Deep Sea (film)

Deep Sea (: 深海) is a 1988 Kodeshi  directed by and co-written by Qiu Guangyao, and starring Teng Jie, Yang Chen and Zhao Ming. The film is about crew of Imperial Kodeshi Navy Saijing-class submarine the fictional Haiweishi (: 海卫士; Hǎi wèishì; lit. Sea Guardian) as they embark on routine strategic deterrent patrol mission. But things don't go to plan and as find themselves alone deep into enemy waters, the crew must face numerous challenges and overcome seemingly impossible odds in order to complete their mission and avoid all out nuclear war.

Plot
The film story follows a crew of Imperial Kodeshi Navy submariners as they embark on a routine patrol that quickly turns into a game of cat and mouse against a powerful enemy nuclear attack submarine as they lose all contact and face the prospects of a full blown nuclear war. As they venture into enemy waters, the submariners face numerous challenges, including the failure of communications equipment, psychological toll of being deep under the sea for extended periods of time and the constant threat of being discovered and attacked by the enemy. In addition, the crew must grapple with the psychological implications of being in control of a nuclear arsenal and the possibility of being involved in a nuclear conflict.

Despite these challenges, the crew remains determined to complete their mission and outmanoeuvre their foe. As the film progresses, the crew must use their skills and training to navigate the treacherous waters and evade detection by the enemy. They must also confront the physical and psychological effects of being deep under the sea, including the threat of claustrophobia and the dangers of decompression sickness. Despite these challenges, the crew remains united and determined to succeed in their mission.

In the end, the crew emerges victorious after a tense and dangerous battle with the enemy submarine. However, their victory comes at a heavy price, as some crew members are killed and others are left dealing with the psychological trauma of their experiences, including the weight of having been involved in a potential nuclear conflict. Despite this, the film ends on a hopeful note, as the remaining crew members are hailed as heroes and their bravery and sacrifice are recognized.

Cast

 * Teng Jie as Capt. Sun Tang, commanding officer of the Haiweishi
 * Yang Chen as Lieutenant Commander Shen Ji, the executive officer of the Haiweishi
 * Zhao Ming as Petty Officer Second Class Huang Xiu, the Haiweishi's woman sonar operator
 * Wang Lin as Chief Petty Officer Zhang Tao, the Haiweishi's chief engineer
 * Sun Zhi as Petty Officer First Class Chen Wei, the Haiweishi's weapons officer
 * Liu Dong as Petty Officer Third Class Li Yun, the Haiweishi's navigator
 * Li Juan as Petty Officer Third Class Liu Ying, the Haiweishi's communications officer
 * Fu Jun as Seaman Apprentice Chen Wei, the Haiweishi's helmsman
 * Cheng Ji as Seaman Apprentice Wu Chang, the Haiweishi's electrician

Production
The production of the film Deep Sea was a complex and challenging undertaking, involving the collaboration of a large team of filmmakers and technicians. The film was directed by Qiu Guangyao and written by Zhang Ling, who also starred in the film as Captain Wu Lei, the commanding officer of the Imperial Kodeshi Navy submarine Haiweishi.

The film was shot on location in various locations around Kodeshia, including naval bases and shipyards, as well as on board the Haiweishi, which was a full-scale replica of a Saijing-class submarine. The production team worked closely with the Imperial Kodeshi Navy to ensure that the film accurately depicted the life and operations of a submariner.

The film's cast and crew faced numerous challenges during the production, including the logistical difficulties of shooting on a submarine and the technical challenges of simulating underwater scenes. However, the team was able to overcome these challenges through hard work and dedication, and the film was completed on time and on budget.

The film was released to critical and commercial acclaim, winning several awards and becoming a cultural phenomenon in Kodesh. It remains a beloved and enduring classic of Kodeshi cinema, and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of the war film genre.

Theatrical
The Deep Sea was released theatrically in Kodeshia on October 25, 1988. It grossed Hz568.1 billion at the box office. Against a budget of Hz414.6 billion, the film was a modest commercial success. But despite its modest box office performance, the film became a cult classic, and is now regarded as a classic of the war film genre.

Box Office
The film was also a mediocre commercial success, grossing just over $37 million at the Kodeshi box office. It was overshadowed by other Kodeshi films that were released around the same time, and failed to achieve the same level of popular or cultural impact as some of its contemporaries. Despite its mixed reception and mediocre box office performance, the film remains a notable entry in the Kodeshi film canon, and has a dedicated fanbase among fans of the war film genre. As a result, it was included on the National Treasure list in 1999.

Critical Response
Deep Sea received a mixed reception upon its release. While some critics praised its direction, writing, acting, and production values, others were more critical of the film's pacing and lack of character development. The film was nominated for several awards, but only won one award at the Imperial Kodeshi Academy Film and Television Awards for Best Visual Effects, and failed to garner any major awards. The film was also included on the National Treasure list in 1999, and is now considered a classic of the war film genre.

The film holds a 63% approval rating on popular review-aggregation website based on 156 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Deep Sea is a visually stunning and technically impressive adventure that offers a thrilling glimpse into a mysterious underwater world. However, the film suffers from a slow pace, thin characters, and a predictable plot that fails to engage the audience emotionally." On another popular review-aggregation website, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

The film was also met with a lukewarm response by audiences, who gave it an average grade of "B-" or a 3 out of 5 stars on various review-aggregation websites. Many viewers appreciated the film's realistic and immersive depiction of the deep sea and its creatures, as well as its message of environmental awareness and conservation. However, some viewers complained that the film was boring, clichéd, and lacked depth and character development.

Awards
The film was nominated for four Kodeshi Film Critics Association Awards for Best Film, Best Director (Liu Xiaoyu), Best Actor (Wang Xueqi), and Best Actress (Zhang Ziyi), but did not win any. It was also nominated for three Imperial Kodeshi Academy Film and Television Awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography (Zhang Yimou), and Best Visual Effects, but only won the latter. It was also nominated for two Golden Dragon Awards for Best Film and Best Director (Liu Xiaoyu), at the 21st Golden Dragon Awards but lost to other films