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The Abyss Details

1989 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 17,621 members

A team of civilian divers working on a prototype underwater oil-drilling rig are coerced by the US Navy into helping them look for a lost nuclear submarine. Whilst in deep water the Navy supervisor has paranoid ideas about what they've found in the Abyss..... Read more

Starring Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Director James Cameron
Genres Drama

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The Abyss cover art

The Abyss

A team of civilian divers working on a prototype underwater oil-drilling rig are coerced by the US Navy into helping them look for a lost nuclear submarine. Whilst in deep water the Navy supervisor has paranoid ideas about what they've found in the Abyss.....

Starring Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Director James Cameron
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 43 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Genres Drama
Language English
Released DVD: 26 Feb 2001
Production year: 1989
Format DVD

The Abyss (1989)

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  • Critics' reviews (4) of The Abyss

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    For some, this was James Cameron's Waterworld, a bloated, sentimental epic from the king of hi-tech thrillers. Some of the criticism was deserved, but it remains a fascinating folly, a spectacular and often thrilling voyage to the bottom of the sea. Ed Harris stars as the leader of an underwater team working for an oil company that is pressed into service to rescue the crew of a crippled submarine. But they soon begin to wonder if they are the only life forms in the vicinity. Harris is great in a rare leading-man role and there is first-rate support from Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, as his estranged partner, and The Terminator's Michael Biehn, as the unstable marine commander. Cameron excels in cranking up the tension within the cramped quarters and the effects are awe-inspiring and deservedly won an Oscar. It's only marred by being overlong and by its sentimental attachment to aliens.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • "...[A] stupendously exciting and emotionally engulfing film....With probing intelligence and passionate feeling, Cameron has raised the adventure film very close to the level of art..."

    • Rolling Stone
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Most helpful member's review of The Abyss

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  • 16 out of 18 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Terrible, terrible, terrible

    This has to be one of the worst films I have seen in a long time. The actors/actresses have so little charisma and character that everything they say is absolutely unbelievable.

    As for the script '...queen bitch of the universe' is a person 'favourite' line. Try to count the number of times 'son-of-a-bitch!' is said, go on, make a drinking game of it, possibly the only way to enjoy this dreary, melodramatic, unbelievable, cliched, corny and hollow film.

    Special effects range from great to poor (occaisionally) and are possibly the only saving grace.

    The Navy Seals are particularly dull.

      • Scott McGonigle from Scotland
      • Posted 08 May 2005 13:11

  • Most recent members' review of The Abyss

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  • 6 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Bad plot, bad dialogue, bad director!!!!!!!

    Ok, maybe its just me but i am no the worlds bigest fan of James Cameron. Titanic was good first time around but then it just iritated me. And what he did to the Alien films was diabolical. Now back to this one. Bad plot, bad dialogue, bad director!!!!!!! the characters are badly writen, and i couldn't follow any coherent plot. the special effects are way too simplistic, even by Camron's standards. And to top it all off, the ruddy thing is almost 3 hours long. the directors cut is longer, but i doubt that it would add anything to it.

    Needless to say, I DID NOT LIKE IT!!! MASSIVE LET DOWN!!!

      • A customer from North Wales
      • Posted 18 Feb 2004 22:34

  • News and features

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    Aliens

    Weaver confirmed for new Cameron film

    • 15 Feb 2007

    Fans of Aliens might be excited to hear that director James Cameron and xenomorph-kicking heroine Sigourney Weaver are set to reunite for a new science-fiction thriller. Avatar, which has also been written by Titanic director Cameron, is to star Weaver in the role of Grace, reports Aintitcool.com. And although the film has yet to be fully cast, virtual photography is due to start in April with a release date sometime in 2009. Of course, it is not the first time that the director has veered into Read more

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Rating breakdown

17,621 Member ratings
  • 100
1,843
  • 90
1,809
  • 80
3,806
  • 70
3,568
  • 60
3,204
  • 50
1,571
  • 40
852
  • 30
461
  • 20
343
  • 10
164

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    • The Abyss

    • The Abyss
      A team of civilian divers working on a prototype underwater oil-drilling rig are coerced by the US Navy into helping them look for a lost nuclear submarine. Whilst in deep water the Navy supervisor has paranoid ideas about what they've found in the Abyss........