The Abyss (Special Edition)

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Summary: An underwater adventure you will never forget!!!!!!
Review: This book was really good! Ive seen the movie before but the book was better. In the movie you dont get to know what the person is thinkig or feeling but in the book it explains everything to you. It made it much easier to understand. i like how they made the movie a lot like the book. I really dont have anything bad to say about this book, it was very easy to understand. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. I recommend seeing the movie first and then reading the book because it gives you a better visual on what is going on. Go read it!

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Summary: Excellent special effects work highlighting effective acting
Review: This movie was very well done. The special effects work is virtually flawless, and the acting and writing fit very well. The storyline doesn't vary far from the book. END

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Summary: great
Review: i've not only read the book i worked on the movie and got to see the great works of jim cameron and the actors of this movie. the movie should have got alot better rating than it did. the book is usual better but james cameron did a excellent job of makin ght ebook come to life. [e-mail] END

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Summary: What is this digipak version?
Review: This digipak edition DVD does NOT have a 5.1 soundtrack. The picture remains letterboxed, not anamorphic, and it still carries the THX certification, though it is not marked so on the box. If you can, obtain the original Special Edition release in plastic case with black cover, it has the 5.1 soundtrack. If, like me, you are still waiting for the proper anamorphic release of The Abyss, this is NOT IT, it is simply an inferior repackaging.

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Summary: The Best James Cameron Movie Of All Time
Review: Forget "Titanic," even forget "The Terminator." This movie far surpasses any of those in a wondrous display of fine acting and mind-boggling special effects! Cameron, not known for creatin solid, believable characters, has really outdone himself in this sci-fi masterpiece starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastriano (or however you spell it; you know, she's the chick from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"), and Michael Beihn in the most fabulous roles ever displayed on film. Cameron presents his film with a gripping on-the-edge-of-your-seat explosive beginning and eventually the audience finds themselves truly captivated by the dream-like world this fine director has created for us. I can't say enough good things about this movie, except that it's a can't-miss!!! The Special Edition is exceptionally well-done in a marvelous display of awesome scenes cut from the original that make the original so much better! I highly recommend both films, whereas The Special Edition has made "The Abyss" my favorite movie of all time. You just HAVE to buy it!!! Now if only they could come out with it in a DVD format... wouldn't that just kick!!!!

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Summary: THIS is why you should own a DVD player!
Review: Few other "Special Edition" discs get you as intimately familiar with a film and the film-making process as this new DVD does, though the laser disc collector's edition of TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY comes awful close. Now you fortunate DVD-player owners can get for about $30-$40 dollars what we laser disc owners shelled out $100 for years ago, plus more. A heart-pounding movie, beautifully and intricately shot under nearly impossible circumstances (it wasn't nicknamed "The toughest shoot in film history" for nothing). Part military action thriller, part love story, and all impressive, THE ABYSS SPECIAL EDITION on DVD gives you both the theatrical version and expanded version of the movie (even the laser disc only had a one-version option), documentaries (the longer one is not to be missed), and enough bonus features to monopolize your entire day. It can really take the whole afternoon and evening to see it ALL. Granted, at 171 minutes the expanded version is a bit cumbersome at times, but by then you are so engrossed you don't mind. We've all seen good-looking special effects movies undermined by a so-so script or lame acting. But THE ABYSS delivers where it counts -- solid performances and an often tense script. This is the version to own. All other versions and formats of this film pale in comparison - even the expensive laser disc version. For what you'll pay for this disc you get much more than your money's worth. This collection sets a new standard for discs with bonus features. And if you enjoyed THE MATRIX for how it took full advantage of your surround-sound system, this disc will also please. Make sure your subwoofer is turned on.

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Summary: NOT A MOVIE YOU CAN SEE OVER & OVER AGAIN...
Review: Though I'm usually a big fan of sci-fi films, there was something about this one that I thought was missing. Don't get me wrong, Ed Harris is a great actor, I'm just not sure that the whole cast was right for the roles they played. Sometimes casting can make or break a movie. Just take Haunted Mansion for example, those kids were awful actors!

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Summary: Probably one of the most tamest he's done but still great
Review: James Cameron personally as always been one of my favorite directors. Although reports say he can be a hard ass on set, he knows how to make a film and knows how to balance between action and drama. After his 1st film Terminator(he did make Piranha 2 but we're not counting that) and one of my all time favorites Aliens, he made the Abyss, a film that had an incredibly difficult shoot but still is quite watchable.

A nuclear submarine encounters an object which can travel faster than any machine or known aquatic life. The sub ends up hitting a rock cliff and plummets into the ocean but just above crush depth(the more lower you go, the more pressure in which case the sub would literally get crushed to pieces). The Deepcore station, an underwater oil rig is the closest to the sub so they're ordered to do the mission. Accompanying the Deepcore team is its designer and a group of Navy Seals led by Coffey, who gets more unstable as the film goes on.

While exploring the wreckage, a crew member witnesses something and goes into a coma while another one sees it too and of course no one believes her. 2 subplots from here: Coffey's increasing paranoia that it's Russians trying to get at them and first contact with this alien life form.

Shot in a massive tank, 2 actually, the shoot was quite long and arduous with many problems with either the set, or the safety of the actors. But it sure does pay off in a way. One thing that sets the film a bit off course is it's pace. It's not a long movie but it almost feels it. And the ending is far better in the extended version since the original was so abrupt.

Normally I don't comment on commentaries but this was probably the most informative and even funny at times commentary I've read. Yes I said read. Since we can read faster than we can speak, the filmmakers decided to type out the information at the bottom of the screen almost like a subtitle. There, you'll get info on the sets and what was miniature or full scale, tidbits about the shoot and story, little insights and even some humor.

James Cameron to me can't make a really awful film but this one is a bit lower on my top films made by him but in no way is this bad. It's quite a good watch and the rat fluid breathing is of course so cool.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: Well worth the money. Great story. Don't pass this one by.

Rating:
Summary: The parts are greater than the whole.
Review: I like this movie. I remember saying cool to myself several times when I originally saw it in the theaters. Now on DVD, it is still fun. The underwater scenes are very good. The tube of water scene is very cool. The suspense when the crane falls is very good. There are several very entertaining scenes. The relationships between the characters have nice touches as well. Some scenes have an emotional depth and are very touching.

The bad points are the plot. The plot meanders a little, which is not too bad, but the really bad part is the ending. In the theatrical release, the ending is aggressively editted leaving the ending confusing. In the extended edition, they add the deleted scenes. However, it puts the aliens in a sanctimonious light. The aliens are going to destroy us, because it hurts them to see us hurt ourselves. Huh? What about the pain suffering they would cause by drowning us? The aliens tell us that we need to grow up. Wow! What a revelation! War is wrong.

Despite the ending, the movie is original and fun. The acting is strong. Chris Elliot has a bit part and he is of course, very funny.