He's pretty tough. He showed that in Top Gun when the jet plane flew past him blowing of both his hat and the roof of the building next to him without him moving an inch.
@@danfors1333 Nah dude I just rewatched that clip. Ed Harris moves his left foot back a little to steady himself. Still a total badass though, I bet most people would duck
The thing I always say about every James Cameron film is: you can see the money on the screen. Some films are expensive, but look cheap. That is never the case with Cameron.
I also think people don't appreciate the fact that James' desire to push the limits advances the whole of mankind. Think about all the movies that are using technology (especially CGI) that was pioneered in The Abyss. Combine that with the advances in other technologies (like diving technology) and think we all owe thanks to James Cameron.
Agreed. There is definitely some black magic there. Actual film and some classic prime lenses plays a part, but there is something else. For whatever reason, you can take a still at any point in some movies and that feel is in it. Composition, cinematography, luck, whatever. It really does take a neurotic slave driver to make collaboration work consistently. I think he's a weak writer, with bad tendencies toward the maudlin, but there's no denying that all of his work is beautiful.
@@J0SHUAKANE Except he actually has a legit reason. This movie is considered by many to be one of the hardest motion pictures to ever be filmed in history.
In 1989 I worked at a bookstore in Grand Central Station in NYC. A guy came up to me and asked me if we had the novelized version of the movie. I said we did, and handed him a copy. He then asked for several more copies, so I had to ask why. Turns out he was Leo Burmester, the burly guy in the movie, and he wanted to give some copies to friends and family. We chatted for a bit, and he explained to me the whole part about working in the nuclear power plant and that they also did some filming in the Bahamas. He was a nice guy and he didn't mention anything about it being difficult, just that it took a long time to film.
You're not kidding, I did my own share of water crime scene recovery when I was in law enforcement in the crime scene unit. Those long stents underwater trying to do delicate work. I can't imagine the horror of the logistics they had to go through, the water is unforgiving under the most basic of circumstances.
Not that you aren't in just as much danger, but with your level of professionalism, you're probably more likely to survive a lifetime of diving than these guys. Its not that they were cowboy'ing it, but they were not all pros, and had to deal with panicky actors who would never be as trained as a pro diver. I'm surprised noone was hurt worse... Wow.
Ive always heard about your job title and thought it was so badass. I went the soldier route myself but i tell my brother to get into welding. Then maybe, possibly, with hard work he could do underwater welding. I know for a fact you fellas are paid extremely well for the danger your always in. You deserve every cent.
@@TheLakabanzaichrg You probably need to be a kick@$$ welder to begin with, then you probably need a deep diving certification, and on top of that I would guess there is a specialist welding certification for underwater welding, since it's probably quite different from welding in dry environments. I suspect you get into that kind of career through the military. But it's just my speculations.
Cameron and that entire crew were absolutely insane in doing what they did for this movie. Freaks me out; I just could never voluntarily put myself in a situation where I'm relying on technology and other people to not suffocate. And Ed Harris upset with himself because he couldn't complete the scene because he almost drowned? Damn, dude.
He seems pretty on edge. If you watch the behind the scenes stuff for The Rock you see him get super angry because he keeps fudging some lines. Intense rage at himself.
The scene where ED Harris is trying to revive his girlfriend was amazing. I remember watching that and actually holding my breath. I think the whole theater was as well, because there was just a huge cheer when she started breathing again.
My late mother, who passed in 2005 at 62, saw this film early 1990s. She was impressed with this intense scene. I thought Harris would be in grief for killing her.
They did an absolutely amazing job under the most hazardous circumstances. I cried so many times watching that scene and the love that was expressed on screen. Kudos to Ed and Mary Elizabeth, and everyone involved you ruled!
I have been fascinated with this movie ever since I was a kid! The ocean has always terrified me, and I remember seeing the cover of this movie, and I was instantly frightened! It’s amazing to hear the making of it. Thank you so much for this video!
I agree, I was 9 when this movie came out, though I probably didn't see it until 90 or 91, and I friggin LOVED this movie! I can understand why the production was so bad, but if I was over 18 when that movie came out, I would have seen it 5 or 6 times in theaters, that's how much I loved it. It was a bit long for sure, but I didn't care. I thought that the idea of living in a deep underwater structure was so cool, and even started drawing my own interpretations of what an underwater facility would look like if it were meant for residential living... I think too many people just read reviews of movies before they decide whether or not to see something, got wind of some negative press on tv, newspapers, or word of mouth, and made up their minds before even giving the movie a chance... That is a foolproof way to miss out on some great movies if you ask me... And I'm not about that. In fact, historically speaking, I'm more interested in box office bombs than I am in box office successes. The american public, even back in 1989, generally has/had NO IDEA what a good movie really is. They all basically just gravitate to whatever everyone's talking about and don't even decide for themselves whether or not a movie is worth seeing. Sad... They're missing out on some real gems, this film included.
I was a fan of T2 and Aliens for years as a teen before even hearing about The Abyss. When I watched it, I instantly felt it was criminally underrated. To this day it's a top 10 movie for me.
I think it's funny that they're like, "he didn't let his life interfere at all.. he only made his own and all the lives around him miserable and overworked and abused some of them to near death."
There’s something so weird about how people idolise assholes. It’s the Gordon Ramsey effect. People think that being a psychopath is the only way to get good results and therefore glorify terrible working conditions.
@@Vin_Venture896 I don't think people idolize him because he is an asshole but rather they admire the product of his work. Cameron is one of the directors who has not made a movie that wasn't five stars. The fact that three of the top four grossing movies of all time are his speaks to that.
@@Vin_Venture896 Psychopathic behaviour isn't always bad it's a character trait vital for success for example without Cameron we wouldn't have films like The Abyss, Aliens, terminator etc and the world would be a much poorer place without them. Same goes for Ramsay that man has whipped failing families and restaurant businesses into shape benefiting hundreds of people. I think the world would be a more miserable place without them.
He is a bully. Not insane. My dad grew up in the same town as him. Cameron bullied him in elementary school. Cameron I think is obsessed with water as one of his brothers died by drowning when they were kids. Anyway, blully with power = menace to everyone around them. That does not make insanity. It is just male hubris and powers usually outcome. I'm not saying he is a nice person, but the worst ppl we meet who act the worst, are in general perfectly sane. Just shit ppl.
This was one of the greatest movies of the time. It influenced me to such an extent that I became an engineer and diver in the Royal Navy in 1993. Even my wedding ring is a titanium licenced replica from the movie. As a side note anyone who loves the film should read the book. It is here you will learn that Coffey is a really good guy and it is purely down to the HPNS that makes him behave the way he does. I now work as medic and safety diver for both industry and occassional movie jobs and would have loved to have worked on this set. Tough yes, but boy what an experience it would have been.
@@chatteyj The book is a novelisation by Orson Scott Card (meaning the screenplay was written first, and then the novelist took the screenplay and fleshed out more details for the novel). It's a really good novelisation (and Scott Card is a well respected Sci-Fi author). It's been a couple of decades since I read it, but there are lots of interesting details in there - like the invisible fibre optic cables the divers use to communicate, and the molecule-fine tendrils of water that the NTIs can manipulate to get though waterproof seals and read thoughts and affect peoples mood etc.
I actually saw the Special Edition in a movie theater. The late Gaumont Grand Écran Italie, which had a 25 meters by 10 meters screen. It was immense. Absolutely mind-blowing.
I think IMAX for Hollywood features didn’t actually happen until about 2002 with the DMR up-conversion of Star Wars Episode 2 and then Ron Howard’s film 1995 film Apollo 13. Up until then it was specially shot 15 perf 70mm features like Space shuttle and nature documentaries. They had to figure out how to take a 35mm frame and blow it up for the incredibly large IMAX screens. Hence the proprietary DMR process. (Digital Media Remastering)
@@seaneunson3661 Alright. I would love to see IMAX 70 mm one day though. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer seems to be the next movie in that format. The closest theatre is in London and I live in Sweden.
