Is this the true origin of James Cameron's love of the Ocean?
Probably not, but it is his first Film that is really about it. This is The Abyss, his 1989 epic.
Regardless of how you may feel about his 'All Avatar' Filmography over the last nearly 20 years, he delivered big in a short amount of time with The Terminator, Aliens and this, going into T2 next.
This tumultuous production tells the tale of a ragtag crew that goes to rescue a nuclear submarine in extreme conditions. Things only get worse as they are trapped by the edge of...The Abyss!
This Film inspired many copycats- which will get a Compendium soon- and is famous for one big effect. Yes, I'll cover it.
Is there more to the Film than just one moment and Ed Harris' refusal to talk about the Film ever since?
To find out, read on...
After some crazy undersea activity causes a nuclear submarine to crash at the bottom of the Ocean, experts are called in.
Leave it to Dr. Kelso here to get the best people.
Due to an approaching Hurricane, Ed Harris' team is called in.
They do underwater salvage and are reliable.
Maybe they'll find the Titanic. Right, James?
The problem- especially in the Special Edition- is that Harris and the Lead Person- Mary Elizabeth Mastriano- were once married and now separated.
Can they get it together in time to recover the nukes?
The other issue is that a bunch of Navy SEALs- led by Michael Biehn- are also on board.
They find the ship, but the SEALs must retrieve the nukes...using the vehicle they also need to help them detach and resurface before the Hurricane hits.
One part works.
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| His third and final Cameron Film. |
The storm hits and the rigging to get them back up is destroyed.
While trying to work to find a way out, members of the group start to see strange, glowing creatures.
Aliens in a James Cameron Film- unexpected!
As noted, I'm reviewing the Special Edition- which is nearly 3 hours long!
The extra footage includes lots of talk about nuclear war, as Russia is blamed for the 'attack' and conflict seems imminent.
Skipping ahead a bit, the Crew works to fix things up and find a way to survive until rescue.
Meanwhile, Biehn goes very much insane and cradles the nuclear warhead like a baby.
Nobody believes Mastriano's story about the glowing aliens until the Film's big moment- a fully CGI water trail takes the shape of human faces and tries to communicate with them!
Biehn stages a mutiny and, when that is failing, he takes one of the mini subs to go nuke The Abyss.
It implodes- awkward!- and the missile falls into the crevice.
The way back nearly kills Mastriano and now she has to send Harris down there to get the object.
It's only 12,000 feet down!
He's low on liquid oxygen, but is then saved by the aliens (who appear to go around in tiny, neon vehicles).
They threaten the surface with massive waves- more so in this Cut- and stop just short of destruction.
Why? They observed Harris' noble sacrifice and deemed us worthy of another chance.
Everyone is reunited on the surface and now...World Peace?
The End.
A Film that really drags you down to the deep.
This Film really establishes an atmosphere quite well.
You see the Ocean. You see the vehicles. You see the base.
Everything feels real and lived in.
You are down there with them.
At worst, some of the compositing with the aliens isn't super-convincing. Partly because it is so strongly lit that the seams are just more evident.
A minor, self-inflicted error.
Otherwise, the Film does a great job of building up suspense, making you care about the Characters (even the guy with the white mouse) and seeing how things will play out.
I'm glad I watched the Extended Version, as it is the complete Film and doesn't have 30 minutes chopped out of it.
After nearly 40 years, the Film hold up and is worth a look (or three)...
Next up, let's jump ahead the early 2000s. I need to wrap up my look back at Underworld and its Prequel. Stay tuned...
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