The Abyss (DVD)

...recently watched “The Abyss” for the first time on TV the other day I thought I’d review it for all you fellow Internet addicts out there! Yes, that includes you. You know who you are! Before I delve into my personal view of the film, here’s the boring bits: -------------- ~ Starring ~ -------------- Ed Harris as Virgil ‘Bud’ Brigman Mary Mastrantonio as Lindsey Brigman Michael Biehn as Lieutenant Coffey ...
...strange passes by, cutting out the electricity on the way and causing the submarine to crash into some rocks. The United States send in the divers to rescue any surviving crew members on the nuclear submarine. This film is a bit like Alien, ok, so maybe its nothing like it. Basically what I meant to make clear is that it involves USO’s (in case you are wondering whether I made a typo, USO’s = Unidentified Swimming Objects!). Its vaguely ...

Sarah_Louise 12.11.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

The Abyss is another sci-fi classic from James Cameron who also directed the Terminator and Aliens. Although never seen as a major blockbuster (for some unknown reason), the Abyss has much more going for it than many films of its ilk. It has a story; it is about ordinary people in an extraordinary situation; it has tension in both the plot and its characters and it's the humans who are the bad guys this time instead of the aliens. A nuclear submarine ...
...Marines (they shouldn't really send the Marines anywhere as you know there is going to be trouble) and indeed there is. Though not from where you might think. The acting in The Abyss is pretty damn good from all concerned - Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn et al. Each character develops throughout, becoming more complex and more human, with emotions and fears. There is nothing superhuman about these people - they are all ordinary, ...

rvb13 21.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...giving us Terminator (aliens from the future) and Aliens (aliens in space), in 1989 James Cameron decided to takes his theme to a new location and the setting for Abyss is entirely underwater. Its not a new idea, but out of all the attempts at this type of horror/sci-fi, this is undoubtedly the best. This time however the film is set in the totally recognisable world of the present day and comes complete with a moral message regarding humanity. ...
...of experts and oddballs under the leadership of Virgil "Bud" Brigman played by the excellent Ed Harris. News reaches them that a US submarine has been lost on the edge of an abyss and with a violent storm moving in they are the only place a successful rescue attempt can be launched from. After being joined by a team of navy SEALs and the rigs designer, who happens to be the estranged Mrs Brigman, the storm closes in cutting all contact with the surface. ...

steerpyke 07.01.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

In the same way that Alien felt like you were really in deep space The Abyss really feels like you're deep under the ocean. The claustrophobic atmosphere is one of the reasons why this film really holds the attention despite being over two and a half hours long. But being squeezed into a tin can isn't all there is to it, oh no. This film has a lot more going for it than that. First of all let's place the film. At first it feels like it may be a ...
...sub resting on the edge of an oceanic abyss. Our heroes are unlikely deep sea miners. Before long they are joined by a crack SEAL team. Now we have conflict of interest. Then there's the love interest. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (a name almost as long as the film) plays the designer of the deep sea rig who returns to oversee her baby being used as a rescue platform. Ed Harris is the team leader who happens to be the seperated husband of the aforementioned ...

brianbarnes 06.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

The title describes it all. I will agree with people when they saay that the story is a little bit weak, especially the dramatic U-Turn in the 3rd Act of the script. But, The Abyss is essential viewing. The underwater cinematography features some of the most exrtavagant shots I've seen. There are beautiful wide-angles and shots of the actors when underwater look like they are floating. Really should be seen for this if anything. Should be seen anyway. ...

dvdindetail 22.09.2000 · Read full review
Review of The Abyss (DVD)

I am probably in the minority here but I really didn’t like this film. The look of the film is great, it is atmospheric and the psycho edge provided by Michael Biehn is outstanding but the film is lacking any of the claustrophobia and desperate battles for survival that have marked Cameron films such as Terminator, Aliens and Titanic. The beauty of the underwater environment is the feel of trapped with hostile creature / person and that is just not ...

pabdesign 31.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of The Abyss (DVD)

The Abyss is set on a underwater mining operation base. The crew are asked to assist a bucnch of marines to explore the Abyss. This start to go wrong when the underwater Aliens start to interfer. The special Edition of this film is far superior to the cut version. James Cameron has produced another classic Sci-Fi film. The special effects for this film were amazinf for its time. Its a shame that it didn't do as well in the box office as it should ...

