MovieChat Forums > The Abyss (1989) Discussion > How manysaw this in theaters when it was...

How manysaw this in theaters when it was 1st released?

posted 9 years ago by theredhairedcrow
17 replies | jump to latest

My sister and I saw it when first released. It was quite exciting in theater, and I find it so anyway, though I've read others did think it boring overall. Sure there were some flaws in logic, and with hindsight conditions were very difficult for the actors, but I think its pretty good overall. It was certainly emotionally engrossing at times despite the ending and later added material. One thing I remember distinctly, because it made me rather laugh (I was an adolescent at the time): during the scene of Lindsey's underwater travail (no spoiler) a guy in the row behind us was sobbing and sniffling and his wife/girlfriend told him, "Shut up!"

"I understand English very well...." Magua, The Last of the Mohicans

[–] theredhairedcrow 9 years ago

Also one of the best novelizations I've read, too. Solid performances by others, but yet another generally underrated one by Michael Biehn as "Lt. Coffey". Even though they didn't reference the character's backstory in any way in the film, he totally nailed the book's information, which also provided so much more detail to the storyline, many scenes and even the ending(s). Not all novelizations, as we all know, do that very well or are well-written.

"I understand English very well...." Magua, The Last of the Mohicans

[–] stazza 9 years ago

Saw and LOVED it on the largest theater in the state. Whatta ride! And NOT burried under computer graphics. And the ONE MAIN CG it had was perfect at representing something not of this world.

[–] RonDirect73 9 years ago

Saw it, loved it but still disappointed.

I had read Orson Scott Card's novel a month earlier and had wondered where the tidal waves were. Still loved it though.

And by the way, READ THE NOVEL. It is better than both versions of the movie. Card did a truly amazing job adapting Cameron's screenplay. One of the best sci-fi novels I've ever read

[–] ibrarules 9 years ago

I saw it in mid-August 1989 a week after its opening (had been abroad before getting back to school). My friend, who rewatched it so I could see it, warned me that the ending was limp but the rest great. I ended up loving the movie beyond reason and had it as my favorite movie for at least ten years afterwards.

I even bought the hugely expensive laser disc without owning a player, paid a company to make a VHS copy, just to get to see the special edition (much better) and Under Pressure (top-10 making-of movie of all time imo).

[–] RonDirect73 9 years ago

Same here. Stumbled on the laserdisc without owning a player. Bought on soon after. Lol.

[–] pjl69 9 years ago

I did. I think its Cameron's second best after the first Terminator. Full length director's cut version, that is. Rest of his movies have not impressed me much. No, not even Aliens. I think he is good with robots and futuristic set designs, but without these, very mediocre.

Glad to hear this one is finally coming out on blu-ray.

[–] residentevil6901 9 years ago

I saw it in a theater called Movies 7 which was built in 88 so it was still quite new, they added 2 more theaters in 91 and now call it movies 9. It's now a dollar theater. It was the first theater in the state to have a THX sound system and I saw the Abyss in it. I can still remember hearing the THX boot up sound and it gave me chills. I remember not knowing too much about the movie except for a few tidbits. I came out of there thinking how bad ass it was and wanted to see it again. I think I saw it about two more times and I made sure I bought it on VHS when it came out. I don't think anybody made any sounds during the whole movie, seemed like everybody was engrossed with it.

[–] pabloiranzod 8 years ago

Saw it twice at the cinema, I was 13 years old, and it inmediately became my favorite movie of all time. I think few movies impressed me so much in a theater. For years to come i kept having recurrent dreams of glowing creatures in the deep sea. The mistery of the darknesss of the sea have never been surpass. Forget the plot, just inmerse yourself in the wonderment and the suspense of this jewel. Cameron is a visionary artist.

[–] thejessematrix 8 years ago

I saw it in theaters in 1989. I was 11-years-old. Was then, and still is my favorite movie of all time. When DVDs first came out, I was so happy when I purchased it. I have yet to get it on Blu-ray. I'm 38-years-old now.

[–] jnericsonx 8 years ago

Same thing, at least the age too. Though my only problem was I had a cold while watching the movie, so couldn't taste my popcorn or soda worth a damn.

[–] foreverskins1976 8 years ago

I did. First day and first showing. The one thing I will always remember about that showing was that there was a blind lady sitting behind me, and her companion described the whole movie to her throughout the course of the film. That is the ONLY time I have ever experienced that.

1989 was a GREAT summer for movies if you are a GEEK like me. You had "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier", "Batman", "Licence To Kill", "The Abyss" and "Uncle Buck". There may even be others I'm recalling right now!

[–] wesperkins 8 years ago

I saw it at the theatre and it was a good experience. I was a bit let down just bc I was hoping for more of an Aliens like movie with the wild rollercoaster of action and I felt like there was a lot unresolved with the ending. But I liked the cinematography and the general experience I had at the theatre with it.

[–] smooth1-2 8 years ago

I saw the very first print of this, hand delivered by Jim Cameron for the cast and crew screening in Hollywood. Huge theater with great sound-annd I cannot for the life of me remember where-might have been the DGA. Having worked on this for quite some time and waiting to have post production completed that took right up to the last minute where Jim delivered it 'wet'. I was very pleasantly surprised how well it all came together as none of you have any idea how difficult it was to shoot. Every day was a day of firsts. The fist time such things were attempted to be shot on film. Many shots were composite shots that incorporated as many as 6 elements to create a single shot. Extensive use of miniatures as well Jim using as much practical in camera effects rather than cgi as that was very much in its infancy. The water tentacle software was created for this movie and later used in T2 for the molten man. It had to be written as it did not exist- only in Jim's mind . The work is genius and should be appreciated as such. It took hundreds of very talented artisans under Jim's direction to pull off a idea he had in school.

[–] wesperkins 8 years ago

Wow some good things to know! I saw a short making of this movie, and it looked like a beast with some huge tanks if I remember. Sometimes it's hard to see how hard it is to make a movie when it looks so good!