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.

People like to rag on James Cameron for Titanic and Avatar (two films I thoroughly enjoyed), but they seem to forget what a ground-breaking film-maker he is, and choose to ignore the incredible success he has enjoyed over the past three and a half decades. The Abyss is a technological feat that advances the art of CGI and underwater photography, and tells a great story at the same time.On the surface, this tale of undersea oil workers and Navy Seals encountering extraterrestrials in a hostile environment sounds all too familiar, but Cameron doesn't simply cash in on the success of Aliens with another gung-ho action-fest pitting humans against malevolent monsters: there are several edge-of-the-seat-moments and some great action set pieces, but on the whole we get a far more nuanced film, with characters we care about, a measured pace, and a thoughtful script that explores the strengths and weaknesses of the human spirit. Meanwhile, the extraterrestrials in the film prove to be benign creatures who only have mankind's best interests at heart, which makes a nice change.If you're planning to watch the film, I recommend the Special Edition, which makes far more sense than the theatrical cut-but be warned... it clocks in at a massive 171 minutes. That said, Michael Bay's last Transformers film was 154 minutes long, and I know how I would rather spend my time.

The major part of this, right up to just before the end, is a really nice deep water drama with interesting personal developments and encounters.It's more open if you can live with the end, but if logic and story coherence are important to you I recommend you turn off just after the deeper descend. If you do, you will have had an intriguing movie experience with few regrets. Most aspects do hold up, also most of the special effects.I remember watching this in a big cinema in a group of 5-7 friends. All of us had a heated discussion afterwards walking away, where everyone agreed on that some Hollywood CEO, must have reacted to test viewer reactions, and then have made sure Cameron added on another ending than this well-written story deserved and in that had destroyed the experience of a really good story and movie. We reached the conclusion that "Hollywood endings" are the bane of good cinema even if most of us otherwise had enjoyed the movie.Now, years later with the Director's Cut, that I've also saw some time later** — which ending will hurt you so much more profoundly, or alternatively amaze you and yet leave you potentially offended because of the actual ending — it would seem the last piece was Cameron's wish after all.I've looked upon on his work with skepticism ever since the Director's Cut, even if I like some of what he's done since. The documentaries like "Aliens of the Deep" and "Ghosts of the Abyss" (unrelated to this story here) are the most interesting.It could have been so good. As it was released it's as watchable as any Sci-fi flick that almost got there. Just don't get your hopes up.**What can I say? I was hoping for a better ending, not a worse one, which was what we got.

"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.