Description

Visit Sagwa and her friends as they develop friendships and appreciate their environment! This video includes three favorite Sagwa stories in which Dongwa tries to hide his feelings when he learns that his new friend, Siao-po, is moving, the kittens think they can save the village by capturing a roaming panda, and Ping Wing helps resolve a conflict between Sagwa, Fu-Fu and the whistling pigeon. Sagwa's Petting Zoo teaches children to notice when ego or pride govern their actions and helps children recognize feelings of jealousy and envy. ... Read more

Description

Sagwa learns that even a small kitten can change her world for the better!This video includes three episodes: In How Sagwa Got Her Colors, Sagwa accidentally creates a new law when she spills ink on the Foolish Magistrate’s rule scroll…but her mishap sets a very happy ending into motion.In Fur Cut, Sagwa learns the difference between truth and exaggeration after she makes up a story to explain a bad haircut.In Stinky Tofu, Sagwa enjoys her grandfather Yeh Yeh’s stories but not the funny smell caused by his very favorite food!She discovers there are better ways to solve problems than running away. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Following in the reptilian slime trail of Anaconda, this derivative monster movie from early 1998 plays like a cross between Titanic and Tremors, with parts of Aliens tossed in for good measure. Director Stephen Sommers couldn't recognize an original idea if it swallowed him whole--which, by the way, is exactly what happens to a lot of passengers on a luxury ship that is attacked by a giant serpent-like sea creature with a voracious appetite for human flesh. Treat Williams plays the leader of a mercenary crew whose members discover the ravaged ship and wage war on the creature; Famke Janssen joins him as an onboard thief and con artist who just happens to be highly skilled with automatic weapons. Of course, the action grows more intense as the body count rises and along the way the monster is gradually revealed in all of its gruesome glory. A guilty pleasure if ever there was one, Deep Rising arrived in theaters shortly after another waterlogged thriller, Hard Rain, and if nothing else it provides proof that the B-movie monsters of the 1950s are alive and well and as cheesy as ever in the age of digital special effects. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (104)

A little bit of humour goes a long way!
The more I watch this film, the more I like it. I recently re-watched it after seeing DEEP BLUE SEA. DEEP RISING is aimed at a lower level, really, and I think it's better off for it. A B-movie at heart, DEEP RISING conquers DEEP BLUE SEA because it never once takes itself seriously, and the blend of light comedy and horror works well (director Sommers proved it a successful formula later with THE MUMMY).

It's not just the gags that I like, either. There's something about the beginning of the film that I find curiously evocative - this high tech speedboat racing racing racing with single-minded, straight-line purpose toward an unknown destination in complete darkness. The fact that the audience knows what the crew will find when they arrive makes it more tantalizing.

Still, with a B-movie one must have B-movie expectations. The CG effects are only average and often unconvincing. The plot motivations are ridiculous. The acting ranges from extremely engaging (Treat Williams) to labored (Anthony Heald).

The DVD presentation is sparse (typical for a Hollywood Pictures release). The transfer is great, but non-anamorphic. There is a trailer, but nothing else of note. The sound quality is exceptionally good.

Sorry to go back to this comparison, but here I go anyway. Where DEEP BLUE SEA is lofty, DEEP RISING is lowbrow. Both are decent films, and each has its strengths over the other, but since this one is a heckuvalot of fun (and the other just plain isn't), I'd rather watch DEEP RISING again.

I hope you found this review informative! Thanks for reading.

Don't be afraid...
Don't be afraid to admit that you like this movie. Deep Rising is a terrific monster flick that delivers all that can be expected of a film of this type. You get thrills, chills, kills and more than a few laughs. The computer generated creature from the depths, is an ugly and vicious man-eater, that manifests itself in several different forms throughout the film. A twisting shiny gray mass, with numerous slimy looking tentacles, capable of great speed. This terror from the deep devours its victims with zest. All in all, a very cool looking monster, and a formidable opponent.

The human cast is not bad either. Treat Williams as "Finnegan" is a steady, likeable leading man, delivering some incredibly silly lines with an engaging smirk on his face. Pickpocket Famke Janssen, is dynamite in a red dress, and handles a gun like a pro. Comic relief is provided by Kevin J. O'Connor as "Joey", a character you will either love or hate. Anthony Heald as "Canton" the pompous ships owner, provides the "weasel factor". The hard-boiled mercenary group, led by "Hanover"(Wes Studi), ably performs their most critical function, that of being bloody fodder for the monster.

The plot enfolds in time tested fashion. Finnegan is hired to take a group of mercenaries to an unknown location at sea. They rendezvous with the "Argonautica" a disabled cruise ship, expecting to find it filled with passengers, only to discover just a handful of survivors. A mysterious creature is apparently loose on board. As the survivors continue to investigate the crippled ship, the monster makes its presence felt, and the fun begins. The body count continues to rise, and blood flows freely, up until the film's climax, where the monster pursues a jet ski through the ship's corridors. Wild mindless fun.

Writer and director Steven Sommers took the experiences gained from his first "creature feature", and put them to good use in his next films, the more commercially successful "The Mummy", "The Mummy Returns" and the yet to be released "Scorpion King".