@@johanjonasson4188 I know I’ve seen a few of those original true IMAX documentaries at like Six Flags or other places back when I was a kid. Then it became a trend and all the theaters claimed they were “IMAX” when I never thought they looked as big or crystal clear
Now, i'm a certified diver, nothing special, drysuit, open water, advanced down to 30 meters as a hobbyist, definitely an amateur.. And the INSANE risk Ed Harris went through is...indescribable considering how quickly someone can die if someone fucks up in diving.
I cannot believe he actually had fluid in his helmet. I was convinced watching the movie it was like a double pane helmet and they filled the fluid in the space between. Couldn't imagine any world where they were like "Nope, we're gonna fill it up with fluid for real."
I just learned something; the takeaway from this is that James Cameron is a fucking perfectionist pain-in-the-ass person to work with, which makes him one of the most great filmmakers out there. Thanks for making this video, ShitShow. I do appreciate it.
Absolutely, love the director’s cut of this film, I’ve seen it so many, many times. The chosen drowning scene with Harris & Mastrantonio is one of the greatest movie scenes ever in my opinion.
I never knew about the Lindsey revival scene history. It was so well acted and shot. It’s gonna be hard to watch it from now on without feeling extreme sympathy for Mastrantonio. I don’t doubt this scarred her forever.
@@bryna7 All true. But I doubt there is an actor who can, or who ever will hold a candle to those moments, the part, and coming back to life from dead. The grey skin palour, shifting. Acting at an everest level likely never repeated. Not defending Cameron here, think he was wrong, but the actress played out a part so life like, IMHO opinion its beyond oscar level work.
The scene where she slowly drowns and her resuscitation are the scenes which remain burned in my mind out of the whole film (and it is a fantastic movie). She deserves a ton of credit for achieving this under such grueling working conditions, I had no idea she refuses to even discuss it :(
I loved The Abyss, probably one of the most memorable movies for me due to some reasons, when I first watched it as a kid, I loved how awesome it is with all the sets and new VFX it came out with back then. And second the phobia it gave me for the deep ocean or any body of water where I can't see the dark bottom. The scene where the main character continously free falled alone in the deep dark abyss is still imprinted in me up to this days. And I work in ships. 😂
The CGI of the water tentacle is incredible. It paved the way to techniques that many of us 3D artist's use nowadays. Such as texture mapping the set into a CG environment so that the 3D models reflect a the elements in the set. Or using displacement mapping to create waves in the water.
I had no idea how difficult a movie this was to make, but WHAT A MOVIE, especially the uncut version. In my top 10-20 movies of all time. I've watched countless times and it never gets old.
Yeah, same here Rob. I remember watching it on VHS when it came out, and I have loved it ever since. I feel like all things considered, it still holds up very very well, but seems to be so underrated. Like people don't even know about it. That's a shame being how cool it is and knowing what they went through to make it.
I saw it at the cinema in UK. The radio mentioned it, and I loved Alien's, so went to see it. It had no advertising and nobody even knew what it was. Great movie.
I saw this movie in the Summer of 89, age 16, at the drive-in with a car load of friends of similar ages, out enjoying the school break. Weekend at Bernie's was the first of a double header, and that had us all laughing like mad! Then The Abyss was up next at close to midnight. I was enthralled by the storyline, fantastic acting, and mysterious underwater environments. But the best part and what I am getting to is this. Nearly at the exact moment of the multi couloured N.T.I.'s appearing on the BIG screen, the aurora borealis lit up the skies in the same northern direction of the screen placement! I was awe struck, my jaw left hanging...it was just so awesome! Right then and there I knew I was experiencing something so very fascinating, never to be duplicated!
It's funny how the shooting of Apocalypse Now is often regarded as the most unbearable nightmare, but The Abyss was even worse perhaps. They literally had absolutely everything against them. The movie (specially the uncut version) is very close to being a masterpiece. I remember being 15 years old and watching the Underwater City/Ship scene and being in complete awe at what I was seeing. In fact I can remember the exact emotion of absolute wonder when I saw that scene, and listened to that Score. These are the films that stick with us after so many years, and knowing what an absolute misery the shooting was, it almost make Cameron and his crew look like wizards. So thank You for this great vídeo documentary, and thank very much JC and crew for such a great, unforgettable film.
_Aguirre, the Wrath of God_ is the movie Apocalypse Now was based on. Another tropical film location in a green hell, where cast and crew come to blows and accuse each other of attempted murder. Makes _The Island of Dr. Moreau_ look like a honeymoon...
@@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking Yes, you are right, the Herzog film, and there was another one by W Herzog, "Fitzcarraldo" (I think that was the name). There are some "myths"surrounding those films. Or more precisely not the films, but their production/shooting. There was this feat of moving a ship up a mountain and other stories as well
I don't understand why they wouldn't just use a fake layer of glass on the diving helmet to fill with the fake breathing liquid instead of almost drowning and burning the actor.
They might have been able to get away with a double-layer or tinted visor for scenes where it's supposed to be completely full (although it wouldn't have looked quite right without the refraction effects), but the scenes with it filling would have looked incredibly fake if they tried to do it that way.
I ABSOLUTELY *LOVED* THIS FILM. Always have. Everything in it, including the performances were fantastic, legendary, daring, emotionally vibrant and GENUINE... and I appreciate Cameron's unwavering, stalwart resolve--along with the cast and crew. I don't know how they did it, really. It's like... ARE YOU CRAZY?!?! The amount of WORK, pain, suffering, etc. There's that one line that 'Kat' delivers, too. The whole: "Bud, before I came down here, triple pay sounded like a lot. It AIN'T." :O Wow. An unbelievable film--literally--from stem to nuts. And Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was absolutely INCREDIBLE as "Linzie". Her character was bloody fantastic, and I don't think I'll EVER forget that drowning scene. Never. No way. Michael Biehn's 'insanity' was top notch, too. The STUTTER on "You either take an about face-ce... or..." :O WOW. What a true masterpiece.
One of my all time favorites. Had no idea it was such hell on everyone. I hate that its not available anywhere to stream. And as for ed harris... what a man. Hubba hubba
The Abyss is and always will be one of my favorite movies. The thought of breathing oxygen rich fluid is terrifying and Ed Harris performed this act with agonizing perfection. I look back and wish that I could have been involved in the creation of this movie masterpiece. : )
The Abyss when I watched it as a kid I was really in love with it. The whole darkness of the alien world that is underwater is just something else. There were a lot of issues on this film. In fact, I think that the films that film over/in water are always the hardest things for the actors. Water World for example where the actors almost died and nearly quit.
Instantly loved the movie after watching it when it first released in theaters. My dad had the special edition, laser disk way back in the day. I just had my son watch it a few weeks ago after watching Avatar WOTW. I hope J Cameron re-releases this on BluRay &/or streaming in 4K. The quality of your video is outstanding. Way better than the DVD my son & I watched.
Probably the same copy I have, meant for a 4:3 CRT TV. Letterboxed, but not optimized for a 16:9 screen like later DVDs. It wasn't put out again on DVD after that became a thing.
Theres a great HD extended version you can torrent (allegedly!) I grew up watching this film, let me tell you watching in HD on a 65" a TV is awesome. You noticed details you never seen before.
@@guitarfan01 Its still not out, I had no idea people were waiting so long for a blu-ray version, I would buy the blu-ray version tomorrow if it were out.
Really good insight with some new input. I'm not convinced ANY movie worth that stress to cast and crew. Cameron certainly earns his captain Ahab reputation
There's a moment in this film when Ed Harris says "I am calm." Someone clearly tells him something on the phone and his next word is "WHAT!?!" but the delivery always got me, I first saw this movie when I was 10 and I could relate to him then lol
It had the misfortune of coming after two other inferior underwater movies, "Deep Star Six" and "Leviathan," plus a lot of the onset drama was starting to become publicly known around that time. There was no way a movie that had generated that much drama could ever live up to it. But it did do something the other two movies couldn't: win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Ya, The Abyss is a great film. I’ve seen it many times and watched the making of it on the DVD. This is a great video with lots of extra details from its making.
