AsitstitlesuggestsTHEFABULOUSWORLDOFJULESVERNEisanawe-inspiring,meticulouscinematicrenderingoftheaestheticandconceptualinventionsofproto-sciencefictiongeniusJulesVerne,basedononeofthefamedauthor'slesserknownshortstories.However,therealstarofthefilmistheintricateartdirection,successfullyrenderingthevisualstyleofnineteenthcenturywoodcutsandengravingsintomotionpictures,creatingastylizedandsurrealgraphicworldwithinwhichVerne’sfancifultaleunfolds.Abrilliantscientist,Dr.Roche,percheshighaboveastormysea,inventingapowerfulexplosive,whenheandhisassistantarekidnappedbyanevilbusinessman,Artigas.TakenbysubmarinetoArtigas'volcanoheadquarters,Rocheistrickedintodevelopinghisexperimentforevilintentions.Thescientist’sassistant,Simon,strugglesallthewhiletofreehimselfandwarnRoche.Amagicalworldofbaroquesubmarinesandsailingships,killeroctopus,underseabicyclesdazzlesaudiencesashumanactors,puppetry,animationandfancifulscenicdesigninteracttocreateacinematicexperiencethatisuniquebyanystandards.Mixingslapstickcomedy,actionadventurepacingandMéliesstylefilmmagic,thislittleknownCzechoslovakiangemtranscendsthejuvenileliteratureatitssourcetocreatecinematicartofthehighestorder....