stixx 07.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...Sci Fi at its best, The movie is directed by James Cameron of Aliens, terminator and Titanic fame. The film is based around a underwater exploration station trying to find out what is going wrong with this drilling rig, The trouble is the problem is to deep for normal diving. Ed Harris plays the princable character brilliantly and of course he is in charge of the crew which includes his ex wife (which he still loves). They have this really cool ...
...feasable. Then 30 minutes through the film they encounter the alien creature which is like a snake made of water, the special effects are great for its time. In the end the hero Ed Harris goes down into the Abyss and goes down further than he should, so he reaches the point of no return and knows he wont be coming back, Then his wife realizes she still loves him...aaaaawwww. Then the nice aliens rescue him from death and deliever him back to the ...

fireman1 15.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...am still trying to get the video. It is a film every sci-fi buff should have in their collection. Abyss is basically about a team who go into, yes, you've guessed it, the Abyss to find out what is happeneing to a drilling rig. Down there, they fnid something none of them is prepared for. I'll only tell you it is an alien, and leave the rest to your hungry anticipation. The film makes excellent use of the udnerwater setting, to create a murky, dark ...
...film hikes up the tension, and we begin to wonder, as you always do during a sci-fi film, what the alien could be. Is it a vicious foe, a benevolent creature, or none of the above. It also uses some intersteing effects and ideas, such as a diving apparatus that drowns the user, till 'his body remembers'- how we breathed in the womb. This idea of the body regressing to prebirth mixes nicely with the darkness and unknown in the abyss. Abyss is best ...

Incognito 22.06.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

This is the film where a new special effects computer company showed the world what could be done. Industrial Light and Magic using a Toaster (not that sort of Toaster but a special computer based on the Amiga) and Lightwave software startled the world with their creativity. Considering that it was 1990 the effects were truly magic. People may forget the plot but surely they will always remember when a finger of water confronts the heroine and morphs ...
...we go down into the depths of the ocean with no idea that an alien race lives in such an unfriendly environment. A massive, underwater, mobile platform is the setting for this sci fi adventure which is enlisted by the US military (who else?) to aid the recovery of a submarine. To this end the sea bed habitat is reinforced by the arrival of a group of navy Seals, the human variety not the oink! oink! flipper clapping, ball balancing on the nose kind. ...

jimbuck 11.11.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...and a decent plot as the protagonists find an unexpected intelligent life form. Unfortunately it also contains some dreadful sentimentality, and the film spends far too long revealing its subjects. I haven't seen the director's cut, but how anyone could have thought the film would be improved by making it longer beats me. I would hardly describe the film as a failure, as its good points makes it little short of astonishing at times, both through ...

NeilHudson 09.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...somewhat fearless woman that needs the help of her nearly ex-husband Bud Brigman, (Ed Harris), to attempt to rescue a nuclear submarine (Deepcore), that has mysteriously been blown off course and sunk. The team work well together, apart form the snide remarks aimed towards Lindsey for her cold, hard nature. But with any movie.. it can’t finish in half an hour. While down trying to rescue the broken sub, an unusual creature, a see-through ...

michellej 30.08.2000 (10.03.2001) · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...Let me elaborate. For the first hour and something this is an absolute cracker - Some of Cameron's best work. Intense drama, intriguing plot and very good acting (particularly by Ed Harris), also boasting one of the most intense dramatic scenes in recent cinema (Ed's bird nearly drowning!). Yet somehow from here on in the screenplay manages to plummet to the depths quicker than the Titanic(the ship not the film) - Cameron obviously couldn't resist ...

JSpencer 17.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The Abyss (DVD)

...other is something else!!! The Abyss is directed by Titanic and Terminator 2 director James Cameron, and it shows..... The film is stunningly put together and has twists and turns at every corner. Those in the movie such as Ed Harris play the parts extremely well. The special effects for the time (1989) are extremely well done, and the overall effect is of a really good sci-fi movie that has a consistent feel of quality. It never once loses the ...

gches 02.11.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of The Abyss (DVD)