The real question is what is the price for someone's sanity, what is the price for their life? Those actors signed those contracts not fully understanding the ramifications, and they had to trust Cameron who valued his art before their lives. His comment about them only having to pick out a magazine was messed up.
How dare they not want to drown for one egomanic's artistic obsession! Some of us just go to theraphy when we have issues. We don't punish the world for it.
Any director that forces their actors to undergo physical and/or psychological abuse for their “art” should honestly be in jail. No art project is worth putting people’s lives on the line. As a professional diver i can’t believe how dangerous this nonsense is. Thank you for the awesome video!
I was blown away by The Abyss when it was new (to video that is, not at the cinema) but it was really not well advertised at the time. I only first heard about it when I saw it on the shelves of Blockbuster. It has literally got something for everyone, except dance routines! The score is one of the best I’ve ever heard, the acting is flawless, the script is clipped and riveting: it’s got spectacular explosions and crashes, a love story, aliens, spies, nukes, suspense, mysteries and an epic story, told through an ensemble cast of whom everyone will find their type to root for. I still love that movie and I adore the ultimate optimism that punctuates the hectic story which takes the viewer on a rollercoaster of potentially world ending events.
This was one of my family's movies. Every family has a couple movies that the whole of them can enjoy and together and this was one of them. We would watch it constantly.
I saw that on release. As an amateur diver, I related. It was nail bitingly awesome, when Ed Harris dropped off the ledge to disarm the nuke. I felt every foot of that drop.
Maybe. I’ve actually never watched Community so I would need to do a deep dive into it to give it the same level of care as the Arrested Development video.
I just watched this again last month (I have a funny feeling you mentioned it in passing on your podcast) and goddamn, and you absolutely nailed your description - it takes such a sharp turn in the final act that I never know how I feel about it (despite this being the umpteenth time I've watched it). As always, though, another ripper sh*tshow video!
Did you watch the Special Edition version? It's weird when you see it, then go back to the original, the ending is complete nonsense. Extended: "We saved you, but humans need to get their sh*t together. Deal?" Original: "We saved you, because-" [end of movie]
@@ItWasAShtShow I watched the Special Edition, which includes the shonky CGI waves and people on the beach cheering when the waves recede (which felt a little Michael Bay - I kept waiting to see an American flag waving).
@@ItWasAShtShow The original was "we saved you because you selflessly sacrificed yourself to save us". I think it works, placing the anti-war/nuclear message is a lot more in the background and focusing almost solely on the Deep Core crew.
20:15 I bought the special edition Laserdisc and is the only version I know to this day. I honestly didn’t know so much was cut out in the theatrical release and wonder what that would have been like. Kudos to Cameron, actors, and all involved for their dedication, but I can only imagine a fraction of how difficult it must have been.
This movie blew me away as a kid, it was a movie that just felt so big and so small at the same time. Giant spaces, wide shots matched with the claustrophobic nature of their suits the darkness surrounding and some of the spaces they encounter.
i watched this movie 10+ and still makes my skin goosebumps, that's my favorite movie of all times, never knew what film crew had to go thru to make it so awesome, respect
Thats why i think "The Abyss" is the best movie ever made, and Harris's personalisation of that character is just great, wow that reanimation scene, brutal
This is one of my fav movies its so terrifying and tense but utterly beautiful and fascinating too. Thanks to everyone involved in almost drowning to bring us this amazing entertainment you are all total bad asses
This is one of the most memorable movies of my childhood, it’s amazing to hear the backstory I just found your channel through this vid, subbed so hard my dude.
I've loved this movie since the VHS became available at my local video store. The box office earnings may have been disappointing, but I am very grateful that this movie exists and have watched the extended cut on dvd more times than I can count. It's one of the movies that leaves a lifelong impression on you.
I'm a veteran too 🎗 4yr 1990s & have worked on a few TV, media film 🎥 shoots. Some people, actors are NOT cut out for location or outdoor, 🌎 production.
Thank you for producing this. The Abyss has always been my favorite sci-fi movie. I think I understand why better now. The fact that the tension and environment seem so much more real and dark is obvious now. I always felt it was a really well cast movie and the characters were very believable in their roles. In several Cameron films he seems to have a good grasp of the real life characteristics of blue-collar workers in different industries. having grown up a lot around a lot of rig workers on the gulf coast, you can totally see their personalities and camaraderie in this cast, similar to the first Alien movie
this movie has a special place in my heart and i love it ever since. i remember as it was yesterday. i was 8 years old, this was 26 years ago, and we got a brand new Rear-projection television. my dad was super excited, because we also ordered premiere (now sky) back then. and it was this receiver thing, with this funny looking key. and you couldn't choose a movie, they just showed every blockbuster. one evening, i was playing in front of the TV, my dad on the couch, and The Abyss started. from the moment on, as the sub was about to go down, i couldn't take my eyes of the TV. i was nailed to it. barely didn't i know what i'm about to experience and witness. it was pure magic for me, and it is up to this day. thank you james cameron, for one of my most beloved childhood memories. under pressure - the making of the abyss is also a movie for itself - i mean, how insane someone has to be, to make such a movie. imagine, someone would like to do it nowadays. only cameron would be able to do it.
I was taught marine science by a student of one of technical advisors for this film. The horrors of this production came up constantly during the course, especially when talking about underwater safety
Cameron has apparently mellowed with age. He's gone from screaming at actors to realizing they actually know what they're doing, like...acting. He admitted he's been too hard on actors in the past in an interview in 2012. I wonder what the experience of filming Avatar: The Way of Water was like. This time, many of the actors, like Kate Winslet and Zoe Saldana, could afford to walk away, which was apparently in the past key to how he treated you. Anywho, random comment.
I suspect it must have been fairy decent to get back Kate Winslet. She was pretty adamant about not having anything to do with James Cameron after "Titanic." Then again, that seems to be the case with at least half the cast of any movie he does; they either swear blind fealty to him or they hate him for life. He probably mellowed out because Disney made it known that they were not going to tolerate the same behavior he exhibited at Fox before they bought it. I'm very sure they were looking at the "Avatar" saga as one of the many Fox projects they could safely shitcan, despite the success of the first one.
@@cubdukat Never thought about that angle, but yeah. Disney is bigger than James Cameron and probably had their doubts about whether he could pull off another monster hit. "Behave yourself James, or we'll pull the plug."
One of my favorite movie of all times. From my favorite director all together. In retrospective, it's kind of a miracle nobody died during production...
I watched the original theatrical release of this film again recently. It is sooooooooo goood!!!!! The extended edition is a lot less so. That scene - on the floor of the moon pool where Ed's character is trying to revive Mary's - is the greatest of it's kind ever committed to celluloid in my humble opinion. Every other death scene in any film since - where a character is thought to be lost but comes back - is meek and shallow imitation of this one. Yes - Mary suffered; yes - it was difficult for everyone involved but it paid off dramatically speaking. All in all, an underrated masterpiece.
My dad actually had a laser disc player and I saw the Special Edition as a child. It started a fascination with visual effects that continued to influence me into adulthood. I'm still not sure James Cameron's vision is worth putting people through that.
The divorce obviously did effect the shoot, because he threw himself into the film completely and overdid everything, went balls to the wall and probably much more dangerous than he ever should have done, we probably dont know quite how dangerous things were at points, it sounds like the fact that no one died was actually quite lucky
Also I find it HILARIOUS people keep saying it didn't play into the making of the film like... have they SEEN the director's cut? And how much time we spent on the divorced couple getting back together and people gossipping about the ex-wife behind her back and Ed Harris literally slapping his in-movie-ex-wife back to life?? Yeah, no, I don't see Cameron working through his divorce by means of this film AT ALL.
