THE ABYSS - 4K UHD BLU-RAY Review

[@LoganWood121]

The sheer effort and difficulty to make this film is definitely in the scope of something like Waterworld. Such a grand undertaking that you'll never see another like it, and even if you dont care for the films, you have to respect just how incredibly hard those were to make. Old school.

[@stantheman9072]

Waterworld was great. It just looked ugly. I get the dystopian nightmare scenario, but it needed better visual appeal. It reminded me of Soylent Green in its grubbiness.

[@LoganWood121]

@stantheman9072 Pretty accurate on what it set out to portray, though.

[@Vaporvice84]

His least remembered film, but IMO, his best movie. Best story, best characters, best performances, and best social commentary (assuming we're talking the extended version). Box Office numbers (and in Cameron's case, box office records), fandom status amongst the mainstream, and special effects mean nothing to me. Not all movies are meant to please everyone. Cameron said he wanted to make "2001: A Space Odyssey on Earth" and I truly believe he achieved that. And yes, I do like Terminator 1 more than T2, lol.

[@whitleybayman123]

Thanks Oliver, one of my favorite movies The Special Edition is. This is a great way to watch this movie now in 4K The Special Ed, makes so much more sense than the theatrical.

[@T3t4nu5]

"It ended up being an unpleasant experience for many on the production" 😆

[@curtismaximus123]

Thanks for this great look back. This is one of my favorite movies and I always love learning more about it.

[@Winnipegger]

I've always loved the Abyss from the beginning when it was released in 1989. It was my favorite movie that summer!

[@aronbond]

my god how many movies did you see that summer winnipegger!!! license to kill, indiana jones lethal weapon 2... sorry i just dont understand the love this film gets- it was lambasted then and deserves to be lambasted now

[@Winnipegger]

@@aronbond I saw a lot of movies that summer! It's a matter of taste & opinion. I just don't get the love for the Godfather or Scarface but to each their own. You're welcome to your opinion but it's not going to take away my love for the Abyss. Same with Blade Runner (the 1982 original). I loved that movie from the very beginning when I was 15 and it didn't have a lot of love. Later college kids discovered it and thought it was the be all of movies lol.

[@aronbond]

@@Winnipegger that's the beauty of movies man, as you said 'to each their own.' spot on!

[@DavidDay-y2f]

Summer of 89 had some great movies. I was intrigued by The Abyss after reading about it in Summer edition of US movie magazine Premiere. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, Lethal Weapon 2 and Batman were the most popular judging from the box office. Unfortunately The Abyss got lost amongst those and some of the other releases but the movie has grown a cult following over the last 35 year's

[@DavidDay-y2f]

L​icence to kill was piss poor, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade was mediocre and Lethal Weapon 2 was very contrived and I love them all

[@jmssun]

8:05 so good 😂😂😂😂 did not know that

[@Epic_C]

That's a new hidden gem for me too 😂😂

[@medalion1390]

I found out about that a while ago and it makes me laugh every time I see it 😂

[@MarioPrega]

Now its butt is in 4K and improved on AI.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

James Cameron’s most underrated film

[@aronbond]

bullshit, terrible story, horrible script. not even ed harris can save it, and he's one of america's greatest actors

[@coreyc5982]

Totally agree with @Omar-wq9dz. It's a very underrated and amazing film. Definitely prefer it to all of the Na'Vi / Planet Pandora shenanigans.

[@mabusestestament]

@@aronbond Nah, it’s pretty cool 🍻

[@corbomite1138]

I say: Piranna 2

[@coreyc5982]

@@corbomite1138 That's the one where they grow wings and fly, correct?

[@moviereviews4life]

Am I the only one who noticed the Superboy theme song at the end lol.

[@Blankford777]

I've been waiting for your review of this, thank you! Really looking forward to your thoughts on the True Lies release. I was able to see the Abyss on the big screen at my local theatre earlier this year and it was incredible! One of my all-time favorites and I'm so happy that I can finally ditch my old anomorphic DVD.

