Abyss, The: Special Edition (UK)

The Abyss was not the biggest hit James Cameron had.
As can be seen on the documentary Under Pressure, this film was pretty tough to make. More on that later. The film is about a oil rig crew who are searching for a missing nuclear submarine. They discover a mysterious force deep below the ocean`s surface which has the power to change the world or destroy it. This is a very good film with Oscar winning special effects that still look good today.

This DVD is not anamorphic but the picture is very good nonthless. It`s just a shame FOX did not bother getting a new print. The audio is much better and really brings the film to life.
This is a 2 disc set which has loads of extra material. You get the choice of either the theatrical version or the special edition. I recommend the special edition as it makes more sense then the other version. We also get 3 trailers, a superb 59 minute documentary called Under Pressure which shows how difficult film making can be, a 10 minute featurette which is basically a promotional item for the film, 13 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage which shows many of the film`s model works, effects and set building including a 7 minute speeded up construction of the Deepcore set, a 20 minute visual effects reel for the 1989 oscars, a multi-angle sequence of the pseudopod, hundreds of photos, storyboards and artwork as well as scripts. All together, there is about 2 hours of video material as well as stacks of still material. It will take at least a day to get through this lot in one go!

Overall, a very good film which has been given excellent DVD treatment. Although it does not contain as much as the R1 version and that it is also cut, this disc is still well worth getting.

THE MOVIE: The Abyss made interesting viewing on DVD, being a significant improvement over the VHS release. The main plus point concerning the movie is the inclusion of the Special Edition version, containing nearly 30 minutes of extra footage. Whilst the Theatrical Version was highly entertaining, James Camerons original cut is the better of the two. Bud (Ed Harris) and Lindsay (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) are a married couple on the verge of divorce who encounter a number of major problems whilst onboard an underwater rig. Firstly, they have to deal with military controlled Navy SEAL Coffey (Michael Biehn) who attempts to bring a nuclear warhead from a sunken sub aboard the rig. Secondly, they must keep the peace between mere mortals like ourselves and the aliens in the `Abyss` at the bottom of ocean. James Cameron really delivers the goods with this action/thriller, with likeable characters, breath-taking sets and the first major appearance of CGI.
PICTURE: Non-anamorphic 2.35:1 Widescreen.
What a missed opportunity! A major picture from 20th Century Fox without anamorphic enhancements! Fortunately, the print is very clear and has no real problems. The colours are solid and the picture is sharp at all times. Even the restored scenes for the Special Edition are excellent, not looking out of place at all.
SOUND: Dolby Digital 5.1.
The soundtrack is one of the discs strong points- every minute sound is audible, dialogue is clear and Alan Silvestri`s excellent score is absolutely crystal clear. No faults here, then, apart from the lack of a DTS audio track (wishful thinking).
EXTRAS: A very comprhensive 2-disc set full of interesting extras on the production of the movie and so forth. We have two making of... featurettes (59 & 9 mins each), cast and crew info, behind the scenes video footage on different set pieces, the usual theatrical trailers and a TEXT based commentary. My only quibble is the lack of an actual audio commentary by Iron Jim...
OVERALL: An excellent DVD package, but not without a few flaws. definately the definitive version available.

Although James Cameron can officially be blamed for the rise of CGI, he has always stood by the principal that if it can be don, it should be done (witness his exact replica ship for "Titanic"). Although CG wasn't really an option when he made "The Abyss", it was this determination for reality that allowed "The Abyss" stand the test of time and also give Cameron the reputation as one of the biggest bastards in Hollywood.

Despite heralding breakthrough VFX, this underwater epic (which Cameron says is his most personal work) was only a minor hit in 1989. It subsequently became a video hit and its laserdisc director's cut shed new light on the film. Each version of the film is presented in this 2-Disc DVD.

Video: Presented in 2.35:1 non-anamorphic widescreen, which is disappointing. Though hardly soft, the image is never as sharp as it could have been if it was anamorphic. The print itself is very good with only a few blips here and there. Edge enhancement artifacts are low and colours/blacks are excellent. The Director's Cut is consistent with the quality shown in the theatrical, though the Wave Scene tends to have excessive grain.

Mikael Salomon's cinematography is consistent with Cameron's other work- blue hue and lots of them. The underwater scenes were filmed in a water tank and thanks to this "The Abyss" contains some of the best underwater photography vet seen in a film.

Audio: The 5.1 track is utilized well in portraying the atmosphere of an underwater odyssey. Pipe leaks, water pressure, hull groans etc.. are all employed. Though mostly front stage, the rears are used for this kind of ambience. They also kick in for the action scenes and bass is used well.

Alan Sliversti's bombastic score is terrific and one of his best with clear and recognizable themes. It's integrated well into the track.

Extras: I couldn't finish the text commentary. Too fast and too tech/military minded for my liking. The main draw of the disc is the hour-long tell-all documentary "Under Pressure". Detailing the troubled production and how far Cameron pushed his actors and crew, the documentary has been legendary since its laserdisc days and deservedly so. It really is a fascinating watch. A 10-minute EPK feature is also presented by it is worthless compared to it. The casts actually love the film here.

There are numerable behind the scenes segments. A massive picture gallery, Cameron's original script, a multi-angle sequence, trailers and a 20-minute Visual effects reel round off the disc.

Overall: Let's call a spade a spade. If this film were done today, the vast majority of effect shots would have been CG. It is a testament to Cameron and his crew that the work here looks better than anything CG can throw up. Yes, the production was tough but the end product has not been diminished in nigh 15 years. For me, "The Abyss" is Cameron's last great achievement. It's all downhill from here.

The acting is the best Cameron has ever gotten. Special mention to Harris and Biehn who pull of immense performances. The plot is filled with wonderment and mystery. Pacing has been mentioned as a problem, though I only really noticed this within the last 20 minutes of the Special Edition. Watch the Pseudopod sequence- it`s only the birth of CGI.

The DVD was one of the first 2-Disc R2 editions and still holds up. Though, we Cameron now doing commentaries, I expect a new edition soon and hopefully with an anamorphic transfer.