Which was better? - DeepStar Six (1989) Discussion

[–] nicholassixx 20 years ago

i think Leviathan was better but I can't remember for sure. I always remember it for that bit when that guy gets bitten in two. Ugh!

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[–] 20 years ago

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[–] Quammy 19 years ago

It's really a toss up. If I was asked that question two weeks ago, I would have said Deep Star Six for sure. But, I watched Deep Star Six the other night for the first time in a few years and I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I did back in the day.

DS6 does have the cool bitten in two sequence that graces the VHS box cover, probably what drew me to the flick when I was younger.

Personally, I'm not sure I could say which one was better than the other. Mostly, since the two movies were virtually identical. Same premise, same setting, same ending. So, who can really say?

- Quammy

Are we not men? We are Devo!

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[–] deadclerks-1 19 years ago

both movies came out really close to each other and i liked leviathon a little better even the abyss came out around the time these 2 movies came out it was like a under the ocean movie epedemic

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[–] heyyoitsmebrian 19 years ago

i just saw them this week and leviathan is way better. for one the cast is way better. all i can remember about deep star six is the hero character who was pretty decent (mcbride it belive) and the guy u just love to hate (snyder i belive). leviathan had the a better hero (robocop!!!) and u get ernie hudson (winston from ghostbusters). cmon if ur gonna have ur typical black guy in a movie who else would u want? and daniel stern(home alone and the hella funny movie bushwhacked) as sixpack is pretty funny in the movie too.

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[–] mortimerj190 16 years ago

I have to agree people I enjoyed Laviathon way better, this was ok but could have been better.

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[–] afnaste 19 years ago

I would say that Leviathan is only marginally better than Deep Star Sux. Wanna see a good underwater movie that came out the same year, see the Abyss.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] anitric2000 19 years ago

I'd have to say:

The Abyss is the best of the underwater films because of story, cinematography, score, effects, acting (from those in the underwater scenes only...) and directing.

Leviathan is good creepy fun for those who enjoy well-made "Alien" or "The Thing" clones. The Jerry Goldsmith score is excellent too, adding much higher than expected production value, as do the (at times cheesy) Stan Winston effects. The look is good and the acting is perfect for the film. It is a professional looking film with really good gross-out moments and and real hoot of an ending.

DeepStar Six was that forgotten movie I'd gotten so excited about when I saw it on videa back when I was seven or eight. It's got some interesting underwater effects, but the story is even more cliche today than Leviathan. It's cinematography is fairly poor, and the set design isn't nearly as creepy as Leviathan. The acting is poor and the creature is really funny looking. The biting in half scene is not nearly as memorable when you're older than 15. I was very dissapointed when I watched this for the second time, 10 years later. Leviathan still manages to entertain me.

"Last survivor of the Nostromo...signing off..."

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[–] unclejay73 19 years ago

Actually, there were four underwater movies released in 1989...there was a Roger Corman attempt as well, "Lords of the Deep" and yes, it was released in theaters!

I actually saw "Lords of the Deep" in a movie theater in Westwood, NJ...I was 16 at the time and I remember thinking it was extremely cheesy, but an enjoyable cheesy (it was either this or "No Holds Barred" for Christ's sake).

As "Deep Star Six" and "Leviathan" are alike in story, "Lords of the Deep" follows an "Abyss"-like story, creatures that are friendly and superior but unbeknownest to the crew, except for the girl (played by "Three's Company" alumni Priscilla Barnes) that's facinated with them. The budget on this thing I'm sure was far less than a million...but even for a cheapie, it was fun to watch...and laugh at.

As for the topic of discussion, I think "Leviathan" is better because of the solid cast (Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Daniel Stern, Hector Elizondo) and story, but I think "Deep Star Six" had the better sets and gore!

UJ

"You learn from the best...and the worst." - Uncle Jay, 9/14/94

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[–] anitric2000 19 years ago

I have to disagree...I felt Deepstar Six's sets were all right...but the sets for Leviathan were far superiror, more practical, better lit, and designed by Alien's Ron Cobb. Also, the 'gore' was better in Leviathen...wheras Deepstar Six was just exploding body parts or dismemberments...usually caused by other people...not even the creature (which can be seen held up by wires in many shots)

"Last survivor of the Nostromo...signing off..."