Deep Rising is a great choice for pure escapist enjoyment. Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack also adds considerably to the atmosphere and excitement. The DVD features just the movie and the trailer, and is perhaps a good candidate for the "Special Edition" treatment common these days, especially as this film has been overshadowed by Sommers latter efforts.

Greatest horror movie ever created by mankind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie is so great that they should make 2nd movie call "Monster Island:DEEP RISING 2". With different characters.

The #1 lousiest movie of all time!!!!
Well, what can we say? absolutely one of the most painful movies we've ever watched! The plot was non-existent and the acting - oh my god! with a guy called 'Treat' I guess we should have guessed! it was cheesy line after cheesy line, rather than a "fine wine" he was more like a cheap bottle of Boone's Farm that made you want to hurl in the sink!

If you have to watch this, we recommend you have a drink or two (hell, drink the whole bottle!) at least to numb the pain! Oh yeah, and amazingly Treat's hair quif remains perfectly intact after being underwater and everyone else is drenched - oh dear.

Saw better special effects in Godzilla 2000.
Well it is a B-monster movie all right. The sea creature is really just some bad CGI effects thrown in for bad measure. There is little to be said about this movie other then the fact that Steven Sommers made it, and he is turning out to be a pretty bad movie maker. At least after this movie, some of the cast did go on to appear in much better movies, but Sommers still makes crappy movies. This movie was not Jaws or Aliens, it was more like Plan 9 from Outer Space. I think I will go and watch Godzilla 2000 now. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sagwa, based on Amy Tan's book, is about a Siamese cat and is set in China during the 18th century. Sagwa, her parents, her brother, and her sisters are expert calligraphers who serve the magistrate, but still find plenty of time for fun and adventure. In "Explorer's Club," Sagwa's brother Dongwa belongs to a Gamester's club that refuses to include Sagwa in its membership. Sagwa forms her own Explorer's club and excludes Dongwa, but a perilous situation soon necessitates that the rivals work together. In "Treasure Hunters," teamwork and quick thinking yield rich results, and in "Sick Day," Sagwa and Dongwa discover the joy of imagination and storytelling while the rest of the palace learns the power of cooperation. Brief interviews with children from around the world punctuate the episodes, offering a glimpse of a variety of cultures. Sagwa is a wholesome, entertaining series from PBS that encourages curiosity, cooperation, and an appreciation of different cultures. (Ages 3 to 7) --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not the best of the Sagwa episodes
My 5 year old and two year old watch only a little TV. Sagwa is one of their favorites, but "Explorer's Club" is one of the most anxiety-producing episodes to them. At 5, my daughter can talk herself through it, but it has given her nightmares. My two year old can't watch it. "Too scary," she says. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Inspired by prize-winning author Amy Tan's children's book, Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, this PBS offering features the adventures of the young Sagwa (approximately 8-years-old in human years) and her siblings, both in their Chinese palace home and on streets of their city. "Firefly Nights" finds an "almost grown-up" Dong following Dad to see pyrotechnics the cats mistakenly take for glorious insects. Changing bad luck into good luck is the theme of "Fu-Fu's Full Moon Flight," in which a bat with poor echolocation saves Sagwa and his self-confidence. In "Shei-Hu's Secret," a trusting mouse shares his friends' hideaway with Sagwa, but her urge to brag puts them all in danger. Each 11-minute segment is followed by a mini-documentary on relevant topics like tai chi. PBS considers this a show for ages 5 to 8, but feline-loving preschoolers will enjoy it, too. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Description

Sing along with Sagwa, Sheegwa and Dongwa as they learn to resolve conflict! This video includes three favorite Sagwa stories: When the Monkey King in in town, Baba gets so caught up in the excitement that his opera singing repeatedly interferes with Mama's leisure time activitie; on her way to deliver the libretto to Sing Bad, Sagwa encounters a few mishaps but she finds a solution to make it alright; when the Magistrate becomes inconsolable at the loss of his singing cricket, Sagwa is just in time to save the day! Kitty Concerto teaches children how conflicts can arise and encourages children to persevere to overcome challenges. ... Read more

Description

Everyone has a story and Sagwa's family is full of them! This video comprises three episodes from the hit TV show for kids. In ROYAL CATS, Dongwa leanrs how exciting history can be when he discovers that the Miao family's ancestors were royal cats. In CAT IN THE WIND, siblings Sagwa, Dongwa and Sheegwa learn the power of art through the magical story of their ancestor, the artist Ming Miao. The excitement continues in CIAO, MIAO! when the Foolish Magistrate is visited by a relative of Marco Polo and nearly gives away a member of the Miao family! Family Fun: - Reinforces the value of working together to solve problems - Introduces children to the excitement of learning about family history ... Read more

Description

Traditions and celebrations are important to Sagwa, her family and village.This video includes three favorite episodes.In New Year’s Cleanup, Sagwa has to reason with a crafty rat as she helps out with the traditional New Year’s housecleaning.In By the Light of the Moon, the kittens prepare a special Moon Cake message for Mama.Then, in Ba-Do and the Lantern Festival, the magistrate’s daughter Ba-Do learns to appreciate her home and family when she and Sagwa get lost during the lantern festival. ... Read more