‘Poseidon’ DVD proves not as powerful as title
While the extra features may be entertaining, the movie sinks
by Lisa Roney, contributing writer
Posted on September 7, 2006

The word “Poseidon” comes from the name for the Greek god of water.  If only the movie could live up to its immortal namesake.

The standard one-disc version of the DVD (a two-disc version with other features is also available) that was released on Aug. 22 has only one measly feature, plus the theatrical trailer for the film.

“Poseidon: A Ship on a Soundstage,” is a 22-minute behind-the-scenes look at the disaster film, and the sad part is that this feature is almost better than the movie itself, which should not be taken as a huge compliment.

It was interesting to learn that more water was used on this set than any other set in history. Also, the film was shot in continuity (in order), a method rarely used in modern filmmaking. 

Director Wolfgang Peterson claimed that the film’s opening scene was the longest and most difficult shot in movie history to produce, and the feature backed up his proclamation with a look at how that scene was made.  Unlike many “making-of” featurettes, this one is pretty bearable and painless to get through.

The actual movie, however, is another story. With an extremely short running time for this sort of film (100 minutes), “Poseidon” simply tries too hard to stun and impress the audience. The ship is turned over within the first 15 minutes, and the rest is nonstop suspense and violence that makes it too overwhelming to watch.

Some scenes are so overdone with unnecessary gore and action that it can make watching it unbearable, and movies should never be a chore to watch. With its unimpressive features and hard-to-watch plot, “Poseidon” is a ship you can definitely leave at the dock.