I was pretty excited to finally get to see another Freediving Movie. Ever since The Big Blue I was left with a want for more. This was my chance and I am sad to say it was a complete waste of my money and my time. I am an amateur freediver but know enough to say that the movie devotes ony the beginning and the end to freediving, the rest is a pseudo-spiritual emotional wannabe docudrama that honestly seems more like a bad college project or a bad soap opera. The acting is bad and seems very forced. The Dialogues are cheesy, to say the least, and the music is predictable and monotonous. The only two scenes about Freediving are good but only last about 2 minutes each. In other words, not a movie about freediving, a movie that has two freediving scenes in it. Do not recommend it all. Two thumbs down. Sorry if I was too harsh but I was really disappointed.
2 Reviews
Sky Christoperson debut is nothing less than an master piece.
ghjrosken3 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Freediving or breath-hold diving has been inspirational for several movies in the previous 25 years. Why do the divers choose to dive to breath taking depths? Is it about the records? Is it because those divers like to take risks? Or is it something completely else?
In "The Big Blue" (1988), Luc Besson tries to explain the sport of free-diving with two different divers. One character was competitive outgoing, the other was more inward and reluctant to win. While the plot does explore motives, it doesn't fully explain what the divers are searching for. In "Phoenix Blue" (2001) Tony Maylam uses free-diving as an side-plot to explain the motivations of an successful musician in the Caribbean. To some extend he succeeds. To some extent, Alki David's "The Freediver" (2004) mirrors the story of "The Big Blue" and adds the subject of ethics. The story is possible influenced by several accidents and near-accidents and it both capitalize and criticize the search for records. While the motive of the heroine is explored, it is not suitable as an explanation for all free-divers in general and is riddled with misconceptions on free-diving.
Thus while several attempts have been made, none of the movies is really successful to give the audience insight why free-diving is special and why some people choose to immerse themselves into this sport. Why do people choose to spend hours in the pool and in training centers to improve their performance?
To explain this choice, "The Greater Meaning of Water" takes an different approach compared to the previous movies. The whole movie is as realistic as possible about free-diving and sports medicine. It neither overemphasis or ignores the risks of the sport. Competition and training is depicted as divers actual train and medical and ethical issues concerning health are like those that can be experienced by divers and their physicians.
At the same time the use of symbolism and images are effectively used to explain things that cannot be explained in words. How do you explain something like flow or the squeeze free-divers experience at depth? Sky Christoperson found an convincing solution that does make it possible for the audience to experience what the diver is experiencing. Conclusion
"The Greater Meaning of Water" successfully achieve to give the audience an understanding why free divers choose to dive, and gives insight what athlete's are searching for. The images are stunning and the use of symbolism is innovative. In other words: Sky Christoperson debut is nothing less than an master piece.
In "The Big Blue" (1988), Luc Besson tries to explain the sport of free-diving with two different divers. One character was competitive outgoing, the other was more inward and reluctant to win. While the plot does explore motives, it doesn't fully explain what the divers are searching for. In "Phoenix Blue" (2001) Tony Maylam uses free-diving as an side-plot to explain the motivations of an successful musician in the Caribbean. To some extend he succeeds. To some extent, Alki David's "The Freediver" (2004) mirrors the story of "The Big Blue" and adds the subject of ethics. The story is possible influenced by several accidents and near-accidents and it both capitalize and criticize the search for records. While the motive of the heroine is explored, it is not suitable as an explanation for all free-divers in general and is riddled with misconceptions on free-diving.
Thus while several attempts have been made, none of the movies is really successful to give the audience insight why free-diving is special and why some people choose to immerse themselves into this sport. Why do people choose to spend hours in the pool and in training centers to improve their performance?
To explain this choice, "The Greater Meaning of Water" takes an different approach compared to the previous movies. The whole movie is as realistic as possible about free-diving and sports medicine. It neither overemphasis or ignores the risks of the sport. Competition and training is depicted as divers actual train and medical and ethical issues concerning health are like those that can be experienced by divers and their physicians.
At the same time the use of symbolism and images are effectively used to explain things that cannot be explained in words. How do you explain something like flow or the squeeze free-divers experience at depth? Sky Christoperson found an convincing solution that does make it possible for the audience to experience what the diver is experiencing. Conclusion
"The Greater Meaning of Water" successfully achieve to give the audience an understanding why free divers choose to dive, and gives insight what athlete's are searching for. The images are stunning and the use of symbolism is innovative. In other words: Sky Christoperson debut is nothing less than an master piece.
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