The Abyss

I didn't see the film during its release in movie theaters and I only watched it now as part of filling gaps in the world of cinema. Therefore, I cannot be influenced by any nostalgia and I can easily compare Cameron's famous film with the current offerings in the respective genre. The main advantage of The Abyss was undoubtedly its cutting-edge special effects, which, understandably, lose their shine with the passing years, exposing the triviality of the plot and the hopelessness of the screenplay. Moreover, the concept of the cute aliens who wave at you in a friendly manner and are so kind that you would immediately move them into your living room really bothers me, and I am only open to it in the case of E.T. The remaining aspect is Cameron's precise direction, which earns The Abyss a three-star rating, although just barely due to its overlong duration. In the last third, the film dragged on so much that I longed for Cameron's finances to run out and for him to quickly stop the film... Overall impression: 50%. I can't help but also point out the absence of any deeper thoughts in the film. This really isn't 2001: A Space Odyssey. (02/06/2010)

I watched the extended cut, fortunately, because I wouldn’t like to have missed a single minute. I don’t really know what the “original” shorter cut is missing, but I wonder what they could have left out for the film to still make sense, and my conclusion is that it must be the twist. The Abyss is a very good and tense sci-fi film full of minor clichés, which I wasn’t a fan of, but I came to terms with them. Cameron probably cares more about visual spectacle (the special effects are of course brilliant) than smart unpredictable scripts. (12/06/2010)

Probably the weakest Cameron so far (not counting Piranha), but still something to watch. The Abyss has, above all, a great atmosphere, which becomes increasingly intense as the minutes pass and shapes the story into a very compelling and dark form. Cameron does another great job, Silvestri's music is also impressive and the rest is carried by the charismatic Harris with the help of the wonderful visuals. It has some weak spots and a somewhat tedious first half, but the precise direction and unforgettable ending leave no doubt that a true master of the craft was at work here. Good job. (02/01/2013)

From a purely filmmaking point of view, this must have been hell to film in such cramped spaces. And when a chink of space appears, it immediately fills with water. But purely from a viewer’s point of view, it’s good that Cameron decided to go accept the challenge of making it. This has a fundamentally positive impact on the atmosphere. But this makes the ending all the more annoying, because Cameron is no good at presenting (selling) a message like this. The movie simply lacks even a drop of Kubrick inside it and not even the longest of director’s cuts can help. (23/12/2009)

When Cameron wants to do something, like shooting an entire film in a water tank, he just does it and the result is always perfect. Although this film wasn't nearly as big a hit as Terminator 2, I put it higher in James Cameron's filmography, and it’s further proof of his immense perfectionism – he just can't make a bad film. And since I've seen the director's cut, I have to say that the extended ending with a stunning (for its time) visual effects scene puts this film in a completely different light. (01/06/2002)