Ive never seen this behind the scenes footage and this is my absolute favorite movie!!! I applaud ALL involved because i didnt know what all the actors had experienced to make this masterpiece. I still listen to the soundtrack and can quote this movie, line by line. Im amazed!! Kudos!!! ❤
Yes, John landis career took a dive after the twilight zone movie incident. But I think he still made films in Hollywood after. But yh this abyss shoot, looked really dangerous. And I've heard that Mr Cameron can really be quite the tyrant, to work for. But some of his films are really special. Especially terminator 1 and 2. ✌️✌️🙏
@@cobrakaicyberdon They were in a tank twelve foot deep of water it was hardly the open ocean and although dangerous it was a completely controlled environment at the end of the day and safety was never more than a few feet away
Been watching these vids recently as they popped up in my feed. It kinda shows just how much people have to fight through hell to make their dreams come true. Sometimes they don't work out but when they do the satisfaction is all the more satisfying. Watching people go through these trials in a way makes me feel inspired to pursue my own dreams because even though they warn about the journey being hard, they also show me that it's possible to make it out on top.
I liked The Abyss. When the cut scenes were returned, I really liked it. It had some of the most intense scenes during which you suffered along with the characters. I’m an ocean freak…this was my kind of movie.
The abyss is one of the best movies ever! The fact that it was filmed in such a realistic way is one of the major reasons for its success! I happily watch this movie again and again. For all the hardships they endured, the cast and crew that worked on it can be proud of their achievement in more ways than one!
The Abyss was then and is now one of the finest underwater movies ever filmed. Stellar performances from every actor in the film, with brilliance from Ed Harris and Michael Biehn (as the steadily dissolving Coffey). Truly epic.
I had the special edition laserdisc of this film (still do actually) and I would watch the documentary of the making of the movie more than I ever watched the movie itself, and I watched the movie a lot.
My dad was a crew member on this movie and told me some stories about how bad production was. He said that even being a basic crew dude, they would feed them literally anything they wanted just to keep them working. Like lobster tail 3x a day if you wanted
Yeah. Much of that was pure negligence. Over chlorinated water, because you tried to rush the tank prep? Don't rush the tank prep or wait until the tank preppers get the water composition back in order. It's a damn movie, not a real submarine rescue. I so hate these directors and producers who think their aim of doing "amazing" or "realistic art" justifies near any means. You already are making an illusion, just do more illusion work so it is easier for the cast and crew.
I think it was because he also put himself through hell to try to create a great movie. He wasn't a dictator who simply stood on dry land and shouted orders. He was in the tank directing and had lots of miserable moments too.
Didn't the video address this at one point? That he respected the crew but didn't give two shits about the actors because the actors were mostly sitting around in the water and waiting while he and the crew were working tirelessly to prepare for them to shoot? Sounds like he and the crew went through much worse than the actors did.
I remember watching this movie in theaters it blew my mind. I'd never seen anything like this, and movies just got better afterward. I'm glad he pushed it, it made the whole experience memorable. Bravo for all the hard work on all parts. Its one of my favorites even today.
the takeaway from this is that Ed Harris is a fucking hardcore dude lmao
Dude he WaS Jackzen Potluck!!
He's pretty tough. He showed that in Top Gun when the jet plane flew past him blowing of both his hat and the roof of the building next to him without him moving an inch.
He's one of the best actors ever, no coincidence
@@danfors1333 Nah dude I just rewatched that clip. Ed Harris moves his left foot back a little to steady himself. Still a total badass though, I bet most people would duck
And that James Cameron is an egotistical psychopath.
The thing I always say about every James Cameron film is: you can see the money on the screen. Some films are expensive, but look cheap. That is never the case with Cameron.
Nailed it
The Rings of Power 🤭🙈 Half a billion dollars, yet look like shit!
I also think people don't appreciate the fact that James' desire to push the limits advances the whole of mankind. Think about all the movies that are using technology (especially CGI) that was pioneered in The Abyss. Combine that with the advances in other technologies (like diving technology) and think we all owe thanks to James Cameron.
Agreed. There is definitely some black magic there. Actual film and some classic prime lenses plays a part, but there is something else. For whatever reason, you can take a still at any point in some movies and that feel is in it. Composition, cinematography, luck, whatever. It really does take a neurotic slave driver to make collaboration work consistently. I think he's a weak writer, with bad tendencies toward the maudlin, but there's no denying that all of his work is beautiful.
Indeed!
"Fuck you, I did _The Abyss."_
If there's one snippet to rule them all, it's this one.
That killed me 🤣
Ps 69th like
@@Immortalrounin nice
After f*** you I did the abyss comes the phrase now I'm going to do Avatar so f*** everybody
he sounds like the cry baby actors he is talking about.
@@J0SHUAKANE Except he actually has a legit reason. This movie is considered by many to be one of the hardest motion pictures to ever be filmed in history.
That look Ed has when he's talking about the near drowning, his upset with himself over his getting upset, that's the Abyss staring back.
Ed is a man of steel. I couldn't do 10% of what he did. I f-ing hate water
In 1989 I worked at a bookstore in Grand Central Station in NYC. A guy came up to me and asked me if we had the novelized version of the movie. I said we did, and handed him a copy. He then asked for several more copies, so I had to ask why. Turns out he was Leo Burmester, the burly guy in the movie, and he wanted to give some copies to friends and family. We chatted for a bit, and he explained to me the whole part about working in the nuclear power plant and that they also did some filming in the Bahamas. He was a nice guy and he didn't mention anything about it being difficult, just that it took a long time to film.
He was the mouthy guy, I remember him. Some people are forgettable, he wasn't.
Because he was the Burly guy! That's why he didn't complain!
That same year I saw him play the role of Thénardier in the Broadway, Les Misérables.
RIP Leo
I think all who worked on it are proud of the finished project. Even those who were b*tc*ing
The fact I can feel the anxiety pulsing through me half way through this vid is insane, why Cameron
James Cameron does what James Cameron do because he’s James Cameron
cuz he's a psychopath, 1 step away from john landis. people could have died & he would have went on unaffected.
that's beacuse you're a woman and incapable of keeping your shit together
Because he has pathological narcissism.
@@circleofsorrow4583 Finally, someone who sees it instead of riding his dick.
As an underwater welder & salvor I can only imagine the logistical nightmares for filming the way they did.
You're not kidding, I did my own share of water crime scene recovery when I was in law enforcement in the crime scene unit. Those long stents underwater trying to do delicate work. I can't imagine the horror of the logistics they had to go through, the water is unforgiving under the most basic of circumstances.
Not that you aren't in just as much danger, but with your level of professionalism, you're probably more likely to survive a lifetime of diving than these guys. Its not that they were cowboy'ing it, but they were not all pros, and had to deal with panicky actors who would never be as trained as a pro diver. I'm surprised noone was hurt worse... Wow.
Ive always heard about your job title and thought it was so badass. I went the soldier route myself but i tell my brother to get into welding. Then maybe, possibly, with hard work he could do underwater welding. I know for a fact you fellas are paid extremely well for the danger your always in. You deserve every cent.
How does one get into that career?
@@TheLakabanzaichrg You probably need to be a kick@$$ welder to begin with, then you probably need a deep diving certification, and on top of that I would guess there is a specialist welding certification for underwater welding, since it's probably quite different from welding in dry environments. I suspect you get into that kind of career through the military. But it's just my speculations.
"F*ck you, I did the Abyss." is like saying I survived Vietnam. You just don't mess with people who gone thru that.
dude wouldnt last 5 seconds in a full contact thai martial arts film. all he did was sit around in a tank, then say some shit that someone else wrote.
@@J0SHUAKANE you do know that mental torture does in fact exist and those who suffer from it are scarred for life, right?
@@J0SHUAKANE Or full on Samurai fight in 13th century while fighting rebels, what a pansy.
@@shiekahfan01 idk what that has to do with waiting around in a tank.
@@J0SHUAKANE did you miss the fact many people almost died on this set due to oxygen issues?
Cameron and that entire crew were absolutely insane in doing what they did for this movie. Freaks me out; I just could never voluntarily put myself in a situation where I'm relying on technology and other people to not suffocate. And Ed Harris upset with himself because he couldn't complete the scene because he almost drowned? Damn, dude.
Mentally ill shit.
