of a Tale" (the best damn sailor's ditty ever) and for your dining pleasure there's "Saute of Unborn Octopus" as well as a entire table full of curious cuisine from the sea, oh - and a nuclear explosion to cap things off. There truly is never a dull moment in this legendary classic of cinema - and just why is it that they can't make movies like THIS anymore????Ready, Maestro?! The remarkable music of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea's is of particular note - it's grand, large-scale, orchestral score is utterly magnificent and 62 years after the fact it remains one of Hollywoods greatest musical achievements. Brought to life by the baton of a Disney maestro - Paul J. Smith, a composer who, unfortunately, was effectively pigeon-holed for the majority of his career, typically being stuck with the chore of writing music for many a Disney cartoon and other various feather-weight features. Smith was never the most well-known or vocal composers, but by the sound of it, his music does his talking for him, as he clearly had a field-day with this is opulent big-budget assignment - a dream project for any film composer. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea would definitely not be as exciting without the inspired music of Paul Smith. Believe that.Typical for a Disney feature, this classic film is family-friendly and suitable for any age and being such an exciting and well-acted movie it's no surprise that it possess a high replay value and it's one of those classic's that's great to re-experience each and every year. It belongs to that rare breed of classic films that never seem to lose their luster, that never accumulate the slightest layer dust and is immune to time. In the 60 + years since it's release 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea remains a grand and rousing spectacle of adventure and intrigue, a unique creation, one of high artistry and pure Cinema-Scope magic. A grand relic of another time.Oh yeah, some trivia, the Nautilus's "nuclear furnace" was created by a combination of plastic salad bowls and large rotating color-wheels. The ill-fated "Sunset Squid Sequence" nearly sank Disney as a studio and Paul Lukas was a real prick to work with and he threatened to sue numerous people involved in the picture - swell guy.

Disney's take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Natural historian Prof. Pierre Arronax (Paul Lukas), his assistant Conseil (Peter Lorre) and harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) set out on a government funded ship, in search of a rumored sea monster. The three of them get separated from the ship and stumble across the supposed "monster", which is in fact a highly advanced submarine called Nautilus. It is led by the enigmatic Captain Nemo (James Mason). He and his devoted crew have shunned civilization and adopted to the aquatic way of life. The visitors are not allowed to go back as Nemo does not want his secret to get out. Prof. Arronax has no objection as he is deeply fascinated by the underwater world and wants to study it. But as Captain Nemo starts showing his brutal side, Land is desperate to escape.This movie is dated, be it its political incorrectness, the science depicted in it, Prof. Arronax's method of study, or its special effects. A sautéed unborn octopus would be an environmentalist's nightmare today, yet it was a delicacy in its time. Similarly, no present-day natural historian would want to kill a rare species and place it in a natural history museum, but that is exactly what Prof, Arronax intended to do with the sea monster. It also depicts American natives as cannibals. The Nautilus defends itself by passing electric current over its surface when we now know that electricity and water should not be mixed. Disney made quite a few changes to the original material and ironically, the novel, written more than eighty years before the movie came out, has aged better.However, the movie has its own charm. Its heart is in the right place. We find yourselves smiling at its quirks as they remind us of the time when it was made. Kirk Douglas is the life of the movie; he is winningly riotous, effervescent and his energy pervades the entire movie. Another highlight of the movie is Captain Nemo and Prof. Annorax's stately friendship.Good to watch once.