Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The Abyss is one of Jim Cameron's lesser known efforts and one can see why. Its rather long, most of it is underwater(probably 90%) and the subject just might not be of interest to most people. The film itself is more known for its behind the scene shenanigans. The plot takes a bunch of civilian divers who go down to the trenches of the Ocean to recover a lost submarine. What they don't realize is that there are far more powerful forces at play here. The original version of the film was derided on release but a director's cut with additional footage sets most of the detractors straight. The last few minutes of this director's cut are rather good so watch this version of the film. Still, the film is just alright and nowhere on the level of say The Terminator or Titanic.

The Abyss is one of Jim Cameron's lesser known efforts and one can see why. Its rather long, most of it is underwater(probably 90%) and the subject just might not be of interest to most people. The film itself is more known for its behind the scene shenanigans. The plot takes a bunch of civilian divers who go down to the trenches of the Ocean to recover a lost submarine. What they don't realize is that there are far more powerful forces at play here. The original version of the film was derided on release but a director's cut with additional footage sets most of the detractors straight. The last few minutes of this director's cut are rather good so watch this version of the film. Still, the film is just alright and nowhere on the level of say The Terminator or Titanic.

"The Abyss" is one of the most intriguing Sci-Fi/action movies to have ever been made. From the very beginning of this exceptional movie to the end, for the first time viewer or for those that have watched it many times, it is a highly inventive and an ultimately captivating movie. Although there have been many movies made about events under the surface of the ocean, few can match up to the intensity that "The Abyss" is laden with. One of the more intriguing aspects about the edition of "The Abyss" that I'm reviewing today or any other version that contains both the original theatrical release and the Special Edition with twenty eight minutes of additional footage is how the whole tone of the conclusion of the film changes between the two. This is not something that I wish to go in to in great detail; suffice it to say that the Special Edition gives a whole new meaning to this classic movie.From Ed Harris to Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio to Michael Biehn and all of the other marvelous actors that performed in this film, they all deserve high praise for their collective efforts in creating this Science Fiction classic. It isn't too often that Ed Harris or Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio gets the lead roles in films but in the case of "The Abyss," they both proved that they were quite ready for such roles.Technically, it has few peers. It is scientifically accurate in what it depicts, and the special effects are virtually flawless. The story is very engaging. It unfolds slowly and smartly and takes many twists and turns. The aliens and their importance to the story are kept a mystery until the end. And the movie also has something often missing in science fiction, drama. Science fiction in television and movies often tends to be overly intellectual or overly melodramatic. The Abyss, in contrast, is a dramatic story through and through. The scenes between Bud and his wife (particularly when he tries to revive her after she drowns and when she talks to him as he descends into the abyss) are among the most engaging I have ever seen in any movie. Give it a shot, this is definitely a sleeper classic that deserves more exposure than it's gotten!Overall rating: 9 out of 10.

This is my personal favorite of Cameron's. It showcases all his strengths and is 100% his child (unlike Aliens). His love for scuba diving gave birth to this unique deep sea adventure that manages to blend several genres, is loaded with seminal scenes and even has a Spielberg-like sense of wonder infused to it.If you bother to read up on the production of this film, you'll realize this was perhaps the single most difficult movie ever made. Huge underwater sets, remote controlled model submersibles, custom built scuba gear, life-size bio-luminescent puppets, ground-breaking CGI, the list goes on and on. The amount of work and attention to detail that went into this film is just crazy and it shows on every frame. 25+ years later, the quality of the production in the Abyss is a sight to behold. I cannot think of another movie that was considered an effects marvel back in the day and still holds up that well after all these years. Just looking at the bio-luminescent aliens in the Abyss puts Cameron's own work on Avatar to shame. What's more, the Abyss is filled with great action and is ideal for repeated viewings, despite its rather long run time. The final part of the film, where the mysteries of the abyss are revealed, will make your jaw drop and incorporates some stupendous sci-fi imagery, complemented by Alan Silvestri's majestic score (his finest work).The very best in deep sea adventures. Oh, and stick to the original version of the movie, strange as it sounds, it is a lot better than the director's cut.