The film "Prof. Aronnax" (played by Richard Crenna), his daughter "Sophie" (Julie Cox), and their expedition, led by "Capt. Farragut" (Jeff Harding), embark on a lengthy journey aboard the USS "Abraham Lincoln." Their mission is to hunt down a sea monster that has been attacking ships in the South Seas. They’re joined by harpoon expert "Ned Land" (Paul Gross), suggesting capturing and defeating the creature should be straightforward. However, when the beast appears, the trio unexpectedly becomes the guests of the mysterious "Capt. Nemo" (Ben Cross), who harbors resentment towards those living above the water. The whole thing feels like an introductory episode for a television show. A significant portion of the film is dedicated to introducing characters, and it ultimately depends heavily on underwater visuals to carry a story that suffers from poor acting and weak writing. Jules Verne’s original tale provides ample opportunity for adaptation, but director Michael Anderson seems satisfied with presenting this uninspired and rather predictable adventure. There's even a developing romantic dynamic between the captain, the harpoonist, and the daughter (who brought Sheena Easton to mind), who expresses frustration at having to navigate her role as a woman in a male-dominated environment. The film offers nothing particularly striking; Cross’ performance is surprisingly stiff, and if this storyline appeals to you, the 1954 Disney adaptation or the 1916 silent version are significantly better choices.

Source on TMDB