| | |
Features: DVD, Special Edition, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1, Dolby Digital (5.1), Dolby Surround Sound, Interactive Menu, Trailers, Featurettes, Documentary, 2 Discs, THX Mastered
In this thrilling, underwater action adventure from director James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies), a civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search-and-rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks. One diver (Ed Harris) soon finds himself on a spectacular odyssey over 25,000 feet below the ocean's surface where he confronts a mysterious force that has the power to change the world or destroy it. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn) co-star. It took filmmakers eight months to design and create the largest heated fresh-water filtered tanks in existence from a never-completed nuclear power station. With 40% of the live-action photography shot underwater, all the actors were required to become certified divers. This special edition contains a whopping 440+ minutes of video, including the engrossing documentary: Under Pressure: Making The Abyss. Additionally, the two-disc set includes almost 6,000 screens of storyboards, stills and text, with a fascinating interactive screenplay-to-film and storyboard option and an optional running subtitle track with making of set trivia and scene information, detailing every aspect of the film. Also, the set contains a never-before-available-to-own 20-minute reel created to showcase the film's groundbreaking SFX to Academy Award voters.
Editor's Note
After a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks in a remote part of the ocean floor, a team of divers on a prototype underwater oil rig are pressed into service by the U.S. Navy in a rescue attempt. When a hurricane cuts off contact between the surface and the underwater depths, the crew begin to see evidence of a strange, possibly alien intelligence at work. While chief Bud Brigman (Ed Harris) bickers with his ex-wife and boss (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), the Navy commander begins to grow increasingly paranoid about the mysterious alien life and threatens to use a recovered nuclear weapon to destroy everything. James Cameron's undersea epic is a tale of sacrifice and hope in an amazing alien landscape that covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Featuring landmark visual effects but plagued by production difficulties, the cast and crew were stretched to the breaking point and THE ABYSS became one of the most expensive films ever made in its time, but the final result is a remarkable blend of action and human drama. Scenes cut from the theatrical version, including a number of special effects sequences involving huge tidal waves threatening the cities of the world, are restored in the Special Edition versions.
| Features | Mission Components area | | Operations area | | Theatrical Trailers | | Three DVD-ROM Games | | Drill Room area | | Imaging Station area | | One-Hour Documentary | | 20-Minute Special Effects Reel | | 10-Minute Featurette | | Text-Commentary Track | | Cast & Crew Bios | | Interactive Screenplay-To-Film And Storyboard Option | | DVD-ROM: Access to Screenplay and other bonus footage, plus! Interactive Game play for Titanic Explorer and Alien vs. Predator | | Original Theatrical Version | | Special Edition Version | | Video Subscripture Version: View pop-up captions throughout the film explaning how the special effects were created | | Documentary: Under pressure: Making The Abyss with cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage | | Comprehensive film analysis from storyboards and concept art to final release | | Theatrical trailer(s) | | TV spot(s) | | Multi-Story Option: Watch the original theatrical release (145 min.) or the special edition release with 30 minutes of added footage |
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 11/28/2000 |
| Running Time: 171 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1989 | | Catalog ID: 2000008 | | UPC: 00024543000082 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Available Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Academy Awards (1989) |  | Winner, Best Visual Effects |
|
| | Professional Reviews | Rolling Stone
"...[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..." 08/24/1989 p.37Entertainment Weekly
"...Cameron again delves in....An epic story line...and much more..." -- Rating: B 01/13/1995 pp.66-8 Variety
"...A technical marvel with sustained tension, exciting action footage and an emotional wallop in its nearly platonic love story..." 03/01/1993 Los Angeles Times
"...THE ABYSS is at heart a sweet movie....The undersea effects are glowingly beautiful..." 08/09/1989 p.C1 Total Film
"...A great achievement....The cast is solid and the pioneering CG effects still look incredible..." 05/01/2000 p.104 |
| |
|
|
| |
__USERID__
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=40129481&loc=322
|
|
|
| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  4.5 | | Plot | 4.5 | | Acting | 4.5 | | Overall Satisfaction | 4.5 |
| |
5 of 5 Complete Tuesday, March 07, 2000
Kevin Mizuta from Seattle, WA
The Director's Cut of the Abyss is much better than the release. It's probably the most balanced and complete movie by James Camreron. Suspence, sci-fi, romance, action, comedy, drama, beautiful cinematography, and beautiful special effects. Before I bought a DVD player, it was the only VHS tape I owned. Was this review helpful?  
5 of 5 Friday, March 03, 2000
Rayne Man from New York, New York
Easily one of the best movies ever made. The special FX are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story. And like the original Star Wars, you care about the characters. That doesn't exist in the special FX laden movies of today. All you care about are the FX. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Not your father's Abyss...better! Thursday, February 03, 2000
Matt from Bowling Green, OH
If you've only seen the theatrical release of the Abyss, then do your self a favor and get the directors cut. It is about 40 minutes longer and has an entirely new ending, which is MUCH better then the other ending.
The cinematography is amazing, considering this movie was filmed in an old reactor tank that was never used. Some of the images of the N.T.I.'s were ground breaking for their day (1989)and still impress.
The plot in the theatrical release would be around a 7 or an 8. However with the added content during and after the movie, it raises the plot to a 10. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen the 'new' ending, but it all than moakes up for anyone who didn't like the short, cheap ending in the other version.
Overall GET IT! I have the VHS version, but as soon as the DVD comes out I will own it. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 Under appreciated! Tuesday, January 25, 2000
brystolz from Douglaston, New York
1989 was the year this Movie came out, and I thought it was an excellent film. Ahead of its time in many respects it used cgi in ways no one had to that point!.
The cast was well chosen, and the story; although weak at points, overall was entertaining, and different. For DvD I think its an excellent choice, and the added scenes are a bonus! Was this review helpful?
|
|
