A 30-something techie. Married, one kid, one cat. Not much free time at the moment, but I try to rea...
A 30-something techie. Married, one kid, one cat. Not much free time at the moment, but I try to read and write as much as possible.
I'VE JUST UPDATED SEVERAL OLD OPS. RATE AWAY!!! ;-)
Member since:12.06.2001
Reviews:46
Members who trust:20
Starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn (I had to look up both of those spellings!), this film was a hit for me when I saw the original theatrical edition many moons ago (According to the DVD case that was in 1989!) Occasionally I buy a DVD just to own and keep it, and this was one of them. I didn't even watch it until this weekend, thinking that it would be like most "Special Editions" much the same as the original. What a fool I was!
I don't understand how filmmakers can allow such excellent footage to be left on the cutting-room floor. This special edition is SPECIAL! The one DVD allows the playing of both versions (original or extended) simply by selecting the version from the main menu. Navigation of the second disc is Abyss-mal, so I'm excluding it from this opinion, as it is not a necessary part of the movie.
The re-extended version simply adds in so much more feeling to the movie, giving more time in the 30 minutes of extra footage to get a closer to the characters’ inter-relationships. The key message that was missing from the original is that "mankind may yet have the selflessness needed to avoid destruction" and it is clearly and obviously restored in this version. (Quote is from special edition notes)
They were proud enough of their achievements in the special edition that even the credits were extended and re-scored giving the film a running time of 171 minutes!!!
By far the best single extension/restoration is in the last 20 minutes of the movie involving the inhabitants of "Atlantis" (Referred to as the "Ark" by the filmmakers) - Their abilities, some of their technology and their methods of communication are so much clearer. Some people might not like this level of "obviousness" in a movie, but after 2+ hours, I don’t want to be left guessing too much.
An excellent Underwater Sci-Fi romp in Hollywood style (ie. Including mandatory a) Romance b) Explosions and c) Running fights of one sort or another.) Enhanced with superb (and at the time quite unique) special effects, which survive through to today to remain visually spectacular.
Can you tell I liked it? :-)
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Production Year: 1945 - Drama - Director: David Lean - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey, Cyril Raymond
Production Year: 1999 - Drama - Director: Dick Maas - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: William Hurt, Jennifer Tilly, Denis Leary, Michael Chiklis, Francesca Brown
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
isn't this movie from james cameroon and ed harris stars in it? good op, but could do better wif some more details on the extras. cheers :)
pookypop 02.07.2001 14:52
I've never actually seen this film, but I think I might jus go and rent it out thanx to you mister!!! So if I don't like it............ ummmmm...... I guess I'll jus be gutted - hehe. Great op, Pooky
Xelavie 26.06.2001 10:51
Talk of advances in technology. There may come a day that old films can be recycled in a refurbished version in perhaps even the story can be changed. I wonder how the movie goes in the extended version, ah, let me see... Alex
In this thrilling, underwater action-adventure from writer-director James Cameron ... more
('Titanic', 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day', 'Aliens'), a civilian oil-rig crew is recruited to conduct a search-and-rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sink...
![The Abyss [Special Edition]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/99942738.jpg "The Abyss [Special Edition]")
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