[@BrunerMJ]

Oh, my Goodness! The BBFC and the Royal Veterinarian are still upset with that rat breathing liquid air sequence 35 years later?! Really! That's beyond silly. By the way, the rat didn't drown in the film. The rat was breathing liquid air, which the film clearly demonstrated for scientific purposes for the film's audience. I always considered that scene to be a little uncomfortable to watch, which was obviously Cameron's intention, but I never thought of that moment in the the film as gratuitous violence towards an innocent animal. 4/17/24 | 1:15 p.m. | EDT

[@andysmith1996]

They're not upset, they just have a long-standing law to follow. They can't just choose to ignore their governing legislation because it's a film by James Cameron.

[@31hallite]

Had to import mine from Germany.

[@MusizKanuck]

Thank you for posting, Oliver! I’m really looking forward to getting my copy now!

[@jmssun]

Still waiting for 4K remastered T2 Special Edition

[@cjkalandek996]

I've seen clips of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of _T2_ and it looks so bad. Especially the night scenes. It's like there's no depth to the blue color grade.

[@Peer165]

​@@cjkalandek996T2 never made it to 4k. It just didn't happen. Still waiting for it to arrive to this day.

[@jmssun]

The one out there is AI processed 2K 3D bluray of T2 3D ver.. sad

[@itaybashan3757]

Won’t be surprised if if T2 will be the next film to get the 4k treatment by Cameron. It make sense as it was the next film that he worked on after ‘The Abyss’

[@dunnst]

@@jmssun I really like the T2 3D version, as well as Titanic 3D. The 3D is not super great all the time, but it is superb in lots of scenes.

[@deathtone1614]

It’s about time this came out on Blu-ray

[@michaelsimpson208]

I'm still waiting for Strange Days to come out on Blu-Ray!

[@chrisparkes]

There’s been a decent German available for a while now

[@michaelsimpson208]

@@chrisparkes - sadly..... Not in the good ol' US of A!

[@MrCarpen7er]

That´s not a James Cameron movie...

[@chrisparkes]

@@MrCarpen7er no but he did write the “scriptment” for it

[@johnmellor932]

​@@MrCarpen7er He conceived the story and wrote the screenplay, but decided to let his then wife Kathryn Bigelow direct it. Some regard it as a James Cameron film. I don't personally.

[@JasonRayment]

Always good work Sir

[@paulmarchano7238]

My god, this soundtrack. Brings me back. This movie made me afraid of the ocean, when I was a child. Terrible what happened to the actors, but it’s still an amazing film with intense acting chops.

[@DancingSk3L3tons]

8:05😂🤣 Whoever did that's a fookin legend!

[@Dsturb85]

I've been patiently waiting for this for the past 12 or 13 years. I was so thrilled when the announcement finally came that it was finally released I immediately bought a copy and now I am the proud owner of the Abyss and true lies 4K UHD just watched it the other night it was incredible quality

[@ARMediaOfficial]

Wow great review, one of the best I've seen

[@doric_historic]

I think fiddling with old film movies should always have that human touch, that human eye...

[@doric_historic]

...and if you are about to die, why not pull down someones shorts and die laughing 🤣

[@Eraser18574]

Can’t wait to hold my 4K disc in my hands! It’s been a long wait!

[@MrCtmcclain]

I think the 4k of "The Abyss" is one of the best re-masters of a film from the 80s...ever!

[@hajokostlmaier8536]

great then I like the opening credits, you heard about Cannon in the cinemas in the 80s and sometimes even in 2000.

[@garyausten5939]

I ordered my Abyss copy on 3/12 and finally expect it to be shipped 4/22-5/1. Can't wait!

[@danielwilliamson6180]

I've never watched The Abyss. Cool if you did a review of The Fly 2.

[@wysiwyg2006]

Always loved this movie. It still looks amazing

[@sn0w8]

So hopefully you will finally do your abyss retrospective video now this is out? :) love your content mate

[@stevenhandzel5929]

The best part of this whole endeavor is that now in 4K resolution we can see an extra get his pants pulled down!

[@scottydub5785]

Oliver, the Beatles doc was “Get Back”, not “Now and Then”

[@Zice033]

I was lucky enough to have my first time seeing this movie being that One Night Only Theatrical Re-Release of the Extended Cut last year. If I counted theatrical re-releases of movies I hadn't seen prior on a list of "Favorite Movies Of 2023", THE ABYSS probably would have topped that list. As a director, James Cameron is kinda like that old cliche.... "He's A Loose Cannon....But He's The Best We Got." In Short, I will definitely be trying to get my grubby hands on both this and the TRUE LIES 4K release, since I love that movie as well and those viral screenshots didn't really bother me. (You wanna see a classic get put through the wringer by a bad 4K transfer, check out the one for AMERICAN GRAFFITI. I mean...WOOF.)

