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A different way of telling a story

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I wasn't aware of a sporting competition known as free diving until I saw this movie. I'm still a bit perplexed, because 'free diving' looked like anything but. The men who entered the ocean were transported into the depths via a device which I couldn't tell whether it was operated mechanically or by gravity. And then, it seemed like an awful lot of time was wasted by the divers at the varying checkpoints. Granted, the 'lot of time' may have only been seconds, but when you're holding your breath and not making distance, those moments would potentially translate into additional footage. So I didn't get that at all. I also didn't get the competition between the principals once it reached the stage of becoming life threatening. Jacques Mayol (Jean-Marc Barr) appeared to be the better adjusted of the two; his long time friend Enzo Molinari (Jean Reno) at a certain point appeared to exhibit a degree of mental instability with his need to be the best. I even hesitate to call the men friends, as it seemed to me that Enzo's only interest in the Frenchman was in beating him at the diving game. That early scene when they were kids suggested Enzo to be a bully for forcing Jacques to step aside for the coin. I did like the way the Padre rewarded Jacques with his own coin after all the onlookers left, that was a virtuous gesture.The relationship between Johana (Rosanna Arquette) and Jacques was another head scratcher for me. While Johana was head over heels, it seemed like Jacques couldn't care less most of the time. In the variously configured love scenes between them, check them out, they seem to be occupying positions at odds with genuine love-making. And then, for Jacques to turn his attention to a dolphin for the rest of the night, well, one might get the wrong idea.I don't know, the enthusiasm for this film from the true believers is to be admired but the picture just didn't do it for me. I really didn't get a sense of romance with the sea that Enzo and Jacques experienced, particularly when both their fates were decided by a relationship with the water. In Enzo's case, he pushed himself beyond human endurance, but with Jacques' final descent, there was an element of finality that the average person would consider irrational. And so, I did.

Movie Review: "Le grand bleu" (1988)Being the opening film of the Cannes Film Festival on May 11th 1988 in its 41st edition, young, talented and promising director Luc Besson, not yet 30 years of age, already coming to full flourishment in proper exercised cinematic language in color, camera motion and acting beats with fellow casting members Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno and Rosanna Arquette struggling within the element of water to find purpose in life, concerning deeper and deeper pushed limits in open water free diving challenges, when suspense works to hyper-realistic conclusions beyond the usual love theme under an hypnotic soundtrack by exceptional composer Eric Serra alongside Besson's directions of utmost passion for his source material felt in every scene of the motion picture.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

The film starts with an island view in black and white Greece. Throughout the film I encounter wonderful scenes. Blue color is peaceful and watching the endless expanse of the Mediterranean is enjoyable. I was very happy for acting. I think that people who are interested in diving and the sea should not go on without watching. The final scene was very impressive. It is a very beautiful film that brings happiness and sadness together.

This is a movie requiring certain compromise with the sense of reality - as what is seen is what feels surreal. The entire story is an emotional journey captivating the birth of an unbreakable friendship. The ocean, as the main stage, serves as the meaning of two friends' lives - and that's what makes The Big Blue absolutely unique. Even though not easy to understand, this movie contains more chemistry than what can be found in many love stories we've seen.The Big Blue is about the three dimensions of life: living, loving, and leaving. The way this movie ends invites you to start watching it all over again. Isn't that the everlasting desire of one's life?