The Abyss Reaction

[jhiggy23]

SPOILERS


So, I just finished watching James Cameron's "The Abyss" for the first time. I had seen bits and pieces before, but never the full 171 minutes. I think it was an incredible movie and give it 3 1/2 stars out of 4. There was an unbelievable sense of realism (the aliens excluded, of course) and mood that was created. In a way, I was reminded of the original Alien, in the way that Cameron uses camera techniques to follow the crew throughout the corridors. It also goes without saying that the seens in the depths of the water are both harrowing and beautiful at the same time.

I am a bit undecided about the ending, and I am sure this is where the bulk of the discussion will focus. After watching the film, I thought of a few different ways that Cameron could have ended it. The only one that I think may have been as good as the actual one, is for Ed Harris's character to literally die, in the presence of the light from the aliens. I understand why this did not occur, as it defies Hollywood convention, and Cameron was admittedly intending to tell an entirely different story. However, I think that it could have been effective if done right.

The actual ending I do not have much of a problem with. Yes, it was a bit hokey, but there are many instances in great movies in which things were much hokier than this. Actually, I thought the scenes in the alien "ship" were quite beautiful and while a bit cliche, were also uniquely creative. I admit that I enjoyed watching Ed Harris and the wife embrace at the end, because I actually cared a lot about both characters and wanted them to be with each other. As Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote in his review of the film, it is the human aspects of the film that propel it into exceptional territory. I agree with him, although the wonders of the deep certainly contribute to this excellence.


Please post responses and reaction for the film--general film discussion