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Movies / On DVD / The Abyss
The Abyss

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The Abyss (1989)

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Reviews Counted:41

Fresh:35

Rotten:6

Average Rating:7.1/10

Consensus: The utterly gorgeous special effects frequently overshadow the fact that The Abyss is also a totally gripping, claustrophobic thriller, complete with an interesting crew of characters.

Runtime: 5 hrs 26 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: After a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks in a remote part of the ocean floor, a team of divers on a prototype underwater oil rig are pressed into service by the U.S. Navy in a rescue attempt.... After a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks in a remote part of the ocean floor, a team of divers on a prototype underwater oil rig are pressed into service by the U.S. Navy in a rescue attempt. When a hurricane cuts off contact between the surface and the underwater depths, the crew begin to see evidence of a strange, possibly alien intelligence at work. While chief Bud Brigman (Ed Harris) bickers with his ex-wife and boss (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), the Navy commander begins to grow increasingly paranoid about the mysterious alien life and threatens to use a recovered nuclear weapon to destroy everything. James Cameron's undersea epic is a tale of sacrifice and hope in an amazing alien landscape that covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Featuring landmark visual effects but plagued by production difficulties, the cast and crew were stretched to the breaking point and THE ABYSS became one of the most expensive films ever made in its time, but the final result is a remarkable blend of action and human drama. Scenes cut from the theatrical version, including a number of special effects sequences involving huge tidal waves threatening the cities of the world, are restored in the Special Edition versions. [More]

Starring: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester

Starring: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Chris Elliott, Todd Graff

Director: James Cameron

Director: James Cameron
Screenwriter: James Cameron
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Composer: Alan Silvestri

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Dec 21, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Abyss

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21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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No review available.

comment Comment
02/22/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment 1 Comment
02/04/04
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

Brilliant at sustaining tension and interest.

Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page | comment Comment
12/05/03
James O'Ehley
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page

No review available.

comment Comment
10/28/03
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

No review available.

comment Comment
08/23/03
Aaron Hillis
Aaron Hillis
Premiere Magazine

No review available.

comment Comment
07/24/03
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

Suffers due to its incredible length and slow pace, but intriguing, nonetheless.

comment Comment
04/01/03
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

Pretty great underwater adventure.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

No review available.

comment Comment
03/03/03
Brandon Judell
Brandon Judell
PopcornQ

No review available.

comment Comment
10/17/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

A classic.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/05/02
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

...the undersea adventure may have you waterlogged after the first hour.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
04/20/02
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

The film lasts for more than two hours, yet the audience could hardly expect to be bored.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/09/02
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Anyone looking for a discouraging word about this stupendously exciting and emotionally engulfing film should read no further. The Abyss confirms James Cameron as a world-class filmmaker.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
05/12/01
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

a rare film--big-budget Hollywood entertainment on a grand scale that is able to seamlessly incorporate many levels of meaning into an entertaining experience.

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
02/27/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

If the 1989 cut is a thrill ride, then the 1993 revamp is a frequently wrenching emotional roller coaster.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bill Chambers
Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central

Begins with a bang and just keeps on rolling.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

The human stuff is more than worth the descent.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A finely crafted film.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Elspeth Haughton
Elspeth Haughton
Apollo Guide

One of the best science fiction film ever made. This remains true in spite of a rather superficial treatment of the some of the science fiction elements. It is very much a 2001 with the slowish parts replaced by a good fast-paced adventure film.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 >> >|
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Latest News for The Abyss

August 11, 2008: 20 CGI Classics - From T2 to Batman Begins to WALL-E
We showcase 20 films which have employed Pixar's pioneering software RenderMan to create some of the last two decades' most visually-impressive movies. More...

April 08, 2007: Michael Biehn Hopin', Wishin' and Waitin' for "Avatar"
James Cameron staple actor Michael Biehn ("Terminator," "Aliens," "The Abyss") must be happy that the director is coming back to narrative... More...

March 27, 2007: Biehn and Cameron Back Together on "Avatar"?
They worked pretty darn well together on "The Terminator," "Aliens," and "The Abyss" -- so maybe filmmaker James Cameron and actor Michael Biehn... More...

January 17, 2007: An Old Friend Checks Out James Cameron's New "Avatar"
Well here's some James Cameron news that's interesting if not all that surprising: In addition to the already-cast Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, the "Avatar"... More...

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