Preston Barta // Features Editor
James Cameron is equal parts a technician and an artist. Say what you will about him pivoting his career from one-off experiences to the world of Pandora (three more Avatars are on the way). Still, he cultivates thrilling films about the work process – people doing particular jobs in unique places. Whether underwater, on the water, in outer space, or on alien worlds, we get to know characters, their relationships, the roles they play, and the consequences of their actions.
With half of his filmography newly released on 4K Ultra HD and 4K UHD Digital, it’s the perfect time to peel back the layers across his work, soak in the awe and wonder of his visuals, and speculate what he may be saying while entertaining us.
For part one, here’s 1989’s The Abyss.
THE ABYSS
1989 | PG-13 | 138 min.
The Abyss is arguably the most exciting release of the bunch, mainly because it has had long delays (the original announcement was for 2017) and careful restoration to exist on a format greater than DVD. Now, Cameron’s underwater epic scores a 4K UHD special edition. It’s available digitally today and will arrive on disc in a 4K Ultra HD combo pack on March 12.
Starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn, The Abyss centers on a nuclear sub that sinks. A private oil rig crew is recruited to join a Navy SEALs team to conduct a search and rescue. But a mysterious force may be behind it all and could change the world (for better or worse).
What’s most noticeable about The Abyss is how influential it is. You could compare it to other films like Armageddon (an oil rig crew coming in to save the day, outsiders vs. insiders, deception, and sacrifice) and Twister (the relationship between the main characters). It also showcases Cameron’s innate ability to capture people doing their jobs. The first 30-45 minutes is following the crew as they work together. You see their personalities, how they bounce off each other, and all the dialogue that would make you believe these people know what they’re doing as they move fancy underwater equipment around. This all lays down the proper narrative materials to make it intense when the military crew comes in with ulterior motives.
While some elements are repetitive and drag on a tad, it’s exceptional that the alien aspect is pushed to the back burner in favor of a more human story that could work without the aliens. This very well could have opened with a sub accident that wasn’t caused by these glowing jellyfish beings. This film accomplishes what it needs to with the humans, and then it only brings up the aliens to generate some wonder, admiration, and understanding, especially in the last 20 minutes.
The extended cut (available with the digital release) is about 30 minutes longer. It’s mostly just extended sequences and nothing brand new. However, one significant difference is the ending. It’s an interesting alternate version that details more of the alien’s purpose for being on our planet and what they’re capable of. They include a message about human destruction, war, and a lack of empathy. Then, there’s a sequence involving a massive wave that can potentially destroy many lives. But a grand gesture of love keeps this from being carried out. But if you ask me, the TV clips of war that the aliens show Harris’ character create more questions and nearly abandon the logic of the aliens’ water powers. So, I prefer the theatrical cut, which contains the same message.
The 4K presentation is quite incredible and worth the wait. You can see Mastrantonio’s chapped lips and the sweat on Biehn’s brow. Nothing gets lost in the shadows. It’s as if The Abyss was released yesterday. The other thing that shows its age is some of the effects. They were remarkable for their day, but you can notice the stitching more with the added sharpness. You may chuckle over some of it, but it’s not too bad.
Overall, it’s not Cameron’s best. Still, it highlights his capabilities within the action-thriller genre and storytelling field at large. He carries over many of the same tools to his later projects, like Titanic and Avatar. It’s worth the watch and purchase.
Grade: B+
BRAND NEW BONUS FEATURES:
- Deep Dive: A Conversation with James Cameron – An exclusive new sit-down with James Cameron as he revisits the origin of the project and addresses some of the myths behind the production.
- The Legacy of The Abyss – Discover the lasting legacy of The Abyss with stories from James Cameron and the crew about how and why the film continues to have an impact on filmmaking today.
ADDITIONAL BONUS FEATURES:
- Under Pressure: Making The Abyss – The original documentary about the infamous production of The Abyss, with candid commentary by the actors and crew.
- Archives
- Deepcore Timelapse – Watch this production timelapse of the Deepcore set being created.
- Videomatics Montage – Watch a montage of behind-the-scenes production videomatics.
- Montana Bridge Flooding – See behind-the-scenes footage of the Montana bridge flooding.
- Engine Room Flooding – See behind-the-scenes footage of the engine room flooding.
- Surface Shoot Montage – Watch a behind-the-scenes montage of the surface shoot.
- Crane Crash Shoot – Check out behind-the-scenes footage of the crane crashing sequence.
- Visual Effects Reel – Watch a reel of visual effects progressions to see how they were developed for the film.
- Miniature Rear-Projection – Watch behind-the-scenes footage of how production used rear-projection techniques on miniatures.
- Motion Control Timelapse – Watch this production timelapse of the motion control technology being used.
- Teaser Trailer
- Main Trailer
- Reviews Trailer
- Still Gallery – Presented here are extras as they appeared in the “Imaging Station” on the Special Edition DVD release of The Abyss, along with the trailers. Since their original presentation has been preserved, resolution and clarity will vary from element to element.
TECHNICAL SPECS:
- 4K Blu-ray Theatrical Version & Special Edition: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Blu-ray Theatrical Version & Special Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Optional English SDH, Spanish, French subtitles