Most people in the entertainment biz are at least 1/2 insane
@@panchostanza8712 Torture for the art.
He seems pretty on edge. If you watch the behind the scenes stuff for The Rock you see him get super angry because he keeps fudging some lines. Intense rage at himself.
You voluntarily put yourself in situations where you're relying on technology and other people to not die almost every day.
The scene where ED Harris is trying to revive his girlfriend was amazing. I remember watching that and actually holding my breath. I think the whole theater was as well, because there was just a huge cheer when she started breathing again.
My late mother, who passed in 2005 at 62, saw this film early 1990s. She was impressed with this intense scene. I thought Harris would be in grief for killing her.
They did an absolutely amazing job under the most hazardous circumstances. I cried so many times watching that scene and the love that was expressed on screen. Kudos to Ed and Mary Elizabeth, and everyone involved you ruled!
Ex-wife, not girlfriend.
But yeah, that scene still hits me in the feels.
"Life's Abyss and then you dive. “
- The film crew of James Cameron's Abyss.
" *SON* of Abyss..." -another film crew saying on the shoot, according to Gale Hurd
One of the best play on words ever, great song too from probably his best album.
Morgan Freeman joke.😂
Such a great reference and pun.
Abysmal
My favourite Michael Biehn role, and that says a lot. His slow fall into insanity is so fun to watch.
Johnny Ringo was his best role, IMO.
🤣 wtf?
Is he ever a 'good' guy? Lol
Kyle Reese in The Terminator? Corporal Hicks in Aliens?@@TigerzLionzPistonzWingz
I have been fascinated with this movie ever since I was a kid! The ocean has always terrified me, and I remember seeing the cover of this movie, and I was instantly frightened! It’s amazing to hear the making of it. Thank you so much for this video!
I agree, I was 9 when this movie came out, though I probably didn't see it until 90 or 91, and I friggin LOVED this movie! I can understand why the production was so bad, but if I was over 18 when that movie came out, I would have seen it 5 or 6 times in theaters, that's how much I loved it. It was a bit long for sure, but I didn't care. I thought that the idea of living in a deep underwater structure was so cool, and even started drawing my own interpretations of what an underwater facility would look like if it were meant for residential living... I think too many people just read reviews of movies before they decide whether or not to see something, got wind of some negative press on tv, newspapers, or word of mouth, and made up their minds before even giving the movie a chance... That is a foolproof way to miss out on some great movies if you ask me... And I'm not about that. In fact, historically speaking, I'm more interested in box office bombs than I am in box office successes. The american public, even back in 1989, generally has/had NO IDEA what a good movie really is. They all basically just gravitate to whatever everyone's talking about and don't even decide for themselves whether or not a movie is worth seeing. Sad... They're missing out on some real gems, this film included.
Fascinated and captivated to this day. The additional footage at the ending made this a much better film, but I can't find any copies today.
James Cameron's movies captured my imagination as a kid like no others. From T1 and T2 to Aliens. When I saw the Abyss, it blew my little kid mind.
It blew mine as well!
I was a fan of T2 and Aliens for years as a teen before even hearing about The Abyss. When I watched it, I instantly felt it was criminally underrated. To this day it's a top 10 movie for me.
It's such a shame he stopped making movies after T2.
Dude was a genius.
I think it's funny that they're like, "he didn't let his life interfere at all.. he only made his own and all the lives around him miserable and overworked and abused some of them to near death."
Exactly!!
There’s something so weird about how people idolise assholes. It’s the Gordon Ramsey effect. People think that being a psychopath is the only way to get good results and therefore glorify terrible working conditions.
@@Vin_Venture896 I don't think people idolize him because he is an asshole but rather they admire the product of his work. Cameron is one of the directors who has not made a movie that wasn't five stars. The fact that three of the top four grossing movies of all time are his speaks to that.
Ok. But he put himself through the same shit, and worse, and longer…. He wasn’t making people do shit
@@Vin_Venture896 Psychopathic behaviour isn't always bad it's a character trait vital for success for example without Cameron we wouldn't have films like The Abyss, Aliens, terminator etc and the world would be a much poorer place without them. Same goes for Ramsay that man has whipped failing families and restaurant businesses into shape benefiting hundreds of people. I think the world would be a more miserable place without them.
James Cameron might be a genius or whatever, but this man is also an absolute menace
It's a thin line between genius and insanity.
He is a bully. Not insane. My dad grew up in the same town as him. Cameron bullied him in elementary school. Cameron I think is obsessed with water as one of his brothers died by drowning when they were kids. Anyway, blully with power = menace to everyone around them. That does not make insanity. It is just male hubris and powers usually outcome. I'm not saying he is a nice person, but the worst ppl we meet who act the worst, are in general perfectly sane. Just shit ppl.
@@NinjaMatt2201 why can't you be both?
Just ask his exwife. Linda H.
They often are
I love how that South Park episode is simultaneously making fun of James Cameron while also low-key flattering him lol.
If I were him I would absolutely be jamming to the song every day.
James Cameron does what James Cameron does because James Cameron is James Cameron 😂😂😂😂
His name is James Cameron, the greatest pioneer. No budget too steep, no sea too deep. What’s that, it’s him, James Cameron.
Just wow! Gotta respect the cast and crew for having to deal with all of that
This was one of the greatest movies of the time. It influenced me to such an extent that I became an engineer and diver in the Royal Navy in 1993. Even my wedding ring is a titanium licenced replica from the movie. As a side note anyone who loves the film should read the book. It is here you will learn that Coffey is a really good guy and it is purely down to the HPNS that makes him behave the way he does. I now work as medic and safety diver for both industry and occassional movie jobs and would have loved to have worked on this set. Tough yes, but boy what an experience it would have been.
That's really cool! Maybe I want my wedding ring to be made of titanium too xD
Cool story bro. Also theres a book!?
@@chatteyj The book is a novelisation by Orson Scott Card (meaning the screenplay was written first, and then the novelist took the screenplay and fleshed out more details for the novel). It's a really good novelisation (and Scott Card is a well respected Sci-Fi author). It's been a couple of decades since I read it, but there are lots of interesting details in there - like the invisible fibre optic cables the divers use to communicate, and the molecule-fine tendrils of water that the NTIs can manipulate to get though waterproof seals and read thoughts and affect peoples mood etc.
Lol
Same... Unappreciated gem
This movie was definitely the most elaborate way to try to murder Ed Harris
I actually saw the Special Edition in a movie theater. The late Gaumont Grand Écran Italie, which had a 25 meters by 10 meters screen. It was immense. Absolutely mind-blowing.
Was it in 70mm or IMAX 70 mm? Must have been incredible in any case.
@@johanjonasson4188 The theater itself wasn’t IMAX. I suspect it was either a 70mm print with 6 tracks for the sound, or 35mm with dolby digital.
I think IMAX for Hollywood features didn’t actually happen until about 2002 with the DMR up-conversion of Star Wars Episode 2 and then Ron Howard’s film 1995 film Apollo 13. Up until then it was specially shot 15 perf 70mm features like Space shuttle and nature documentaries. They had to figure out how to take a 35mm frame and blow it up for the incredibly large IMAX screens. Hence the proprietary DMR process. (Digital Media Remastering)
@@seaneunson3661 Alright. I would love to see IMAX 70 mm one day though. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer seems to be the next movie in that format. The closest theatre is in London and I live in Sweden.
@@johanjonasson4188 I know I’ve seen a few of those original true IMAX documentaries at like Six Flags or other places back when I was a kid.
Then it became a trend and all the theaters claimed they were “IMAX” when I never thought they looked as big or crystal clear
11:39 Ed Harris is such an underrated actor. A friggin legend.
Now, i'm a certified diver, nothing special, drysuit, open water, advanced down to 30 meters as a hobbyist, definitely an amateur.. And the INSANE risk Ed Harris went through is...indescribable considering how quickly someone can die if someone fucks up in diving.
I cannot believe he actually had fluid in his helmet. I was convinced watching the movie it was like a double pane helmet and they filled the fluid in the space between. Couldn't imagine any world where they were like "Nope, we're gonna fill it up with fluid for real."