[@Sci-Fi-Mike]

Right on! I love this film. I bought the DVD Special Edition many years ago, and I watch it every year or two.

[@blockster1977]

Awesome review - I'm going to have to pick that up now

[@AndrewHills-i4q]

I have to say this is one movie I've been waiting for a remaster of

[@Galgomite]

The Abyss looks much better to my eye than True Lies. TL is full of shots that miss focus to begin with and everything is oversharpened to a ridiculous fault. The Abyss has a more accomplished look so detail is emphasized, not manufactured. But if you like grain, forget it-- these films are optimized for 10mbps streaming.

[@antonybullock2240]

It's been theorised the Abyss was a test-bed for VFX for Terminator 2.

[@aaqibrawat3863]

Great review. Look forward to you reviewing True lies Please do Aliens aswell!

[@Rschr101]

The definition of underrated on film.

[@MetalMixtapes]

You do consistent good work Oliver, keep it up foo.

[@Johnnydiamondlonglive]

Every cameron film after this sucked poos.

[@Rschr101]

True Lies?😂

[@TitanFind]

True cinema milestone - both one of the greatest practical-sets-and-models effects movies ever made, and also the harbinger of the modern CGI age.

[@Tomb_of_Dracula]

I’m still waiting for the 4K of Piranha II: The Spawning.

[@NadeemShekh-uy9zn]

I love this movie especially the special edition

[@AchtungEnglander]

The Harper speaks and the verdict is good. All is well in the world....kinda...if you ignore the news

[@brendangkelleher2669]

Good review Oliver. I was wondering why I couldn’t order this off Amazon in the uk like I did with Aliens and True Lies. All because of that bloody rat sequence! Props to Cameron for standing his ground and not cutting it again.

[@kyoto5]

Isn't the Queen's death worse than the rat???

[@AerodeonThorne]

Watching this, I’m sure that there are some synthesised frames. There’s always been a jump where the extra scenes come in and there are some frames missing. These have been put back in somehow and the transitions are seamless.

[@jtgd]

8:02 i love that

[@youtubedj9298]

The more I think about it the funnier it is. Like, there's a deadly tsunami and a guy takes the time to pants somebody. But then again, might as well? It seems ridiculous but makes sense at the same time.

[@dazthedarklord774]

Hi Oliver, Brilliant video as always matey. I was wondering if you can please tell me where you got your disc from??? And if I need to do anything to my player in order to play the disc. Cheers.

[@pacershark452]

This is one of my favorite films! I don't have room for anymore discs, so I asked a friend to find me "Alternative methods" for acquiring a copy. BIG Mistake. I now have a video file that's 85 GIGS!

[@youtubedj9298]

2:32 lol, is that where Lost in Space (1998) got, "I love you, wife." ?

[@MD_Chaos]

I watched the movie recently and It was crazy to me how long this film took to get a transfer this good and having it been sold out real quick(Though I'm sure it'll bounce back from that). I think the abyss is in james best next to T2 and Aliens, so it's good to hear this release is solid enough as is.

[@M4SH3R85]

yes the guy shorts bit! but he did put arnie face on the stunt guy in T2 and I don't have to say anything else because we all what that is lol

[@AlistairCampbell]

Where did you order/import the film from.?, I can't find a copy of it.

[@olliech33bo15]

Just watched, looks amazing. Can't believe a rat drowning then coming back to life was flagged but not the same happening to a human. Crazy world.

[@orwellianson]

I’ve been hearing rumors ARROW Video may be working on some of these Cameron films for UK audiences later this year or so. Hopefully they’ll use their own restoration labs instead of Cameron’s shoddy transfers.

[@AchtungEnglander]

No rats were drowned in the UK version.

[@orwellianson]

@@AchtungEnglander we know.

