A hit in Europe but a flop in the US--where it was trimmed, rescored, and given a new ending--Luc Besson's The Big Blue has endured as a minor cult classic for its gorgeous photography (both on land and underwater) and dreamy ambiance. Jean-Marc Barr is a sweet and sensitive but passive presence as Jacques, a diver with a unique connection to the sea. He has the astounding ability to slow his heartbeat and his circulation on deep dives, "a phenomenon that's only been observed in whales and dolphins until now," remarks one scientist. Kooky New York insurance adjuster Joanna (Rosanna Arquette at her most delightfully flustered and endearingly sexy best) melts after falling into his innocent baby blues, and she follows him to Italy, where he's continuing a lifelong competition with boyhood rival Enzo (Jean Reno in a performance both comic and touching).

Besson's first English-language production looks more European than Hollywood, and it suffers from a tin ear for the language. At times it feels more like an IMAX undersea documentary than a drama about free divers, but the lush and lovely images create a fairy tale dimension to Jacques's story, a veritable Little Merman. More dolphin than man, he's so torn between earthly love and aquatic paradise that even his dreams call him to the sea (in a sequence more eloquent than any speech).

Besson has expanded the film by 50 minutes for his director's cut, which adds little story but slows the contemplative pace until it practically floats in time, and has restored Eric Serra's synthesizer-heavy score, a slice of 1980s pop that at times borders on disco kitsch. Most importantly, he has restored his original ending, which echoes the fairy tale he tells Joanna earlier in the film and leaves the story floating in the inky blackness of ambiguity. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
When Joanna first meets Jacques it is his innocence and mystery which attract her. She then follows him to Peru and later to Europe where Jacques becomes involved in the dangerous sport of free diving.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Big Blue us version vs european version
Comment: I first watched this movie in 1992 in America and loved it. The calmness of Jacques was so ethereal and gave Jean Reno a chance to shine so comically. I became an instant fan and started watching more Luc Besson movies. However, on returning to the UK and purchasing it for a friend, I was mortified by the Eric Sierra score which jarred with the story. To add insult to injury, I purchased 2 soundtrack cd's hoping for the Goldsmith music. So what I'm trying to say is, watch the US version which is a completely different experience.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: a magical film for us waterbabies
Comment: This is a beautiful film in all ways, music, locations, scenery, a good story which i can relate to, somebody mentioned a good film for escapism, that comment captures it perfectly in my opinion,truly one of my favourite films, i do think you have to be in love with the sea to really appreciate this film though, i can only assume anybody who is not touched by the beauty of this film has never truly felt the magic of the ocean lapping at their feet but has merely stepped in some salt water!!! Give it a go people its very much worth it x

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Blue Genius
Comment: This is a well kept secret, and like a great deal of films made without mainstream American actors it suffered at the box office. The European cast and locations are truly magnificent in themselves. The Big Blue has so much atmosphere, that it almost captures the residual wave motion we can feel before sleeping. The most striking thing I remember about the The Big Blue is the respect and friendship developed by the two main characters. Enzo has a brilliant presence in the film the character almost steals the the limelight from the lead character Jacque. Free diving may well be the most extreme sports on the planet, the real life hero's Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari (Jean Reno before he became an international superstar) must have been at the height of their talent and in amazing physical condition. Anyone who loves the ocean should see this film, I am sure this will stand the test of time. : )

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Customer Rating:
Summary: as beautiful as a film can get
Comment: i decided to write something about big blue as it is one of my top 20 films of all time and i cant understand people who give it one star.. they really dont understand cinema do they ????
it really is an amazing film, dreamy is the right word, one of bessons best together with nikita and leon (especially leon, great but not as unique). music and cinematography are oscar worthy, acting is sublime, photography breathtaking.. story maybe slightly frivolous but touching at same time. a drama with a few drops of comedy here and there, on a subject that was never touched before or after this film came out.
if u generally love the sea and never seen this film just go buy it, u will be enthralled..& if u are indifferent on the sea subject, but u think u can still appreciate a stunningly beautiful film then still go buy it. 6 stars ........

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The most utterly awful film in the world !!
Comment: Save yourselves by not watching this pointless dreary dragging film that has no plot or point to it whatsoever, I love "Leon" but even he didn't rescue this film and was awful in it, i felt a huge feeling of mind numbing boredom after watching this film and when i'm laying on my death bed my only thought will be i shall wish that i hadn't wasted 3 hours of my precious life watching this film.

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