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Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmeister, Todd Graff ... see more see more... , John Bedford Lloyd , Kimberly Scott , J.C. Quinn , Capt. Kidd Brewer Jr. , George Robert Klek , Chris Murphy , Adam Nelson , Richard Warlock , Jimmie Ray Weeks , J. Kenneth Campbell , Ken Jenkins , Michael Beach , Chris Elliott , Peter Ratray , Brad Sullivan , Frank Lloyd , Joseph C. Nemec III , William Wisher , Phillip Darlington , Joe Farago , Leo Burmester

The crew of an experimental, high-tech submersible is called into action to investigate a mysterious nuclear submarine crash. A series of strange encounters leads the crew to suspect the accident was ... read more read more...caused by an extraterrestrial craft, and that they may be participating in an encounter with an alien species. However, in order to make contact, they must not only brave the abyss, an exceedingly deep underwater canyon, but also deal with the violent actions of one of their own crew members, an increasingly paranoid Navy SEAL officer. Approved by director James Cameron, The Abyss: Special Edition is an extended director's cut of the 1989 underwater science fiction epic, reinstating nearly a half hour of footage removed from the original release under studio pressure. Much of the restored footage places the film's events in a grander political context, as the crew's mission becomes a factor in the dangerous escalation of nuclear tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The largest change involves the film's ending, which provides further information on the aliens' mission on Earth, bringing the film to closer to Cameron's intention: a modern remake of Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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79% liked it

98,971 ratings

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88% liked it

43 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: James Cameron

Release Date: August 9, 1989

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DVD Release Date: November 7, 2000

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Stats: 4,227 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,227)

  • spielberg00
    April 21, 2012
    spielberg00
    The plot is actually quite simple. Essentially, itâ(TM)s a combination of Cameronâ(TM)s sea passion and his sci-fi passion. Think TITANIC meets ALIENS. Or, if you arenâ(TM)t quite familiar with either of those classics, for whatever reason, think of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, then e... read morelongate it to the point at which the (fewer) people aboard begin exploring the depths of the abyss, with some dazzling alien sequences evenly intertwined.

    I hadnâ(TM)t ever seen THE ABYSS before now. In fact, it and PIRANHA TWO: THE SPAWNING remained for a long while the only two Cameron-directed feature films I hadnâ(TM)t seen. After deciding to rattle off the last two, I immediately jumped to renting the extension. I know Cameron canâ(TM)t let me down, as my absolute favorite director (in a tie with Hitchcock and Allen), and I always want to watch as much as possible of a film, so I thought it to be a great idea. For the first forty minutes or so, it wasnâ(TM)t. The âshallownessâ? (pun fully intended) of the exposition seemed overlong, and Iâ(TM)d assume it was because of the addition of new material. The informal language, as well, got to me. Then, I started to realize something odd. As the tension started building up, I felt that nearly every minute of the opening was necessary, and the casualty and sarcasm the characters were using pervasively was continuing, but strengthening the believability.

    GAIN A "DEEPER" INSIGHT:
    http://themoviefreakblog.WordPress.com/review-the-abyss-special-edition
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 27, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    After the phenomenal action classic, Terminator, James Cameron pushed the boundaries yet again with astounding special effects with The Abyss. This is a special effects milestone that helped advance the use of CGI in film. The result is a very good looking film that has breath ta... read moreking special effects. Cameron has always been keen on delivering a visual spectacle with his films and The Abyss definitely emphasizes that. In terms of special effects, The Abyss delivers some astounding effects. Where the film lacks slightly is in the story, the plot starts off well enough, but it ends somewhat on a dismal note. The film has an impressive cast of talented actors that are able to carry the film well enough to make it watchable, but halfway through the film; the story looses its fire and becomes a little silly. Of course that's a minor speed bump as you're more focused on the astounding visuals. The visuals are what really makes this film watchable, and this one of the films that James Cameron has made. The cast do a fine job with the script, and luckily the story manages to work for more than half of the film, but like I stated, it loses its fire slightly and some elements feel out of place. This is still a worthy film to watch despite its small flaws. There are more great things going for this film than bad things. Cameron crafted a fine special effects wonder that remains one of the best he's ever done.
  • ScoopOnline
    August 16, 2011
    ScoopOnline
    The Abyss is one of the Wonderful and Beautiful Alien Movies I have ever seen. I liked the Idea Aliens Underwater.
  • fb701560354
    August 15, 2011
    fb701560354
    James Cameron never fails to criticize humanity in his work, but the message here is plain and simple so that everyone can understand. Seriously cool and gorgeous special effects, amazing acting and a suspenseful story make this one claustrophobic, nail-biting thriller with inte... read moreresting characters.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    July 29, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    A place on earth more awesome than anywhere in space.

