Submerged [DVD] [2005]

 

 

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Our favourite fading action star and direct to video purveyor of junk (yep, that's you Steven) returns with another mindless and poorly dubbed excuse for a film that barely grades as both a film and a piece of entertainment.

The story has The Seagal playing Chris Cody (ex military, ex special opps, ex pizza restaurant owner - tick if any apply) recently released from a US military prison to lead a team of mercenaries who are on the quest to stop a renegade scientist Dr Lehder (played by british actor Nick Brimble, who at least makes an effort) who has developed a strange mind control technology that has been created to turn soldiers into unstoppable killing machines. Cody is promised by the government that if he brings the mad doctor back in and rescues a delta team who have been kidnapped, he and his team will be cleared of their crimes of misconduct and paid a cool £100,000 each. However, our good friend The Seagal is suspicious of this and takes the mission into his own hands and leads the team into enemy territory without the aid of the military. From here on in, its all submarine corridors, actionless action and terrible dubbing.

The Seagal seems like he is in some other movie for the most part, spouting stupid dialogue which raises question to who or what he is supposed to be - the dubbing doesn't help matters as well. With his own voice replaced by a totally different actor in various scene length sections - and when he does make the effort to loop is own lines, he changes the delivery so many times, you just give up trying to follow him. Vinnie Jones fares so much better and his performance is strong and really keeps the picture moving - both funny and engaging, he pushes the movie and if justice was anything, would have been given top billing. His performance outstrips The Seagal at every turn.

Production values are questionable to say the least. It all looks like outtakes from other movies (a staple element from producers Nu Image / Millennium) with stock sets and terrible effects work. The supporting cast do seem to try (although an opportunity is wasted when action star Gary Daniels fights The Seagal, which is rather abruptly over in seconds!), but when your star just seems to be coasting and offering random speeches that don't fit in with the story displayed on screen - it seems their efforts are for nought.

Its a shame as director Anthony Hickox is a personal favourite and on past performances, shows creative flare on low budget horror and action vehicles - witness his excellent 'Waxwork' and 'Hellraiser' sequel - but, even he seems to be lost in this dull exercise. Having read his comments about working on the production, I get the idea this wasn't his finest hour, either.

Again, another entry in the dull line of direct to video pap for the once action legend. Oh, how 'Exit Wounds' was such a long time ago now. I blame myself as I keep coming back for more, but what with this - the dull 'Pistol Whipped' and the abominable 'Attack Force' - The Seagal is going to find it hard to regain his fans. Sure, 'Renegade Justice' was a minor diamond in the rough - but, when an audience gets the feeling that the star isn't interested in what he is making himself - then, eventually your audience will just move away.

Sony's disc is a movie only affair. A standard transfer - but, as the movie doesn't offer anything in terms of good production values, it doesn't really matter. Two stars for Vinnie Jones and Anthony Hickox. Rental recommended before buying.

If you like really stupid action films that shouldn't have been made in the first place, you should enjoy this one. It ain't brilliant but its something to pass the time on a saturday evening.

One thing just bothers me about this, Steven Seagal barely speaks his own voice in this film. The majority, he is completley dubbed so it is pretty hard to take the man seriously. At least Vinnie Jones was in this to keep me amused in strangly high production value b-movie.

Forget the title or the very inaccurate "synopsis" on this page. The underwater scenes take up about 15 mins max.

However, this is a good action film, albeit slightly scizophrenic.

It seems like two films. There is a weird sci-fi side which seems to be filmed with a blue tint, and there is a normal-world side which seems to be filmed in a yellow tint.

All the actors and actresses are very good. The women are all very sexy! The men are all very hard! Vinnie Jones is great as always - a real British tough-nut through and through, who probably doesn't have to act far from his real personality - and gives a superlative speed-beat-down to a bad guy, which is worth replaying...several times!

But why is Seagal dubbed so much in this film? I can only presume that Seagal said these words originally - since his lips are moving to these words - but the Director was just too plain scared and intimidated by the awesome Seagal to say, "Hey Steven, how many times do I have to tell ya! Open your freakin' mouth when you speak! I can't hear a damn thing you're saying."

Therefore, when they came to putting it all together they realised they would have to do the audio again with a voice-double. That has to be the only reason, because Seagal's mouth is really voicing these sentences, but he's definitely not speaking them on this film.

By the way, Seagal looks mega-cool in a three-quarters length dinner jacket when he goes to the Opera. That's style right there baby! Secondly, he has some great hand-to-hand near the end, and a very satisfying "shoot-at" with the Lift Bouncer at the end. Oh no, fetch the mop and some Dettol, and scrub this wall!

This film is a must for Seagal fans! But Steven, you have a beautiful voice. Articulate it clearly, man! It was a crying shame that in some of these films you needed a voice double. We wanted to hear your deep and soothing resonations, not those of an impersonator - no matter how good he may have been at impersonating you!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Steven Seagal Undertones.
Glad it isn't just me, that can't always understand what steven says. i thought, i was going deaf. Come on Steven open your Mouth and speak Properly. Subtitles are an option, lol.

Published 2 months ago by Mr. C. A. Tiffany

5.0 out of 5 stars Submerged dvd
This dvd arrived safely but I haven't watched it yet so can't say much about the film.

Published on 29 Mar 2009 by Marian Ellison

3.0 out of 5 stars Despite the title, Seagal isn't under water for very long here...
If you're a fan of Steven Seagal then, yes, get this DVD. However, I don't think it would have much cross appeal to the casual viewer, although the supporting role by Vinnie Jones... Read more

Published on 28 Feb 2009 by LXIX

4.0 out of 5 stars QUITE GOOD
One of Steven's better effords in the 2000s. There's been MUCH worse (ATTACK FORCE) but also better (RENEGADE JUSTICE). Read more

Published on 13 Nov 2008 by Sick-o

5.0 out of 5 stars Move faster
Lets face we would all probably like to move as quick as Steven Seagal. The movie is as good as all the rest of his releases. Read more

Published on 7 July 2008 by Bjsmith

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent Seagal hokum...
I rented this (I know) after thinking woah, this is gonna be Under Seige on a Sub... It isn't...

Barely any time is spent on said Submarine, so don't get your hopes... Read more

Published on 22 Nov 2007 by Robster

1.0 out of 5 stars NO NO NO NO NO
What a slow, boring piece of junk. Save yourself from embarrassment and don`t even rent it. Steven Seagull ( ho ho ) is at his worst in this stupid, idiotic pretence of a film.

Published on 29 July 2007 by L. Wilson

4.0 out of 5 stars Submerged
hi, yes, yes we all know seagal gets dubbed but thats not why you wouldn't watch his films. the action is good and there's enough to keep you going so you don't turn it off. Read more

Published on 28 Feb 2007 by Now You Know

3.0 out of 5 stars TRAPPED BENEATH THE WAVES... BUT HARDLY OUT OF HIS DEPTH!!
I bought this along with THE ORDER for [...] and I watched it last night, I thought it was ok but I was confused to why they dubbed STEVEN SEAGAL's voice considering he can talk... Read more

Published on 11 Feb 2007 by PSN: Funeral-Bringer

2.0 out of 5 stars Submerged
Terrible film.

Plot is terrible. It does have a good cast though.

Vinnie Jones, Alison King, Nick Trimble, guy from Lock Stock etc. Read more

Published on 7 April 2006

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