[.ca] Lost Subs: Disaster at Sea (Full Screen)

From Amazon.com:
National Geographic's compulsively watchable Lost Subs: Disaster at Sea presents a gripping look at real-life submarine disasters. Four different undersea disasters are examined, from the first tiny problem to the final, tense rescue efforts. A blend of computer animation, contemporary news footage, and stock footage keeps the action moving and gives the viewer an effortless sense of the mechanics involved. In addition to the real-life drama, Lost Subs has a true geek's appreciation for the incredible technology of a sub--at one point a sailor shows that the sonar is sensitive enough to pick up the sound of shrimp feeding. The events covered are the stuff of action movies--the events of the K-19 disaster were made into a Harrison Ford thriller of the same name--but Lost Subs never loses sight of the fact that there are real people involved. Some of the most wrenching moments follow the families of the crew of the Kursk screaming for action and information as rescue efforts stall. Lost Subs is beautifully produced, sensitively handled, and impossible to stop watching once you've started. --Ali Davis

Deep disappointment:
I am a fan of the National Geographic series, but the poor quality of this relatively new issue was a deep disappointment. Rather than tracing the flaws in design, production, or emergency procedures through the evolution of the submarine (as I had expected), the documentary spent a huge amount of footage on filler, including a lengthy bit of fluff about the fun-loving antics of a current submarine crew. The facts that led to the demise or near-demise of each submarine were glossed over, while the camera dwelt at great length on the anguish of a few of the survivors. The incidents were presented nearly free of scientific content or historic context.

An dramatic retelling of US and Soviet submarine accidents:
Lost Subs is a very interesting history of US and Soviet submarine accidents.It has some very clear film footage of the rescue of 33 men from the USS Sqalus in May 1939 and also uses recreations and good CGI footage to tell the story.It also has interviews with survivors.There are stories on both American and Russian submarines such as the ill fated Russian Sub the Kursk in which days went by as doomed men were trapped at the bottom when a torpedo exploded.The story on the Russian K-19 is dramatic and differs from the fictional movie version. Eight heroic men sacrificed their lives by volunteering to go into the Sub's reactor to fix it,coming out vomiting and swelling up.They died a few days later and others died a few years later from the effects of this radioactive submarine.The sacrifice was to avoid a meltdown of K-19's reactor.The documentary also covers the USS Portsmouth and the USS Thresher,which like K-19 was sent out too soon when it was not ready and imploded at a great depth after a power failure.The failure to rescue the men of the Kursk is followed by some dramatic footage of a grieving Russian mother confronting some Russian officers.This 54 minute and 35 second DVD also has a map detailing where and how the subs were lost.It has written and voice details with the map with all the details about the subs.All in all,a dramatic retelling that won't put you into a hurry to go down into a submarine.