    Truly an epic film which I greatly enjoyed! Amazing story and superb special effects for that time which was film in. This movie really connects with you and moves you in ways you never thought it could. Probably one of the b... read moreest movies done in the 80's. Great learning for everyone!

    When an American nuclear submarine crashes, the United States Government believe the Russians to be responsible. They enlist the help of a team of underwater drilling platform workers who are to help the deployed Navy SEALS locate the crash site. As they get closer to their destination, the friction between the two teams increases. When some workers report seeing UFO's underwater, the SEALS grow increasingly suspicious and suspect a Russian mini-sub. After a series of near-fatal disasters, the workers find that they are the only people who are capable of stopping World War III. But they are not the only inhabitants of the deep, and strange things are happening back at the surface...
  • sergioogarcia
    June 26, 2011
    sergioogarcia
    If you haven't seen the Abyss what a hell are you waiting for. James Cameron with an outstanding story and a previusalization of the new era of special FX. Ed Harris, Maria Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn who by the way provide one of the best villains I remember.
  • ironclad1609
    February 21, 2011
    ironclad1609
    James Cameron's flirt with the deep blue sea must have been an excruciatingly painful effort to shoot and act, it certainly shows in the actors, who don't have to do much. Harris and Mastrantonio still deliver very powerful performances, making them the beating heart of this film... read more. The images of the underwater rig, the subs and men in diving suits do get a bit repetitive but the mystery of what lies below and the well timed action scenes still make for a fun experience. Cameron probably wanted to make his own "Close encounters of the third kind". He failed in doing, that but still delivered a deeply entertaining film. Especially the final images (of the special edition) are stunningly spectacular.
  • fb619846742
    January 17, 2011
    fb619846742
    A visually dazzling and impressively imaginative film. Definitely get the director's cut of this movie, the last half hour is simply stunning in every way possible. This film, which is vastly underrated compared to James Cameron's other works (the very much overrated "Titanic", t... read morehe respected "True Lies", the solid "Avatar", the near masterpiece "Terminator 2 - Judgment Day", and the virtually flawless "Terminator" and "Aliens"), is very well done. Definitely lacks in dialogue occasionally and it takes a little while to get into, but if your eyes aren't popping out of your skull during the grand finale (which features an epic score and incredible special effects), you haven't seen a sci-fi movie yet.
  • TheGame90
    August 18, 2010
    TheGame90
    I certainly didn't see this coming. Fantastic movie. Very much more high budget then I thought. I really thought the movie was about to end when Kyle Reese died....But they had alot more in mind for us. It's a interesting idea...cause who knows whats down there? The movie has a m... read moreessage that many of you people should think about. Now I can say without a doubt in my mind. James Cameron.....is the king. Just give him a big budget...and he'll make something great out of it. Every time
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 29, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    boring in some parts but overall a really good movie. B+

View All The Abyss Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 19, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

A firstrate underwater suspenser with an otherworldly twist, The Abyss suffers from a payoff unworthy of its buildup. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
June 6, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The attempt to extract the essences of several genres (cold-war submarine thriller, love story, Disney fantasy, pseudomystical SF in the Spielberg mode) and mix them together ultimately leads to giddy... Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

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.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The human stuff is more than worth the descent. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

I'd sooner believe that Moby Dick could swim up the drainpipe. Full Review

Nick Davis
August 4, 2010
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

The Abyss gains in some ways from its own Achilles heels, in a way most movies don't... its formal technique, its reckless obsessiveness, and its gutsy emotionalism are what I can't stop turning over ... Full Review

Tim Brayton
December 14, 2009
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

One need not be a Cameron acolyte to recognise that The Abyss has aged better than some of the films that outshone it back in the day. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
August 26, 2009
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

The movie was a bear to make and it shows onscreen, parading around a series of mesmerizing set-pieces that look deliciously hard-earned in ways our current CG-drenched filmmaking climate never allows. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
September 19, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

As a follow-up to Cameron's great sci-fi Aliens, The Abyss is too verbose for an actioner and the special effects, striking as they are, are not well integrated into the narrative, but it's still wort... Full Review

June 6, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

What ultimately saves the film are its extraordinary sets and phenomenal Oscar-winning visual effects. Full Review

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The Abyss Trivia

  • The American Humane Association rated this film "unacceptable" because of the rat that was submerged in oxygenated liquid in one scene.  Answer »
  • What movie is this quote from - It went straight for the warhead, and they think it's cute!  Answer »
  • Which 1989 film featured the largest underwater set in the world at 7 million gallons?   Answer »
  • Which movie has this tagline : " Deep below the blue surface, there lies a place no one has ever dreamed of..... "  Answer »
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