| Product: |
The Abyss (DVD) |
| Date: |
12/11/02 (183 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: The aliens are friendly in this film!, The graphics are really good, especially when you consider it was made in 1989, The film doesn't get too wrapped up in the characters' love lives.
Disadvantages: The rat scene was unecessary.
Having 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:
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~ Starring ~
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Ed Harris as Virgil ‘Bud’ Brigman
Mary Mastrantonio as Lindsey Brigman
Michael Biehn as Lieutenant Coffey
Todd Graff as Alain ‘Hippy’ Cames
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~ Crew ~
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James Cameron – director
Gale Anne Hurd – producer
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~ Release date ~
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8th September 1989
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~ Runtime ~
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166 minutes
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~ Genres ~
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Thriller, adventure, action, sci-fi/fantasy.
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~ Rating ~
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PG
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~ Synopsis ~
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Basically “The Abyss” revolves around a group of civilian divers. A nuclear submarine is going about its daily business when something 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 like the Alien movies with a splash of X-Files. The only major difference is that practically the whole film is based under water (as you may expect as it involves submarines!).
Of course no film is a film without a bit of romance (or a lack of to make it more accurate for this fil
m). You see Virgil ‘Bud’ Brigman and Lindsey Brigman are married (not happily mind you). They both have issues to sort out. They are both drafted in to help the Navy SEAL with this top-secret recovery mission.
As no film is complete without romance or an ex-romance, no film is complete without a psycho. Don’t fret. This film has one of those too. He starts to go round the bends from about half way through the movie, it builds to a climax but as you might expect, everything turns out ok in the end.
~ So, is the film worth watching? ~
Well, considering it was made in 1989 the graphics are great. I was highly surprised when I first noticed it was made in 1989. I didn’t realise until after the film it was so old and I never guessed once whilst watching it.
The film was actually made in a former nuclear plant which housed the biggest submerged movie set ever built. The film was directed and filmed from underwater practically all the way through. This leads to a really realistic feel to the film. With it being in the depths of the ocean you can expect this film to be pretty dull and dreary. Don’t less this put you off though because it isn’t all dull, there are some brighter scenes in the film too to brighten it up.
All in all I’d highly recommend the film, I don’t really have any major faults with the film.
So, to conclude:
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~ Good points ~
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§ Great graphics, especially when you consider it was made in 1989.
§ Due to the film being filmed and directed almost entirely underwater it really does give you an underwater feel, even slightly claustrophobic (so watch out those who suffer from claustrophobia!)
§ The actual scenes of the aliens involve pretty good computer graphics (again, remember it was 1989). They must be good because don’t forget I didn’t e
ven realise the film was particularly old until after!
§ The aliens are nice and friendly in this film, its always nice to see friendly aliens!
§ The film doesn’t get too wrapped up in the romance side of things. I can’t stand films that seem to completely side-track the initial theme and delve into the love-lives of the characters too much.
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~ Bad points ~
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§ At first I thought the film was a bit of a slow starter. Do stick with it though it is worth it and after the first 20 minutes or so the film improves rapidly. Plus, if it wasn’t for the first 20 minutes you’d be a bit lost as far as the story line goes.
§ Part of the film involves breathing fluid in order to allow Virgil ‘Bud’ Brigman to dive very deep. This, in itself, makes for a very good scene but previous to this scene one of the crew’s pet rat is made to breath this fluid to prove it works. This rat was indeed immersed in this fluid and made to breath it for quite a few minutes. Don’t get me wrong, I know the rat came out alive. Think about it though. It must be a very strange and non-too pleasant experience being made to breath in fluid mustn’t it? This poor rat didn’t have a choice in the matter. It may seem petty to non-animal lovers but to me that was a completely unnecessary scene.
If you decide you’d like your own copy of this you can buy from Amazon.co.uk. A VHS copy will set you back £13.49 while a DVD copy will set you back £23.74. That seems a bit steep to me but that’s what the site says!
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~ More info ~
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If you’re into reading scripts check out:
http://www.ike.co.kr/abyss.txt
Other sites:
http://www.hollywood.com/movies/detail/movie/1 77565
http://www.reel.com/movie.asp?MID=5
http://www.musicians
news.com/movies/43/82/the_abyss.shtml
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