@@jeffbrownme2your face in water, just can not be replicated like that.
@@jeffbrownme2 That would have been the sensible option lol
I mostly dived in fresh water lakes in Upstate New York like lake Skaneateles. Unfortunately I have never dived in the open ocean yet.
SCUBA 🤿 is NOT easy or simple, I did a few open water dives 🇵🇦 1990s.
I just learned something; the takeaway from this is that James Cameron is a fucking perfectionist pain-in-the-ass person to work with, which makes him one of the most great filmmakers out there. Thanks for making this video, ShitShow. I do appreciate it.
Absolutely, love the director’s cut of this film, I’ve seen it so many, many times. The chosen drowning scene with Harris & Mastrantonio is one of the greatest movie scenes ever in my opinion.
I never knew about the Lindsey revival scene history. It was so well acted and shot. It’s gonna be hard to watch it from now on without feeling extreme sympathy for Mastrantonio. I don’t doubt this scarred her forever.
Having her shirt ripped open adds to the humiliation.
@@bryna7 All true. But I doubt there is an actor who can, or who ever will hold a candle to those moments, the part, and coming back to life from dead. The grey skin palour, shifting. Acting at an everest level likely never repeated. Not defending Cameron here, think he was wrong, but the actress played out a part so life like, IMHO opinion its beyond oscar level work.
The scene where she slowly drowns and her resuscitation are the scenes which remain burned in my mind out of the whole film (and it is a fantastic movie). She deserves a ton of credit for achieving this under such grueling working conditions, I had no idea she refuses to even discuss it :(
I was upset and horrified at the time. To watch the love of your life deliberately drown, and try to bring her back. Whoa.
@@bryna7 and to my excitement
I loved The Abyss, probably one of the most memorable movies for me due to some reasons, when I first watched it as a kid, I loved how awesome it is with all the sets and new VFX it came out with back then. And second the phobia it gave me for the deep ocean or any body of water where I can't see the dark bottom. The scene where the main character continously free falled alone in the deep dark abyss is still imprinted in me up to this days. And I work in ships. 😂
No thanks to pampered ass cameron
everytime James Cameron makes a movie, he also spearheads multiple new filmmaking techniques
The CGI of the water tentacle is incredible. It paved the way to techniques that many of us 3D artist's use nowadays. Such as texture mapping the set into a CG environment so that the 3D models reflect a the elements in the set. Or using displacement mapping to create waves in the water.
I had no idea how difficult a movie this was to make, but WHAT A MOVIE, especially the uncut version. In my top 10-20 movies of all time. I've watched countless times and it never gets old.
Still one of my favourite movies of all time. Criminally underrated and ignored. So good.
Yeah, same here Rob. I remember watching it on VHS when it came out, and I have loved it ever since. I feel like all things considered, it still holds up very very well, but seems to be so underrated. Like people don't even know about it. That's a shame being how cool it is and knowing what they went through to make it.
I saw it at the cinema in UK. The radio mentioned it, and I loved Alien's, so went to see it. It had no advertising and nobody even knew what it was. Great movie.
@@catmatism Wrong
@@catmatism It's a great movie. I agree feels a little messy and unfinished, but I have that argument for another great movie, Bladerunner.
The only Cameron film I do NOT like.
This is one of my all time favorite Sci Fi movies. Holds up extremely well to this day imo.
It’s a shame this is probably Cameron’s most overlooked movie considering it was the most gruelling production of all his movies.
Possibly the most grueling production of any movie ever made.
Cameron was so ahead of his time as most of the tech he was really wanting to use hadn't been developed yet!
@@stevie-ray2020
True. Shame about Avatar 2. He kinda let the tech get too far ahead of the narrative.
it is wonderful, especially the directors cut
Really? Despite the nightmare shoot, it’s his best movie, I think.
Abyss holds up even 33 years later. A masterpiece.
Yes, and part of me thinks it’s really a documentary. Always felt there are NTIs down there, let alone above.
I saw this movie in the Summer of 89, age 16, at the drive-in with a car load of friends of similar ages, out enjoying the school break. Weekend at Bernie's was the first of a double header, and that had us all laughing like mad! Then The Abyss was up next at close to midnight. I was enthralled by the storyline, fantastic acting, and mysterious underwater environments. But the best part and what I am getting to is this. Nearly at the exact moment of the multi couloured N.T.I.'s appearing on the BIG screen, the aurora borealis lit up the skies in the same northern direction of the screen placement! I was awe struck, my jaw left hanging...it was just so awesome! Right then and there I knew I was experiencing something so very fascinating, never to be duplicated!
Now the AB IS something I’d love to see👍 cool story tho
Gale Anne Hurd: This is the most challenging film ever made
Big Jim C seven years later: I’m going to reenact the sinking of the Titanic
Im the king of the world!
except Hurd didn't produce Titanic after T2
@@TheDarkwingj yeah I know but that isn’t the joke.
It's funny how the shooting of Apocalypse Now is often regarded as the most unbearable nightmare, but The Abyss was even worse perhaps. They literally had absolutely everything against them. The movie (specially the uncut version) is very close to being a masterpiece. I remember being 15 years old and watching the Underwater City/Ship scene and being in complete awe at what I was seeing. In fact I can remember the exact emotion of absolute wonder when I saw that scene, and listened to that Score. These are the films that stick with us after so many years, and knowing what an absolute misery the shooting was, it almost make Cameron and his crew look like wizards. So thank You for this great vídeo documentary, and thank very much JC and crew for such a great, unforgettable film.
_Aguirre, the Wrath of God_ is the movie Apocalypse Now was based on. Another tropical film location in a green hell, where cast and crew come to blows and accuse each other of attempted murder. Makes _The Island of Dr. Moreau_ look like a honeymoon...
@@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking Yes, you are right, the Herzog film, and there was another one by W Herzog, "Fitzcarraldo" (I think that was the name). There are some "myths"surrounding those films. Or more precisely not the films, but their production/shooting. There was this feat of moving a ship up a mountain and other stories as well
I don't understand why they wouldn't just use a fake layer of glass on the diving helmet to fill with the fake breathing liquid instead of almost drowning and burning the actor.
“But that wouldn’t look exactly the same as what I’m imagining!”
-James Cameron, probably
Because then the actor would just look like they were behind the world's thinnest fishtank.
They might have been able to get away with a double-layer or tinted visor for scenes where it's supposed to be completely full (although it wouldn't have looked quite right without the refraction effects), but the scenes with it filling would have looked incredibly fake if they tried to do it that way.
I ABSOLUTELY *LOVED* THIS FILM. Always have. Everything in it, including the performances were fantastic, legendary, daring, emotionally vibrant and GENUINE... and I appreciate Cameron's unwavering, stalwart resolve--along with the cast and crew. I don't know how they did it, really. It's like... ARE YOU CRAZY?!?! The amount of WORK, pain, suffering, etc.
There's that one line that 'Kat' delivers, too. The whole: "Bud, before I came down here, triple pay sounded like a lot. It AIN'T." :O Wow.
An unbelievable film--literally--from stem to nuts. And Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was absolutely INCREDIBLE as "Linzie". Her character was bloody fantastic, and I don't think I'll EVER forget that drowning scene. Never. No way. Michael Biehn's 'insanity' was top notch, too. The STUTTER on "You either take an about face-ce... or..." :O WOW. What a true masterpiece.
One of my all time favorites. Had no idea it was such hell on everyone. I hate that its not available anywhere to stream. And as for ed harris... what a man. Hubba hubba
The Abyss is and always will be one of my favorite movies. The thought of breathing oxygen rich fluid is terrifying and Ed Harris performed this act with agonizing perfection. I look back and wish that I could have been involved in the creation of this movie masterpiece. : )
The Abyss when I watched it as a kid I was really in love with it. The whole darkness of the alien world that is underwater is just something else. There were a lot of issues on this film. In fact, I think that the films that film over/in water are always the hardest things for the actors. Water World for example where the actors almost died and nearly quit.