[@deany53]

GREAT VID MAN

[@dragondaveltd1992]

Unfortunately, the BBFC won't released The Abyss 4K Ultra in the UK due to drowning the White Rat scene and demand to be trimmed to the better rating (12A), Shame on you more BBFC for not releasing it!

[@kaaredyrness2120]

And good on Cameron for not budging

[@halomultiplayermoments]

I got a copy off amazon USA 👍 it works on uk players.

[@charleskriswell7938]

The BBFC are bound by the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, which makes such scenes illegal.

[@Peer165]

​@@charleskriswell7938Preservation of movie history (any history for that matter) should never be censored or tampered with. They should have just had a warnning text at the start instead of going the full blown boycott way.

[@jtgd]

But the rat didn’t really drown.

[@Secretoftheooze1983]

The budget for this was 70mil not 45mil. Anyway good video!

[@indianastarkjones1535]

I was 17 when I saw this 1989 , 3 times at my local Fox Theater,I thought it was Awesome. And I bought the 1993 Special Edition laserdisc and that was great . When it was released this past December for one night only I went to see it again and was blown away by how great this Movie is. At 51 years old now, I now really appreciate the relationship themes throughout the film, it packs an emotional punch that as a teenager I didn't understand, because I didn't think Bud should care about His Ex wife, but those that have been married and divorced but still loved them ,I get it. Anyway when I saw it in December the running time flew by and couldn't believe it was almost 3 hours. Great Movie. I think the final Avatar is going to reveal that the Aliens are related to,or created the Navi. That they are Eywa.

[@michaelyoung7171]

I saw the abyss the first time when I was 9 or 10 around 2008 or 2009 probably on TV I pretty think it was sloid good movie. As time went on I forgot even exist during the late elementary school years to highschool years I come to mind again until I saw the clip of it in the end of 2022 then soon after started to appreciate the movie much more as an Adult.

[@tgcv4444]

Hi!

[@hanswurst-gp7pi]

Very enjoyable movie indeed. Personally I'd prefer if Cameron had left out the Alien subplot, as I found the SEAL's slowly going mad far more interesting.

[@jamestoney6108]

Will you be covering Cameron's new 4k version of aliens

[@evilcat7661]

The obese

[@Tacom4ster]

More Blue than Avatar?

[@burntscribe7919]

So I have a PS5 I play my blu rays on. Where’s the best place I can import this from, as I can only play region 2 discs?

[@rjspires]

Looks like I'm importing it then.

[@entertainmentwizard2703]

The Abyss is definitely the best of the 3 and it looked great on the big screen, is it perfect no but it is really good!

[@dallesamllhals9161]

There is no Perfect 😛

[@entertainmentwizard2703]

@@dallesamllhals9161 That is up for debate!

[@steveforsyth7269]

Classic CLASSIC example of how no matter HOW great a movie is, if doesn't stick the ending, it falls apart. It is absolutely worth the watch, but my god that ending! ..."We should be dead!" - "They must've done sumthin' to us"... ugh

[@adamcammack3534]

Very disappointed this isn't getting a UK release any idea where to pick up a region free copy?

[@fonzitheman]

4K discs are region free. Any reg blu ray that comes with it may not be however, you will have to check that if that matters. Here in AUS where I am, The Abyss and Aliens 4K isnt locally released either. Had to import.

[@lutello3012]

I will never get a sound bar, I like my 2.0 setup from 1974. I wish he did a feature commentary like he did for T2. At least I have my Laserdisc and DVD editions.

[@MortonGoldthwait]

This movie was so hard to make, the cast called it The Abuss.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Pussies! he was in water too!

[@dravenlee4473]

This was a blind buy for me. It's just one of those movies I never got to see growing up. The restoration does make it look a little too modern with the AI upscaling but it suffered a far better fate than Aliens and True Lies since it was a native 4K scan and AI didn't have much to work with. I loved the movie the was shocked at how smart in concept it was for a big budget movie. I watched the theatrical cut but now I'm intrigued with the Special Edition due to the major difference in the ending.

[@Tacom4ster]

This was the movie that got me excited for a James Cameron directed Avatar The Last Airbender movie, this movie had waterbending effects in the 80s. I became disappointed twice

[@George_M_]

Being more teal isn't nearly as bad a the pink-ified Star Wars movies.

[@dannycruz5446]

I never got why everyone bags on the ending.

