This is actually one of those rare occasions where I can proudly claim I've seen the film and read the book on which it is based! And it will probably be considered blasphemy, but I honestly don't think the film is a lot worse than the book. I know the critics bashed it down, that it was a tremendous commercial flop, and that novelist Clive Cussler hated the film-version big time. I certainly won't say "Raise the Titanic" is a masterpiece - far from it - but Cussler's novel isn't flawless, neither.
The plot he developed is brilliant, but Cussler goes way too much into detail, and that makes his book difficult to read. He even explores the identities and backgrounds of the twelve miners that were secretly sent to Russia in the 1910s to dig up the Byzanium, which goes way too far. You're already well passed the 100th page before the Titanic even gets mentioned in the book, and they weren't exactly the most exhilarating hundred pages.
Say what you want about "Raise the Titanic", but the essence of the film - the titular raising of the legendary ship more than 12,000ft up from the Atlantic Ocean's floor - looks magnificent, impressive, and spectacular. It cost a lot of money to accomplish, and it was money that producer Lew Grade didn't earn back, but the ship's model and the massive water tanks undeniably are masterful pieces of work!
In fact, the entire last half hour of "Raise the Titanic" is very enjoyable and competent cinema! True, the first hour is slow and rather dull, with unelaborated espionage and triangular relationship sub plots, but the movie is never horrible. For sure, it didn't deserve all the hatred from the critics or those dumb Razzies' nominations. The special effects are stupendous, as mentioned already, there's John Barry's soundtrack to enjoy, and there are some fine & respectable actors in the cast (Jason Robards, Sir Alec Guiness, M. Emmet Walsh, ...)
Admittedly, and as you can probably tell from the above review, yours truly is a Titanic-fanatic! I love reading and watching everything that involves this phenomenal ship and its doomed maiden voyage. I regularly watch the famous and widely acclaimed 1997-version by James Cameron as well, but usually just from the moment when the R. M. S. Titanic hits the iceberg. I will probably do the same with "Raise the Titanic" from now on, and tune in from the moment they start lifting. That footage is amazing; - can't repeat it enough!