Instantly loved the movie after watching it when it first released in theaters. My dad had the special edition, laser disk way back in the day. I just had my son watch it a few weeks ago after watching Avatar WOTW. I hope J Cameron re-releases this on BluRay &/or streaming in 4K. The quality of your video is outstanding. Way better than the DVD my son & I watched.
Probably the same copy I have, meant for a 4:3 CRT TV. Letterboxed, but not optimized for a 16:9 screen like later DVDs. It wasn't put out again on DVD after that became a thing.
Theres a great HD extended version you can torrent (allegedly!) I grew up watching this film, let me tell you watching in HD on a 65" a TV is awesome. You noticed details you never seen before.
It is being released on blu ray in March
@@jasonhnash05 I'll believe it when I see it on my shelf. Cameron also said it would be out in 2017.
@@guitarfan01 Its still not out, I had no idea people were waiting so long for a blu-ray version, I would buy the blu-ray version tomorrow if it were out.
Really good insight with some new input. I'm not convinced ANY movie worth that stress to cast and crew. Cameron certainly earns his captain Ahab reputation
4:28 this from the same guy criticizing the titan inventor 30 some years later
There's a moment in this film when Ed Harris says "I am calm."
Someone clearly tells him something on the phone and his next word is "WHAT!?!" but the delivery always got me, I first saw this movie when I was 10 and I could relate to him then lol
The Abyss is such a beautiful and brilliant film.. I had no idea it was a flop. I can't understand how it could be a flop.
Agreed. A solid 10/10 film all the way around.
I do. It's boring.
It had the misfortune of coming after two other inferior underwater movies, "Deep Star Six" and "Leviathan," plus a lot of the onset drama was starting to become publicly known around that time. There was no way a movie that had generated that much drama could ever live up to it. But it did do something the other two movies couldn't: win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Ya, The Abyss is a great film. I’ve seen it many times and watched the making of it on the DVD. This is a great video with lots of extra details from its making.
It did make money ($90 million box office against a $40 - $50 million budget). The studio was just hoping for a bigger return.
"This is either madness...or brilliance."
"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide."
The real question is what is the price for someone's sanity, what is the price for their life? Those actors signed those contracts not fully understanding the ramifications, and they had to trust Cameron who valued his art before their lives. His comment about them only having to pick out a magazine was messed up.
it's a funny old world
How dare they not want to drown for one egomanic's artistic obsession! Some of us just go to theraphy when we have issues. We don't punish the world for it.
@@jordansweet8054 Amen to that!
Any director that forces their actors to undergo physical and/or psychological abuse for their “art” should honestly be in jail. No art project is worth putting people’s lives on the line. As a professional diver i can’t believe how dangerous this nonsense is. Thank you for the awesome video!
Yes have to agree there and the takes for the reviving/ slapping scene that’s was just a ridiculous torture. She said we’re not animals.
Nah man this movie rocks
I was blown away by The Abyss when it was new (to video that is, not at the cinema) but it was really not well advertised at the time. I only first heard about it when I saw it on the shelves of Blockbuster. It has literally got something for everyone, except dance routines! The score is one of the best I’ve ever heard, the acting is flawless, the script is clipped and riveting: it’s got spectacular explosions and crashes, a love story, aliens, spies, nukes, suspense, mysteries and an epic story, told through an ensemble cast of whom everyone will find their type to root for. I still love that movie and I adore the ultimate optimism that punctuates the hectic story which takes the viewer on a rollercoaster of potentially world ending events.
This was one of my family's movies.
Every family has a couple movies that the whole of them can enjoy and together and this was one of them. We would watch it constantly.
Love that in everything Cameron makes, some actor has to be one of the first few humans to ever achieve a certain feat, usually to impressive results
I saw that on release. As an amateur diver, I related. It was nail bitingly awesome, when Ed Harris dropped off the ledge to disarm the nuke. I felt every foot of that drop.
15:32 Dang!
Community is was a sh*t show? Your Arrested Development video is a favorite mine!
Maybe. I’ve actually never watched Community so I would need to do a deep dive into it to give it the same level of care as the Arrested Development video.
@@ItWasAShtShow Really? Please do! It's a good trip.
This channel should've been a million subs already if constantly uploaded.
One might say the filming process was abyssmal
I just watched this again last month (I have a funny feeling you mentioned it in passing on your podcast) and goddamn, and you absolutely nailed your description - it takes such a sharp turn in the final act that I never know how I feel about it (despite this being the umpteenth time I've watched it). As always, though, another ripper sh*tshow video!
Did you watch the Special Edition version? It's weird when you see it, then go back to the original, the ending is complete nonsense.
Extended: "We saved you, but humans need to get their sh*t together. Deal?"
Original: "We saved you, because-" [end of movie]
@@ItWasAShtShow I watched the Special Edition, which includes the shonky CGI waves and people on the beach cheering when the waves recede (which felt a little Michael Bay - I kept waiting to see an American flag waving).
@@ItWasAShtShow The original was "we saved you because you selflessly sacrificed yourself to save us". I think it works, placing the anti-war/nuclear message is a lot more in the background and focusing almost solely on the Deep Core crew.
20:15 I bought the special edition Laserdisc and is the only version I know to this day.
I honestly didn’t know so much was cut out in the theatrical release and wonder what that would have been like. Kudos to Cameron, actors, and all involved for their dedication, but I can only imagine a fraction of how difficult it must have been.
This movie blew me away as a kid, it was a movie that just felt so big and so small at the same time. Giant spaces, wide shots matched with the claustrophobic nature of their suits the darkness surrounding and some of the spaces they encounter.
i watched this movie 10+ and still makes my skin goosebumps, that's my favorite movie of all times, never knew what film crew had to go thru to make it so awesome, respect
Thats why i think "The Abyss" is the best movie ever made, and Harris's personalisation of that character is just great, wow that reanimation scene, brutal
People say that studios don't make high-budget dramas anymore. It's because they found easier ways to launder money.
Damn. I wish they continued to launder money that way instead.
This is one of my fav movies its so terrifying and tense but utterly beautiful and fascinating too. Thanks to everyone involved in almost drowning to bring us this amazing entertainment you are all total bad asses
I'll never understand why this movie flopped. It's a fantastic movie and I couldn't imagine what it must've been like seeing this in 1989.
It was due to the 2 bad underwater films that released before The Abyss. It made people not want to give it a chance.
This is one of the most memorable movies of my childhood, it’s amazing to hear the backstory I just found your channel through this vid, subbed so hard my dude.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've loved this movie since the VHS became available at my local video store. The box office earnings may have been disappointing, but I am very grateful that this movie exists and have watched the extended cut on dvd more times than I can count. It's one of the movies that leaves a lifelong impression on you.
Coming from a military veteran I thank the cast and crew for their service.
I'm a veteran too 🎗 4yr 1990s & have worked on a few TV, media film 🎥 shoots. Some people, actors are NOT cut out for location or outdoor, 🌎 production.
Ed Harris has always been my fav actor! Absolute king
Thank you for producing this. The Abyss has always been my favorite sci-fi movie. I think I understand why better now. The fact that the tension and environment seem so much more real and dark is obvious now. I always felt it was a really well cast movie and the characters were very believable in their roles. In several Cameron films he seems to have a good grasp of the real life characteristics of blue-collar workers in different industries. having grown up a lot around a lot of rig workers on the gulf coast, you can totally see their personalities and camaraderie in this cast, similar to the first Alien movie
this movie has a special place in my heart and i love it ever since. i remember as it was yesterday. i was 8 years old, this was 26 years ago, and we got a brand new Rear-projection television. my dad was super excited, because we also ordered premiere (now sky) back then. and it was this receiver thing, with this funny looking key. and you couldn't choose a movie, they just showed every blockbuster. one evening, i was playing in front of the TV, my dad on the couch, and The Abyss started. from the moment on, as the sub was about to go down, i couldn't take my eyes of the TV. i was nailed to it. barely didn't i know what i'm about to experience and witness. it was pure magic for me, and it is up to this day. thank you james cameron, for one of my most beloved childhood memories.
under pressure - the making of the abyss is also a movie for itself - i mean, how insane someone has to be, to make such a movie. imagine, someone would like to do it nowadays. only cameron would be able to do it.
