Directors Cut:

Two thoughts at the beginning

There is a certain symmetry in the fact that a film that has as its motif the danger of nuclear weapons and radioactive material was shot in a decommissioned nuclear power plant.

Secondly, James Cameron's technical developments (Avatar 2) have ensured, among other things, that probably never again will such a set be constructed for a film that is then completely submerged.

After these two thoughts on the frame of the film, now to the actual recession.

The film is a wild mixture of the crazy ambition of James Cameron, who at the same time tries, and relatively successfully, to imitate Spielberg's way of telling and directing stories.
The result is a grippingly narrated and unbelievable work of art, which caused tension, fascination, curiosity and enthusiasm in me. The individual plots, military operation and the conflict between the military and civilian crew, as well as the science fiction story do not seem disjointed and as if they would cut each other, but intertwine and complement each other.
The CGI, cue moving water, is far from great from today's perspective, but the underwater scenes and overall set design is outstanding. The underwater station looks used, lived in and simply authentic. The film incredibly transmits the feeling of being underwater, simply because the set is underwater, which makes the illusion just not an illusion, but reality.
About the plot I would only say that it has its weaknesses, both logically (diving without a pressure suit) and narratively (ending), but these are more than made up for by the strengths.

I can't say anything about the theatrical version, but I recommend everyone to see the directors cut. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's a super exciting film that you rarely get to see in this way.