I agree, way ahead of its time and if released today would probably be a massive hit. Also might be in the minority here but I think this is Cameron's best film.
I agree, way ahead of its time and if released today would probably be a massive hit. Also might be in the minority here but I think this is Cameron's best film.
It under performed at the box office, because people expected something like Aliens but in some ways a thoughtful movie.
I agree, way ahead of its time and if released today would probably be a massive hit. Also might be in the minority here but I think this is Cameron's best film.
It under performed at the box office, because people expected something like Aliens but in some ways a thoughtful movie.
Yeah I think it'd have fared much better possibly further into the 90s after T2 made the impact it did.
I wish it had done better, but I like the fact that it's not a well known movie because when I recommend it to someone or watch it with them they always think "Christ, why have I never seen this before!"
Just goes to show that not every flop is a bad movie, they just got marketed badly or went in to theatres at a time when there was a lot of competition.
I liked it and saw it in the theaters upon its release--I was already a fan of Cameron's style after The Terminator and Aliens--but I feel like the ending lessened the film's impact. (Yes, even the "Director's Cut" with the massive tsunami.) After the harrowing scene when Ed Harris' s character swim/drags Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's character back to the main platform, drowning her in the process, the "aliens just want us to tell us to take better care of the Earth" seemed trite and obvious. You can almost see the nascent threads of Cameron's environmentalism, in full bloom for Avatar, in The Abyss.
I'd still put Terminator 2 at the pinnacle of his talent, both as a screenplay and visually, but The Abyss is great. It's one thing to get great performances out of great actors like Harris and Mastrantonio, but another thing altogether when you can get a good one out of Schwarzenegger. Only he, Verhoeven, and maybe Reitman (Twins and Kindergarten Cop) succeeded.
I agree, way ahead of its time and if released today would probably be a massive hit. Also might be in the minority here but I think this is Cameron's best film.
Probably my favorite from Cameron also. Just ahead of Aliens.
Effects wise it has aged well, but suggestions it rivals some of Cameron's best work seen wide of the mark to me. The submersible chase scene, the Navy Seal "villain" Coffey and the science defying immortality of the two leads are all weak points. I didn't think the backstory between the two leads was sufficiently fleshed out either despite the extended run time, but I'm not sure if that was a bad thing.
I love this film but I do agree that in both versions the ending is a bit flat. You can afford to have flaws in your film, but if you flub the ending people are way less likely to recommend the film to others.
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Réponse de Howard Burns
le 22 février 2017 à 07h38
I agree, way ahead of its time and if released today would probably be a massive hit. Also might be in the minority here but I think this is Cameron's best film.
Réponse de DanDare
le 22 février 2017 à 07h46
It under performed at the box office, because people expected something like Aliens but in some ways a thoughtful movie.
Réponse de nkanemo
le 22 février 2017 à 07h52
Yea I noticed that but was surprised. 90m worldwide gross, wasn't even in the top 10 for the year. Production budget was 70m.
Réponse de DanDare
le 22 février 2017 à 07h58
The summer of 1989 was one hell of a year when it came to summer blockbusters. In fact a game changer.
Batman, Indiana Jones 3, Lethal Weapon 2.
Casualties at the box office included The Abyss, Licence to Kill.
Star Trek 5 and Ghostbusters 2 also underperformed.
Réponse de Howard Burns
le 22 février 2017 à 08h18
Yeah I think it'd have fared much better possibly further into the 90s after T2 made the impact it did.
Réponse de krashd
le 20 juillet 2017 à 17h27
I wish it had done better, but I like the fact that it's not a well known movie because when I recommend it to someone or watch it with them they always think "Christ, why have I never seen this before!"
Just goes to show that not every flop is a bad movie, they just got marketed badly or went in to theatres at a time when there was a lot of competition.
Réponse de AlienFanatic
le 20 juillet 2017 à 17h35
I liked it and saw it in the theaters upon its release--I was already a fan of Cameron's style after The Terminator and Aliens--but I feel like the ending lessened the film's impact. (Yes, even the "Director's Cut" with the massive tsunami.) After the harrowing scene when Ed Harris' s character swim/drags Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's character back to the main platform, drowning her in the process, the "aliens just want us to tell us to take better care of the Earth" seemed trite and obvious. You can almost see the nascent threads of Cameron's environmentalism, in full bloom for Avatar, in The Abyss.
I'd still put Terminator 2 at the pinnacle of his talent, both as a screenplay and visually, but The Abyss is great. It's one thing to get great performances out of great actors like Harris and Mastrantonio, but another thing altogether when you can get a good one out of Schwarzenegger. Only he, Verhoeven, and maybe Reitman (Twins and Kindergarten Cop) succeeded.
Réponse de Dawn Of The Ed
le 20 juillet 2017 à 17h54
Probably my favorite from Cameron also. Just ahead of Aliens.
Réponse de northcoast
le 20 juillet 2017 à 19h15
You know, they're making a sequel to The Abyss . . .
They're calling it Son of Abyss.
Réponse de Fergoose
le 19 décembre 2018 à 11h56
Effects wise it has aged well, but suggestions it rivals some of Cameron's best work seen wide of the mark to me. The submersible chase scene, the Navy Seal "villain" Coffey and the science defying immortality of the two leads are all weak points. I didn't think the backstory between the two leads was sufficiently fleshed out either despite the extended run time, but I'm not sure if that was a bad thing.
Réponse de jorgito2001
le 20 décembre 2018 à 11h18
This is what happens when you focus on a little thing called "STORY"! Abyss is timeless because of it.
Réponse de martymonstertmdb
le 31 octobre 2019 à 09h53
I love this film but I do agree that in both versions the ending is a bit flat. You can afford to have flaws in your film, but if you flub the ending people are way less likely to recommend the film to others.