There are films that are bad, and there ones that look bad, but hold value to them not everyone sees. Raise the Titanic, was loosely based off a novel by Clive Cussler. It is a race between the Americans and Russians trying to obtain a rare mineral that could decide who becomes the top world power. To do this, they must salvage the mineral from the Titanic. The only way to do this is by raising the Titanic; ergo the main titles. This may turn off people because the whole plot line is given away, but that shouldn't be something to squander over. It should be more of what is looked forward to. This film has a lot of good stuff in it.

Starring as the main character of Cussler's stories, is Dirk Pitt, played by Richard Jordan. I can't say Jordan is the best choice but he's definitely not bad either. Jordan at least gives the character of Pitt some attitude that comes with the territory. For the most part, the entire film stays faithful to the paperback material. All the characters are in there, along with the most important scenes. One might say that this movie was thought to perform well because Alec Guinness, best known as Obi-Wan Kenobi, from Star Wars, plays a character as well in the story.

On a side note, a particular element that could have been left out of story was the relationship between Gene and Dana Seagram. The same goes for the book but the way the situation was handled here was half-baked. From beginning to the midway point, there were various scenes that show strains on these two characters' marital status and then out of nowhere,...it stops. They get into an argument and Gene temporarily leaves Dana but the issue is never resolved. So why have it? It doesn't make sense to start something and not finish it. Adam Kennedy and Eric Hughes wrote the screenplay; so my question is, who skimmed over this part? Also some people may think the story drags but it all builds up to good ending.

Besides this, there are multiple things to find enjoyable in this movie. First, the special effects. Of course it's "1980" special effects but none the less they are a sight to look at. From the submarines, to the Titanic itself, the props look really authentic. It's when the Titanic is brought to the surface that the view is beautiful. Although audiences may be annoyed to find out that the Titanic is in one piece. But what do you expect? The novel and this film where produced years before the Titanic was even discovered. It's fiction anyway, so why be so critical on accuracy when practically this whole film is inaccurate in real life?

One of the most wondrous moments that takes place in this film is when Dirk Pitt enters the Titanic when it is above the water. It is truly a sight to behold and all this should do is make each of us just a little hungrier to see the Titanic for ourselves. It's plain epic. Another great aspect to Raise the Titanic is the soundtrack composed and conducted by music veteran John Barry. Barry puts in a lot of good tunes and has a gift for making the Titanic look awesome just for being on screen. His music is that moving and it's almost to the point of being angelic. For those who are skeptical, it's still at least worth a try to view.

Except for a few issues dealing with the script, the film adaptation of Raise the Titanic is respectively a suitable tribute to the White Star Line cruise ship. The effects are dated but they are worthy to be seen as is Barry's score heard.

To obtain a supply of a rare mineral, a ship raising operation is conducted for the only known source, the Titanic . A group of Americans (Jason Robards Jr , David Selby) led by Dirk Pitt (Richard Jordan , Steve McQueen was offered the lead role in the film ; however, he felt the script was flat and turned down the offer) are interested in raising the ill-fated Ocean liner Titanic. As the marine research foundation carries out the preparatives to pick up a precious radioactive metal whose only known world supply reportedly went down as contraband aboard the Titanic , as they have to raise and recover it . One of the team members finds out the Russians also have plans to raise the ship from its watery grave .

This a spectacularly big-budgeted but slow-moving film that failed really at box office . The bulk of this tiring film surrounds schemes to locate and recover a valuable metal called Byzanium . The picture develops a thrilling suspense about a strange mineral along with an international intrigue blending the Titanic , Russians and submarines . Based on best-seller by Clive Cussler who appears as a reporter during a press conference ; however he hated this movie so much that he refused to allow the sale of any film rights for his other Dirk Pitt novels , he finally relented 20 years later, and agreed to sell the rights to 3 novels and the first to be filmed was Sahara, which Cussler also hated . Spectacual FX , as a model of the Titanic was built for $350,000 , when it was finished, it was too big for its tank , a bigger tank had to be built, for $6 million. The Titanic model used for filming was on display at Anchor Bay, Malta, in a building close to the set used for the town of Sweethaven in the film Popeye ; later, it was moved next to the deep water tank at the Rinella studios in Malta. A storm hit the island in 2003, damaging the model beyond repair. Acceptable main actors as Jason Robards as Admiral James Sandecker , early deceased Richard Jordan as Dirk Pitt , David Selby as Dr. Gene Seagram and Anne Archer as Dana Archibald . Supporting cast is frankly excellent as Alec Guinness as John Bigalow , M. Emmet Walsh as Master Chief Vinnie Walker , J.D. Cannon as captain Burke and Michael Pataki as Munk and Michael C. Gwynne as Bohannon .

The flick lavishly produced by Sir Lew Grade , caused the collapse his enterprise , regarding the film's cost, producer Lew Grade famously said that it would've been cheaper to lower the Atlantic . The motion picture was middling directed by James Goldstone , though Stanley Kramer was hired to direct, but quit after two weeks due to "creative differences". Jerry Jameson was an usual filmmaker for television who filmed other catastrophe movies such as Hurricane , Fire and rain , The elevator , Deadly tower , Fire in the sky and his greatest hit was ¨Airport 77¨ with an all-star-cast and one of the best of disaster genre .

I saw that this film got some Razzie nominations in the year it came out. I mean it isn't that bad, but it's strictly for the juvenile trade. If you want to believe that we were engaged in atomic research before World War I. We were still trying to electrify our cities then.

Anyway some research has shown that some really rare radioactive material was shipped on the Titanic and the stuff went down with it. Now the USA wants it and Admiral Jason Robards has engaged David Selby, Richard Jordan and Anne Archer as a girl Friday to find it. Too deep to dive so we have to locate and raise what was once the pride of the White Star line and the most famous disaster at sea ever.

Of course the Russians want it as well, therein lies the plot.

This film kind of reminds me of the old television series My Favorite Martian which lost syndication value when our explorer went to Mars and showed us what the planet was all about. We now have located the ship and know for a fact it broke up and is in a few sections in the briny deep. No getting up the way our cast did it though that's the best part of the film.

The second best part of the film is Alec Guinness who plays an old survivor of the Titanic who reminisces with Jordan about the American who brought the stuff on board. His scenes were quite moving.

Anyway we do find out what happened and the ending is kind of poetic. Still this one's for the juvenile trade.