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The Abyss (1989)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
James Cameron (written by)
Release Date:
9 August 1989 (USA)
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Tagline:
There's everything you've ever known about adventure, and then there's The Abyss. more
Plot:
A civilian diving team are enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine and face danger while encountering an alien aquatic species. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Submarine
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Underwater
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Abyss
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Ocean
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Estranged Couple
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Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 4 wins
&
12 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(45 articles)
Birthday Suits: Giant Sized Edition
(From FilmExperience. 17 November 2009, 11:05 AM, PST)
Cameron Receiving Ves Lifetime Achievement Award
(From Get The Big Picture. 15 November 2009, 8:05 AM, PST)
(From FilmExperience. 17 November 2009, 11:05 AM, PST)
Cameron Receiving Ves Lifetime Achievement Award
(From Get The Big Picture. 15 November 2009, 8:05 AM, PST)
User Comments:
This top-notch underwater saga is one of my favorite films.
more (323 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Ed Harris | ... | Virgil 'Bud' Brigman |
 | Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio | ... | Lindsey Brigman |
 | Michael Biehn | ... | Lt. Hiram Coffey |
 | Leo Burmester | ... | Catfish De Vries |
| Todd Graff | ... | Alan 'Hippy' Carnes |
 | John Bedford Lloyd | ... | Jammer Willis |
| J.C. Quinn | ... | Arliss 'Sonny' Dawson |
 | Kimberly Scott | ... | Lisa 'One Night' Standing |
| Captain Kidd Brewer Jr. | ... | Lew Finler (as Capt. Kidd Brewer Jr.) |
| George Robert Klek | ... | Wilhite |
 | Christopher Murphy | ... | Schoenick, SEAL Team Member |
 | Adam Nelson | ... | Ensign Monk, SEAL Team Member |
| Dick Warlock | ... | Dwight Perry (as Richard Warlock) |
| Jimmie Ray Weeks | ... | Leland McBride |
 | J. Kenneth Campbell | ... | DeMarco |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for language and some scenes of action. (special edition)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
138 min | USA:171 min (special edition)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (DuArt)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
Dolby SR (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (special edition) (2000) |
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (original rating) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) (special edition) (2000) |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba) (also special edition) |
Canada:PG (Ontario) (original cut) |
Portugal:M/12 |
Malaysia:U |
South Korea:12 |
USA:PG-13 (Certificate #29764) |
Brazil:Livre |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-14 |
France:U |
Iceland:12 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:14 |
Singapore:PG |
Spain:13 (special edition) |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
West Germany:12 |
Netherlands:AL (special edition)
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The first feature film to have used an early version of Adobe Photoshop.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Coffey closes the Moon Pool door on the entity, the tail end breaks and splashes to the floor. After the same happens in the room with Lindsay and Bud and we return to the Moon Pool, the back end half is intact and "stares" menacingly at Coffey before plunging into the water.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
USS Montana Captain: Sixty knots? No way, Barnes. The Reds don't have anything that fast.
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USS Montana Captain: Sixty knots? No way, Barnes. The Reds don't have anything that fast.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "American Dad!: Pilot (#1.1)" (2005)
more
Soundtrack:
WILLIN'
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FAQ
Why did they delete the alternate ending (with the tidal wave) from the theatrical version? That was exactly the point that the aliens in the movie were trying to make!Why did Coffey go crazy?
Why was there no blood after Coffey's ship implodes in the abyss?
more
more (323 total)
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Epic-scale, intensely emotional science-fiction/drama/thriller in which an underwater drilling crew, led by Virgil "Bud" Brigman (Ed Harris) is recruited by the Navy to assist in a dangerous rescue mission. Eventually they all discover they are not alone deep down there in the water...
I love this movie, what more can I say? Many underwater movies have got nothing on it. The only problem is the running time: 145 minutes, extended to 171 minutes for the special edition. Some people may therefore have a hard time sticking with it, especially those who can't stand material that they deem "sappy".
It is in any event an impressive, major undertaking for writer/director James Cameron that provides acting showcases not just for the leads (Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn) but a fine supporting cast filled with good character actors.
I think it is a very slick, professionally handled movie with stunning special effects that had to have been state-of-the-art at the time. The drama is compelling (there is no shortage of crises to overcome) and the dialog is often good.
I sure have to admire Cameron for having a successful track record. All of his movies have been good (not to mention big money-makers), with the possible exception of his directing debut "Piranha Part II: The Spawning", which I still haven't seen.
And once again, an excellent score by Alan Silvestri.
9/10