[@bonglesnodkins329]

I wonder if the "NTI mothership rising out of the water" was left intentionally fuzzy because, in truth, the original effects shot didn't look that great. The scale was off and it looked like a plastic model that had been filmed on a parking lot. Probably the only duff shot in the movie. It's really hard to get scale shots with water surfaces looking realistic. Maybe with that image sharpened it looked even worse.

[@Xaviernisan]

Film grain right from the get go huh Oliver? Nice subtle joke.

[@warrensneary4018]

Is this release Region free? Thanks for a great review

[@mr.smith45]

4Ks are all region free but this release is still a pos

[@icreateworlds]

Second best Cameron ever…or best m on par with Aliens.

[@hodelmusic]

Amazing movie 💜

[@deathdoor]

Hey! I don't think I watched the extended version!

[@Neverfate]

Glad it's finally out and in higher definitions, but I just don't like when the human actors start to look like wax models. It happens a few times in Aliens. Haven't seen True Lies yet, but I hear it's worse.

[@dunnst]

Having no 3D version is a bit disapointing. After Epson launched its latest projector without 3D support, I wondered if there will be any new 3D after all. Dune part 2 pretty much sealed the deal, as people in general like 4k HDR much more, tha FullHD 3D.

[@bproElwin]

I saw Cameron's Deepsea Challenger documentary in 3D and was sooo exciting when I saw some small bits of The Abyss footage in glorious 3D and was hoping for a 3D release just like Titanic and T2...

[@kerry-j4m]

This was when Cameron was at his best ( IMHO ) movie-making wise,before he fell in love with motion-caption on the Avatar films. And with all the Avatar sequels he's filmed or filming,I guess he's never returning to making regular films again.

[@LoganWood121]

I mean.. Terminator 2. ::shrugs::

[@deadairconversion]

Wait a minute. The reviews you’re citing at 2:24, sounds more like Avatar than the Abyss. Little did the know the truly bloated and overly long epic that was to come.

[@moonpawooe7134]

Scorchio 😊

[@designtechdk]

Watched the extended cut 4K restoration on the big screen. The people and sets looked amazing. The VFX and aliens not so much. Great to see Michael Biehn in a non-hero role.

[@veganguy74]

Funny thing is, I find the Na’vi in the Avatar movies so freakishly ugly to look at, I never finished that movie. But the somewhat holy-looking aliens in The Abyss done bother me at all.

[@acemcjack]

Loved this film from the first time I watched it. One of Cameron's best (even though the production was apparently a real s**t show)!

[@rudigarmisch1657]

The tidal wave was so dumb! I really liked the theatrical cut. Let our imaginations fill in for the aliens' motivation/plans.

[@Rschr101]

Less is more

[@fonzitheman]

Agree. These nonsense end sections cheapens the movie. In this case the theatrical cut is better.

[@anubusx]

Please look at the omen franchise.

[@richinderbyshire4779]

We can't order it here in the UK? Wtf?

[@ConsoleShockOfficial]

Is the disc region locked?

[@andymc96]

No

[@halomultiplayermoments]

I have it and it works fine. Imported from Amazon USA.

[@veganguy74]

4K discs have no region lock (aside from a few odd titles here and there, but they are not supposed to be locked).

[@aronbond]

i remember talking to a friend who actually saw this in a cinema in the summer of 89. when mary 'came back from the dead,' he said people actually walked out of the cinema. a boring, shapeless mess of a film that tries desperately to reproduce the camaraderie of 'aliens' and fails spectacularly. no wonder cameron rarely talks about it

[@BodrulAmin-jn8fj]

U should review movies

[@snappycattimesten]

RIP Mr Rat

[@indianastarkjones1535]

I guarantee "The Abyss"will be retroactively made as the Prequel to "Avatar" and in Avatar 5 it'll be revealed that the Aliens in The Abyss are from Pandora and the creators of the Navi.

[@waltrod688]

good review...but please warn us the next time when you plan to show key moments of the movie. Thanks to your background i allready know who is going to die!!!

[@andymc96]

Based on the clips you showed, I prefer the HD version.

[@halomultiplayermoments]

The 4k is amazing

[@michaelstaunton1632]

👍👍👍🎥