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[–] unclejay73 19 years ago

Well, it's been quite sometime since I've seen those two movies, at least 5 years or so...I'll watch them back to back and give a proper analysis.

UJ

"You learn from the best...and the worst." - Uncle Jay, 9/14/94

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[–] anitric2000 19 years ago

I'm rather embarrassed now...I own both on DVD (Leviathan looks great on DVD, but Deepstar Six looks like an old Betamax master of a pan and scan copy of a VHS copy...it's really bad)

"Last survivor of the Nostromo...signing off..."

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[–] unclejay73 19 years ago

I have "Six" on VHS...I didn't bother to get the DVD because it wasn't in widescreen, and it's a shame to, because it's shot in 2.35:1!

They need to release this right. Should we start the petition?! Hahaha!

UJ

"You learn from the best...and the worst." - Uncle Jay, 9/14/94

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[–] anitric2000 19 years ago

Seriously! I would love to see the 2.35 version...the movie appears so TV-Movieish when in 1.33...the production values are low to begin with, at least give it the benefit of the panavision image!

"Last survivor of the Nostromo...signing off..."

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[–] Banjo_oz 15 years ago

I was just about to chime in and say "but my DVD I got a few years ago of DS6 IS in widescreen... then realised that of course I have the UK release (and am very glad of it, after learning about the US version here now).

I first saw DS6s on VHS (pan and scan) and it does seem a lot "better quality" in the proper aspect... then again, there's no helping that cheap monster! :D

As for the two, I saw both as a teenager, Leviathan once and DS6 many times, which indicates I preferred DS6 (I also had a recorded copy on tape).

I just bought Leviathan (US release with a snazzy lenticular cover!) on DVD however, and am about to watch it tonight... will have to see if it beats DS6's nostalgia with its (at a glance and from memory) better atmosphere, budget, cast and effects.

Oh, but in DS6's corner... even all these years later, Snyder's OBVIOUS stupidity in detonating the nukes is still an "in joke" with my brother and I, whenever we encounter one of those "are you sure you want to do this?" prompt on a computer, device, etc. Also, I remember Nia Peeples very fondly from it, too... :)

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[–] Jigsaw737 19 years ago

Now that's odd. The US-release of an US-movie that was filmed in 2,35:1 gets a lame full screen release, while the German DVD sports the original 2,35:1 format? Funny.

Yeah, i own the movie on the DVD and i actually love it! I'd like to own Leviathan either, but that one wasn't released in Germany yet. Hope it will be someday, even though it is submerged in the depths of the labels backcatalog. ;)

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[–] danixdefcon5 17 years ago

Ahh ... so someone other than me remembers that one! Yes, that one was fairly decent, I liked that one ... but then, I was like 8 yrs. old when I watched that one. Lived in a small town w/crappy theaters, so that was a privilege set only for big releases. The rest, home video rentals. Of the "Abyss" copycats, this one I liked the most; actually this one was the only one that almost hit home with the Abyss storyline (the underwater movie craze of '89 was sparked by The Abyss)

Of course, Deep Star Six I watched after watching The Abyss, and DS6's Spanish title was "El misterio del abismo"; I thought I was watching the Abyss... until I saw the plot was totally different. Liked it, though the "eaten in half" scene did disturb me but hey, I was 8 yrs. old, remember???

I just watched this one today (DS6), and it is funny how old movies that scared me as a kid just don't cut it out now.

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[–] itlyb 16 years ago

Of the "Abyss" copycats, this one I liked the most; actually this one was the only one that almost hit home with the Abyss storyline (the underwater movie craze of '89 was sparked by The Abyss)

But weren't both "Leviathan" and "Deep Star Six" released months before "The Abyss"?

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[–] Cognoscente (2463) a year ago

They were rushed to beat out The Abyss.

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[–] DreTam2000 12 years ago

There were five underwater movies released in 1989. Check out The Rift and The Evil Below.

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[–] unclejay73 12 years ago

I actually meant theatrically released in the U.S., "The Evil Below" wasn't released in theaters here, and "The Rift" (aka "Endless Decent") was 1990.

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[–] DreTam2000 12 years ago

Speaking of which, I just sent you a PM.

