Review of The Abyss (1989) by Damion R — 21 Jan 2011

Ok, yes, the fact that a character is not breathing for like ten minutes and then finally comes back to life with no repercussions is a wee bit ridiculous because even in the future, I am sure that lack of oxygen to the brain will cause permanent brain damage way before ten minutes are up. And yes, we all knew from the beginning that the film would end with the ex-couple who hate each other would refind their love. And yes, it's a little confusing as to why exactly Ed Harris must suddenly plummet ten thousand feet to diffuse a bomb beyond an unprescedented love of humanity. And yes, it's a wee bit like an underwater version of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." And YES, at 171 minutes, "The Abyss" is one helluva long movie.

However, this film is still a truly monumental achievement by one of the greatest (Canadian!) directors of our time and deserves to be heralded as one of the greatest Science Fiction films ever made, which it is commonly referred to. Why? The fact of the matter is, despite having been made in 1989, almost a quarter of a century later, the special effects still hold up and are absolutely spellbinding. Beyond any and all criticisms against the story and the cliched message of "the world must change," a message which still holds to this day regardless, the effects of this film were so far beyond its time, it still looks absolutely magnifiscent. And that is an absolutely brilliant achievement in filmmaking.

Thus, it's not surprising that the director went on to revolutionize the entire art of cinema with one swoop twenty years later with the Science Fiction perfection of "Avatar.".

Cameron's vision with "The Abyss," when looking back in retrospect, is so beyond impeccable, no words can begin to explain how he could have managed to get such effects onto the screen in 1989...yet, he did. Having seen this, "Avatar" should not have been so shockingly perfect after all, as this man has an incredible ability to see into the future and make it come to life on screen far before the rest of humanity it seems.

From the early nods to texting a decade before it became commonplace to thinking back to a child in a womb to think up a brilliant breathing aparatus, Cameron is second to none in bringing the future to the present in a way that makes it seem real....and evidently, can be.

"The Abyss" is such an incredible Oscar-winning visual accomplishment, all other aspects of mediocrity are easily forgivable as this film is an absolute SciFi must-see on all accounts. And hey, watching Ed Harris is never a bad thing...and him alone makes up for Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio role.

SciFi magic at its absolute best.