Directed by:
James CameronScreenplay:
James CameronCinematography:
Mikael SalomonComposer:
Alan SilvestriCast:
Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Todd Graff, John Bedford Lloyd, J.C. Quinn, Kimberly Scott, Jimmie Ray Weeks (more)Plots(1)
A civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search and rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks. One diver (Ed Harris) soon finds himself on a spectacular odyssey 25,000 feet below the ocean's surface where he confronts a mysterious force that has the power to change the world or destroy it. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (14)
I finally saw the extended version of The Abyss. And it was great! Yes, it's true that the somewhat heavy-handedly moralistic conclusion simply can't have the same impact today as it did in 1989, but I'm still willing to turn a blind eye and give it a fifth star. After all, the film runs like clockwork for almost three hours, it doesn't get boring and still has something to offer. Amazingly claustrophobic exploration of a crashed submarine, literally revolutionary special effects scenes, perfect underwater shots, an excellent mini-submarine chase that has nothing to be ashamed of even in 2011, likeable characters like the marines from Aliens that will quickly grow on you, excellent actors with Ed Harris and Michael Biehn in the lead, roaring and magical music by Alan Silvestri... And above all, Cameron's traditional perfectionism is visible in every second. As I said - the ending can make you shudder, get angry, laugh... If the film has so many positives, then four stars would simply not be enough. CALL GUINNESS.
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When Cameron wants to do something, like shooting an entire film in a water tank, he just does it and the result is always perfect. Although this film wasn't nearly as big a hit as Terminator 2, I put it higher in James Cameron's filmography, and it’s further proof of his immense perfectionism – he just can't make a bad film. And since I've seen the director's cut, I have to say that the extended ending with a stunning (for its time) visual effects scene puts this film in a completely different light.
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I watched the extended cut, fortunately, because I wouldn’t like to have missed a single minute. I don’t really know what the “original” shorter cut is missing, but I wonder what they could have left out for the film to still make sense, and my conclusion is that it must be the twist. The Abyss is a very good and tense sci-fi film full of minor clichés, which I wasn’t a fan of, but I came to terms with them. Cameron probably cares more about visual spectacle (the special effects are of course brilliant) than smart unpredictable scripts.
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Is this really from 1989? I can't believe how attractive and appealing the visuals of the film are. I'd guess 2005, too bad 80s horror films weren't as high on the technical side as The Abyss. At first I thought it was going to be a space sci-fi flick, after all it is set in a nuclear submarine (which I'm not too fond of), but luckily the film was spiced up with an alien visitation as well as a lot of other fitting elements. For its running time, the film has a decent pace and doesn't get boring. The highlight for me is the emotional resuscitation and exploration of the ocean floor by Ed Harris. The only thing I see as a minus is that the thriller psychosis didn't develop into a more vigorous massacre. 80%
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James Cameron always gets his way and when he sets his mind to something, everything just falls into place. From the filming system, the set construction, the casting, down to the tiniest decorations and details. He is a brilliant director and when it comes to potential, there is hardly any competition in Hollywood. The Abyss, above all, has an immense power in the ending and the duo of Ed Harris – Elizabeth Mastrantonio is so perfectly chosen that it's hard to believe. The presence of complex visual effects doesn't overwhelm, and everything is exactly as it should be.
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Gallery (57)
Photo © 20th Century Fox
![The Abyss - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/161/829/161829691_9bb6c3.jpg)
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