Features: Interactive menus; scene access; bonus program ("Last Hours Of The Titanic"); photo gallery; Titanic route map; profile of Dr. Robert Ballard; interactive trivia quiz; previews of additional National Geographic programs; web site access links.

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (original full frame)

Sound: English (Dolby Digital Surround 5.1)

The Movie: The 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic has facinated millions of people worldwide since 1912 (myself included). However, one man's obsession about the disaster led him to search for the wreckage 2.5 miles below the cold, rough, cobalt waters of the Atlantic Ocean. That man was Dr. Robert Ballard of the Woods Hole Oceanagraphic Institute in Massachusetts and this is the story of the 1985-1986 Franco-American expeditions sent to locate the Titanic and its wreckage. They are successful, and then make several dives to the wreck. We the viewers are taken on this incredible adventure. Interspliced between shots of the ship are shots and viginettes of the people who built, sailed and tragically, died on the gigantic vessel. It is both a moving and fascinating documentary.

The Picture: Warner Bros. Home Video and National Geographic have put together an awesome DVD. Considering that the whole thing was shot on low-grade video (after all, it was the mid 1980's!)--barring the antiguated film footage from the Titanic days--this one looks pretty clear.

The Sound: WBHV/NG were kind enough to go and remaster the soundtrack in Dolby Digital Suround 5.1, and it shows. The disc sounds...titanic!

The Extras: Here is where this DVD excels. As it is, this doc. runs 51 mins. The 2nd documentary (Last Hours...) runs approximately 20 mins. Not bad! Throw in plenty of other juicy things (aforementioned above) and you'll have enough Titanic stuff to keep you busy for a while (hell, the ship itself sank in only 2 hours and 40 minutes). All the extras are definitely extra!

Conclusion: All in all, this DVD is one for the library. It would make a good companion- piece to the "Titanic" DVD that Paramount had released...but I'm going to wait for the rumored special director's-edition that the self- proclaimed King Of The World might eventually release in the near future. Let's all pray! Smile.