Rating: Summary: "The Abyss" Review: I thought the movie was way too long and pretty cheesy. There were some good things about it - and I don't know how ppl who watch it without the added footage completely understand the end (all the TV news footage) - but I didn't like the movie much. I saw this video with a bunch of friends at one of our friend's place, so it was fun to get the reaction of everybody and stuff. Some liked it, some didn't. I thought there were some really cheesy parts which didn't even seem they should be there. It's an interesting movie to watch, if you have the time and really want to see it, but get comfy, you're going to be watching this movie for a LOOOONNGG time. (It's way too long!)
Rating: Summary: DVD is packed! Review: James Cameron crafted such an incredible movie with THE ABYSS. The new 2-disc DVD is an incredible release and is sure to please Cameron fans and fans of this film.My favorite is the 60-minute documentary. When you see how this film was made, you realize the incredible amount of time and effort that was spent on it. I've always read about negative rumblings from the actors. This makes sense -- imagine going to work EVERY day for several months UNDERWATER ! . Complaints about the discs: I found the menus hard to navigate! I got led down several wrong roads trying to get to the documentary feature. Also, when watching the "special" edition, one of the chapter changes (going from an old scene to one of the "special edition" scenes...) was awful! The end of the old scene jittered and got cut off in mid-sentence. Then the new scene started. I don't know if this is a function of my player or the actual disc, but I found it annoying. The film, itself, is great for about 3/4 of the way. I don't really like the end. I find the first hour and 1/2 exciting and visionary. The most exciting scene is when the underwater lab gets tugged to the edge of the abyss by the umbilical cord. All-in-all, the set is really great, with LOTS of extras. Just a couple of technical complaints spoil it. It's great to see The Abyss where it belongs on DVD!
Rating: Summary: Sweet DVD Review: I bought this DVD and I hadn't even seen the movie, long story. Anyways, I was very impressed! It was not quite like some of the action sci-fi movies that come out today. The story was actually quite good, and the characters (at least the main ones) were developed enough that you could actually care about them. I also like the positive message that the film portrays. The DVD is also excellent, great special features! Not anamorphic, but I don't care right now. If you liked the movie pick it up. If you didn't see it, pick it up anyways =-)
Rating: Summary: BUY this DVD, its amazing! Review: The Abyss : Special Edition is simply amazing. And thats before you even start watching the movie itself. It has one of the coolest main menus on any dvd that i have ever seen, all done in 3D. It has to be seen to be appreciated. There are so many added features. You really get a good insight on how the whole movie was made and what all the people involved creating it went through. Then there was the movie itself. With all the added scences (28 minutes worth) I thought it made the movie much better than its original theatrical release. I was never really a huge fan of the Abyss, but since i bought this DVD i am now. This is what DVD is all about.
Rating: Summary: A depth of riches. Review: As a film, The Abyss a great big, emotional roller-coaster ride, somewhere between an action film and an epic, exploring the heights and depths of archetypal, primal fears, human frailty, compassion, trust and, yes, love. On top of this engrossing story is one of the most ambitious filming projects ever, shooting forty percent of the movie underwater, in a 7.5 million gallon nuclear containment structure. As the supporting materials in the DVD set make clear, this film was an ordeal for all involved, and it seems many sensed they were involved in something unique. It seems to me that the DVD reflects the desire of someone who was deeply involved in the project to convey exactly what a white whale of a quest this "son of a-byss" was. Beyond well-done, beyond 'full of special features,' the two-DVD set is an encyclopedic archive of this film and its making; even The Matrix DVD is skimpy by comparison. First of all, the DVD does what the Blade Runner Director's Cut DVD should have done but failed to: offer the viewer both the theatrical version and the expanded special edition. This was an excellent decision because while several of the scenes only in the special edition add greatly to the character development and story, the expanded "The Day the Earth Stood Still"-esque ending is even more of a non sequitur than the too-abbreviated theatrical ending. But that's just the beginning. The DVD includes: two documentaries, totaling 1'10", on the films making; the twenty minute special effects reel submitted to the Academy for Oscar consideration; numerous other production video clips; several hundred (maybe over a thousand) images, from effects stills to shots of many of the individuals who invested a lot of themselves making this film; the complete script; Cameron's sixty-page original story concept; and the complete set of storyboards for the film (another 700+ images). This DVD set is so voluminous that it clearly exists more than just to entertain the user. I think someone meant to produce and exhibit a monument to an astounding production. That person has succeeded. My hat is off, both to those who made this film and those who brought the ordeal behind the ordeal to light by producing this unparalleled DVD set.
Rating: Summary: Good title - too bad it is not anamorphic... Review: Even though the box says it is "Enchanced for Widescreen TV's" it isn't. That was the only disappointing thing about it. Otherwise it is wonderful.
Rating: Summary: A must have disc Review: This edition of The Abyss is a must have for any DVD collector. The sound quality surpasses many excellent discs I've heard recently. The Dolby Digital surround is amazingly good. I had to turn my sound system down while watching it. The video quality is amazing. I was blown away by it. It should be everyone's reference disc.
Rating: Summary: The best DVD ever made! Review: Even if the movie is excellent, the DVD is better than excellent. I baught this movie in DVD format 1 month ago and let me say that I just explored around 50% of the disc. One more thing, the 30 minutes of added footage with the giant wave is terrific but unfortunately, you'll never see it on TV, you have to buy the vhs cassette with the added 30 minutes or the DVD movie.
Rating: Summary: Original version: 4 stars. Special Edition: 5. Review: I was living in Baltimore, Maryland when "The Abyss" was released in theatres in August of 1989. I remember reading one critic who thought that it was better than E.T.. I found that to be true. James Cameron has directed a masterpiece that IS a masterpiece in every sense of the word. The awesome spectacle that this movie was didn't deserve the awful box office it received. My theory has always been that moviegoers were burned out with the other underwater films that had recently surfaced such as "Deepstar Six" and "Leviathan". But this movie is different in a lot of areas. It has a great cast, terrific special effects and a nice story. The recent DVD edition is chock full of special features. It's one of the very best DVD's that has rolled out of the industry. Also, my thanks to Mr. Cameron for authorizing the "Special Edition" version which clarifies a few areas and plot points. Batman was correctly predicted to be the box office champ of 1989. It should have been this film instead. "Titanic" wasn't this good!
Rating: Summary: So, I'm easy to please. Review: Not Really. Watch this on a BIG screen and enjoy.If you liked this one, you will like Waterworld. Both are required for the *true* collector. Cheers
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