The Abyss (DVD, 2006, Special Edition; Single Disc Version; Widescreen; Sensormati)

Hands down the best alien film I have seen! Drama, action, suspense, love story...what more could you ask for?

A nuclear submarine sinks and a team of deep-sea divers and navy men are called in to do a rescue mission. Led by Ed Harris and his estranged ex-wife, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, they descend to the bottom of the ocean to discover the true cause of the sinking...a legion of extraterrestrial beings.

However, when the navy lieutenant in charge of the recovery decides to take matters into his own hands, things begin to go downhill.

Action and drama escalate to bring you to a tearful, yet heartfelt ending that will leave you wanting more. Very well put together, with excellent effects that earned it a Best Visual Effects award. What more can I say? Buy it...watch it...LOVE it!!!!

Submarine movie only in that a sunken nuclear submarine is what draws rescuers into a deep undersea abyss. The submarine theme is lost at this point, so if you're looking for something on the level of "U-571", "Hunt for Red October", or even "Crimson Tide", you might be disappointed.

However, if you are looking for something which deals with a possible all-out nuclear war, you may be interested. Obviously fictional (yes, sci-fi), under-water aliens keep humanity from destroying ourselves by creating a tidal-wave of world-wide proportions as we are about to blow each other up.

"The Abyss" has two versions, "theatrical" and "special features". Only the "special features" version includes a section at the end of the movie containing a "conversation" with the under-water aliens, showing us the folly of our nuclear ways.

A lot of drama is involved with the spectre of being over a thousand feet under water including Navy Seals who want to launch the nukes. Resulting submersible races, fights, etc. keep things lively. What would a modern-day movie movie be without a splash of romance? Of course that's in there too.

The lesson of the terrible consequences of nuclear war (best featured only on the "special features" version) would be worth the small price I paid for the movie itself. Shipping was 3 times that, and I'd spend it all again! I may just use part of this in a future world history class. However, only a small section of it, since so much of it is too sci-fi.

Since I'm not a big fan of sci-fi, but would rather deal with "real world", this film only gets a low rating of "Average". As a sci-fi movie, because it does deal with the "real world" scenario of a nuclear war--it earns the high rating of "Average".

In my TOP 10! A must-OWN, WELL-rounded, ALL-in-1 movie!

Does it GET any better!? A James Cameron masterpiece!

This movie could appeal to ANYONE, 'cause it has:
strong men / women
science fiction
love / action / drama
military / nuclear weapons
supernatural / extraterrestrial
ocean / elements / weather action

I'm a guy not easily moved (emotionally), I'm sorry to say; BUT I've NEVER watched this movie and NOT teared up over a certain scene (a heart-wrenching surprise I don't dare spoil)! A movie moment shared by two characters that's probably unparalleled by any other in the 1,000s of movies I've seen over the decades!

Add to all this the fact that this movie has a couple of my favorites (Ed Harris and Michael Biehn), and if you like Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio she's great, too. PLUS it's always funny to see Chris Elliott in ANYTHING!

PLEASE put this into your library, and watch it - by yourself AND with someone special! You'll thank me!

Get the latest (widescreen) edition possible, to maximize viewing AND available extras!

thepokedad

This is one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies of all time. It's well worth watching even if you don't like Sci-Fi. It has all the emotional drama you could ask for, relationship tension, action as well as special effects. It's got it all.

I've watched this movie a few times before and I truly enjoyed it so I purchased it. I find it's a grown up version of ET but on a more serious note. The acting was good all around and did have it's funny parts. It's a long movie but like I said It's a good one.

Enjoy