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[–] electricboogalooshrimp 18 years ago

Its been years since I've seen Leviathan, but I just watched Deep Star Six and must say it's Leviathan as Deep Star Six is a worthless piece of supercrap. As previously noted the cast in Leviathan is worlds better (c'mon, who'd you rather have, Peter "Robocop" Weller or Greg "My Two Dads" Evigan), and the effects in Leviathan couldn't be anywhere near as atrotious as Deep Star Six. Just a wretched film, the only thing going for it is Miguel Ferrer who is great in anything.

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[–] litltingod 18 years ago

I think Leviathan was much better.

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[–] jusukilappa784 18 years ago

Leviathan takes the winning trophy by far.

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[–] unclejay73 17 years ago

The UK DVD is also letterboxed, 2.35:1...with some good extras, too. Just snagged a copy...

"You learn from the best...and the worst." - Uncle Jay, 9/14/94

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] itlyb 16 years ago

Wow, I really want to see "Leviathan" now. "Deep Star Six" is an old childhood favorite of mine with 3 scenes sticking out: the one with the diver who gets bitten in half, the one with the air spear that makes a guy explode and finally the one where Snyder is racing to the surface too fast and explodes, too.

"The Abyss" was really well made, but the story was... meh. Kind of a big set up for nothing. I'd love to have seen a movie made like "The Abyss" but with a plot like the one from "Deep Star Six". We need more underwater horror!

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[–] anitric2000 16 years ago

100% Agreed. They tried to bring it back in the late 90's, but it didn't work..well, maybe they weren't 'underwater'...but 'aquatic in nature."

- Deep Rising
- Virus
- Deep Blue Sea

and hell, even the underwater scene in Alien Resurrection. (funny seeing that and the SAME damn scene in Deep Rising almost back to back in theaters).

"Last survivor of the Nostromo...signing off..."

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[–] kevfent 15 years ago

Deep Rising and Deep Blue Sea were both very good in my opinion, but Virus sucked.

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[–] anitric2000 15 years ago

I love Deep Rising. Deep Blue Sea is okay for a serious cheese-fest (and a great score) but yes, Virus was awful.

"Last survivor of the Nostromo...signing off..."

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[–] smirre44 15 years ago

I liked Leviathan better, the monster was more relevant and insidious.

But one little fact, in Leviathan they were able to go topside right away without
decompressing first. I guess DS6 was more realistic in that fashion.

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[–] DreTam2000 12 years ago

If I recall correctly, the characters in Leviathan did have to decompress. The suits they were in did it for them. You could see the decompression meter "making its rounds" as they ascended to the surface.

Obviously Leviathan is the better film. They are both fairly bad movies, but Leviathan has the better cast and each character is well defined and balanced. I enjoyed the monster more in DS6, and it was an interesting enough watch; the concept of some marine life trapped in a cave continuing its ecosystem shut off from the rest of the world for centuries is intriguing. But the themes and plot in Leviathan were interesting as well. Of course, we get the generic "Don't f#ck with mother nature" line, but it was applied interestingly enough as well.

But for me, the balanced characters in Leviathan and good actors made it more watchable than anything else. The character interaction and the way bits and pieces of their personalities are revealed is well done.

The Abyss (which happens to be my favorite movie) is obviously the best underwater film, and I have yet to see Lords of the Deep or The Evil Below or The Rift.

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[–] mcarter71 15 years ago

Leviathan is a nice glossy, shinny movie with a better look than Deep Star Six but like an expensive gourmet meal it just wasn't as feeling.
The acting in Deep Star Six for me just seemed a little more real as with the rest of the movie.Grittier with more tension and suspense.The musical score was good and I felt more connected and concerned for the main characters.
The creatures in both movies are passable with neither ranking up their with the best such as Alien, Predator, The Thing, and The Howling.

Leviathan 7/10
Deep Star Six 8/10

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[–] Banjo_oz 14 years ago

Agreed. I never came back to say what I thought after re-watching Leviathan after all these years... but I agree with mcarter71.

Leviathan looks a hundred times better, IMO (gore, effects, sets, costumes, creatures) but DS6 still wins for "heart" and - dare I say - script and acting. Leviathan has some heavyweight actors, but I never felt for their characters or believed them as much as I do DS6.

I also find it refreshing that almost all the deaths in DS6 are NOT the direct result of the monster's jaws! :)

Maybe its nostalgia (I saw DS6 dozens of times as a teenager, but Leviathan only once or twice) but DS6 is still my fave.

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