I was taught marine science by a student of one of technical advisors for this film. The horrors of this production came up constantly during the course, especially when talking about underwater safety
Cameron has apparently mellowed with age. He's gone from screaming at actors to realizing they actually know what they're doing, like...acting. He admitted he's been too hard on actors in the past in an interview in 2012. I wonder what the experience of filming Avatar: The Way of Water was like. This time, many of the actors, like Kate Winslet and Zoe Saldana, could afford to walk away, which was apparently in the past key to how he treated you. Anywho, random comment.
Hell I would’ve walked away from this even if I couldn’t have afforded it lol
I suspect it must have been fairy decent to get back Kate Winslet. She was pretty adamant about not having anything to do with James Cameron after "Titanic." Then again, that seems to be the case with at least half the cast of any movie he does; they either swear blind fealty to him or they hate him for life.
He probably mellowed out because Disney made it known that they were not going to tolerate the same behavior he exhibited at Fox before they bought it. I'm very sure they were looking at the "Avatar" saga as one of the many Fox projects they could safely shitcan, despite the success of the first one.
His damn wife made him vegan and he lost his edge :(
@@cubdukat Never thought about that angle, but yeah. Disney is bigger than James Cameron and probably had their doubts about whether he could pull off another monster hit. "Behave yourself James, or we'll pull the plug."
@@Gobbersmack Wife #5 is the charm!
One of my favorite movie of all times. From my favorite director all together.
In retrospective, it's kind of a miracle nobody died during production...
The production process surely was Hell, but the end product was amazing. The crew should feel proud.
I watched the original theatrical release of this film again recently. It is sooooooooo goood!!!!! The extended edition is a lot less so.
That scene - on the floor of the moon pool where Ed's character is trying to revive Mary's - is the greatest of it's kind ever committed to celluloid in my humble opinion. Every other death scene in any film since - where a character is thought to be lost but comes back - is meek and shallow imitation of this one. Yes - Mary suffered; yes - it was difficult for everyone involved but it paid off dramatically speaking.
All in all, an underrated masterpiece.
The extended version is the only version worth watching IMO.
@user-qt1wq5rr8f I agree. The extended version is better by far and in my opinion makes it a whole different movie.
My dad actually had a laser disc player and I saw the Special Edition as a child. It started a fascination with visual effects that continued to influence me into adulthood. I'm still not sure James Cameron's vision is worth putting people through that.
His name is James JAMES CAMERON, explorer of the seas. With the dying thirst to be the first, who’s he? James Cameron
“We went with engineer B” = “so I found a new safety guy” 😂
this gave me a newfound respect for ed harris. what a damn professional man. a dedicated performer in every sense
Imagine you were at work, getting slapped constantly, and your boss just doesnt care. Man, these actors are people too.
“Most Americans couldn’t even pronounce Abyss”
That made me LOL! Like, really!?
Reminds me of when marketing wanted to change the title of Die Hard because they feared that the movie goers would think it was a german film.
@@jmalmsten and the Germans changed it to Stirb Langsam
Some things never change. LOL
@@jmalmsten I didn't know that there was controversy over Die Hard's title. It reminded me of Sears batteries, but not confusingly.
The divorce obviously did effect the shoot, because he threw himself into the film completely and overdid everything, went balls to the wall and probably much more dangerous than he ever should have done, we probably dont know quite how dangerous things were at points, it sounds like the fact that no one died was actually quite lucky
Also I find it HILARIOUS people keep saying it didn't play into the making of the film like... have they SEEN the director's cut? And how much time we spent on the divorced couple getting back together and people gossipping about the ex-wife behind her back and Ed Harris literally slapping his in-movie-ex-wife back to life?? Yeah, no, I don't see Cameron working through his divorce by means of this film AT ALL.
Ive never seen this behind the scenes footage and this is my absolute favorite movie!!! I applaud ALL involved because i didnt know what all the actors had experienced to make this masterpiece. I still listen to the soundtrack and can quote this movie, line by line. Im amazed!! Kudos!!! ❤
Holy crap.... This would have been terrifying to be working on this set.
Had someone actually died during this movie’s production, I’m pretty sure James Cameron’s career would have ended right then and there
Yes, John landis career took a dive after the twilight zone movie incident. But I think he still made films in Hollywood after. But yh this abyss shoot, looked really dangerous. And I've heard that Mr Cameron can really be quite the tyrant, to work for. But some of his films are really special. Especially terminator 1 and 2. ✌️✌️🙏
@@cobrakaicyberdon They were in a tank twelve foot deep of water it was hardly the open ocean and although dangerous it was a completely controlled environment at the end of the day and safety was never more than a few feet away
This man has three billion dollar movies and made one of the best sequels in cinema, he's a menace of the craft, a hustler of success
Piranha II ? 🤣
Been watching these vids recently as they popped up in my feed. It kinda shows just how much people have to fight through hell to make their dreams come true. Sometimes they don't work out but when they do the satisfaction is all the more satisfying. Watching people go through these trials in a way makes me feel inspired to pursue my own dreams because even though they warn about the journey being hard, they also show me that it's possible to make it out on top.
I liked The Abyss. When the cut scenes were returned, I really liked it. It had some of the most intense scenes during which you suffered along with the characters. I’m an ocean freak…this was my kind of movie.
The abyss is one of the best movies ever! The fact that it was filmed in such a realistic way is one of the major reasons for its success! I happily watch this movie again and again. For all the hardships they endured, the cast and crew that worked on it can be proud of their achievement in more ways than one!
The Abyss was then and is now one of the finest underwater movies ever filmed. Stellar performances from every actor in the film, with brilliance from Ed Harris and Michael Biehn (as the steadily dissolving Coffey). Truly epic.
I had the special edition laserdisc of this film (still do actually) and I would watch the documentary of the making of the movie more than I ever watched the movie itself, and I watched the movie a lot.
My dad was a crew member on this movie and told me some stories about how bad production was. He said that even being a basic crew dude, they would feed them literally anything they wanted just to keep them working. Like lobster tail 3x a day if you wanted
The Abyss was one of my favorite movies as a kid. It seemed magical to me. Thanks to this movie and Jaws, my obsession for the ocean has been forever.
The beginning of director's love affair with CGI and water. 😉
Still waiting for the Blu-Ray Of this. LOVE this movie.
Then you best settle in, Bubba.
@@jamessullivan4391 😂 will do 👍
I'm honestly surprised no one tried to sue him for the horrible treatment he put those actors through.
Yeah. Much of that was pure negligence. Over chlorinated water, because you tried to rush the tank prep? Don't rush the tank prep or wait until the tank preppers get the water composition back in order.
It's a damn movie, not a real submarine rescue.
I so hate these directors and producers who think their aim of doing "amazing" or "realistic art" justifies near any means. You already are making an illusion, just do more illusion work so it is easier for the cast and crew.
He put himself through that horrible treatment too &they could've left at any time
well looks like he didnt violate any rule, even the video says he knew the limit and didnt cross the line
I think it was because he also put himself through hell to try to create a great movie. He wasn't a dictator who simply stood on dry land and shouted orders. He was in the tank directing and had lots of miserable moments too.
Didn't the video address this at one point? That he respected the crew but didn't give two shits about the actors because the actors were mostly sitting around in the water and waiting while he and the crew were working tirelessly to prepare for them to shoot? Sounds like he and the crew went through much worse than the actors did.
All that trauma, technology and money for The Abyss to be so fuckin' MIIIID is hilarious
I remember watching this movie in theaters it blew my mind. I'd never seen anything like this, and movies just got better afterward. I'm glad he pushed it, it made the whole experience memorable. Bravo for all the hard work on all parts. Its one of my favorites even today.
These videos are so good! Amazing work. Please keep making them ❤❤❤