Giles ,'Sleeper'
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Actually, it is better when you watch Cameron's original cut, which is almost 40 minutes longer, and hasn't had the alien subplot cut in half.
Specifically, it's the end half that's missing.
Even without Sci-Fi edits, there's a rather important half hour chunk that's missing from the movie, and it does make a big difference when you see it put back in.
I think, though, that the subplot of The Abyss is better than the main plot. If by subplot you mean "Cabin Fever 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" and by main plot you mean "Close Encounters of the Flipper! Kind." Watching an ordinary human go insane and his fellow humans react to it will always be more interesting to me than being preached at by space aliens.
And anyway, even with the 40 minutes missing, it's still way too long a movie. Probably what Jim Cameron should have done is just make two movies.
Actually, it is better when you watch Cameron's original cut, which is almost 40 minutes longer, and hasn't had the alien subplot cut in half.
I wanted to love the Abyss when I first saw it, but described it as a really good sandwich on really bad bread. The beginning and end were nonsensical. When I saw the director's cut, it came together in such a satisfying way...my love was requited.
Not to say having two storylines makes for a good movie in this case, but I love it anyway.
Years later, I met the fellow (or, one of the fellows) who invented Big Geek and Little Geek on an airplane. Seriously, it was more fun for me than if I'd met a big star. Then again, I was uncharacteristically starstruck when I met Patch Adams (long before the woeful movie came out). Perhaps I a thing for unsung...sometimes unhummed...heroes.
The Abyss was one of the weirder movie-going experiences I've had -- the people I was with thought it was hilariously bad and ended up getting yelled at by other patrons for laughing so much, whereas I could see flaws but still loved a whole lot of it...
I liked THE ABYSS - short version (haven't seen the long, and I should) but I felt bad for Michael Biehn. He was great in the role, but it was such a thankless one. Villains should at least know they are.
described it as a really good sandwich on really bad bread.
Ha, I love this!
Ha, I love this!
giggle.
I agree about Michael Biehn's performance. So intense and focused. And Yeah, it's not on when the villain is actually not bad, just impaired. You can't really give them the Snidely hiss in that case.
Orson Scott Card, of all people, wrote the "novelization" of The Abyss, which includes backstory on the three main characters.
Dana, did you just read the wikipedia page on the Abyss?
I just did!
I deleted my comment about the mouse in the pink goo from my previous post for fear I was remembering it wrong. But no. My movie trivia knowledge is sadly vast.
I'd like more info on the liquid flourocarbon experiment...That can't have been pleasant for the vermin.
Off to wiki again...
Dana, did you just read the wikipedia page on the Abyss?
Nope. I own the book. And the director's cut of the movie, somewhere.