The Abyss, 1989

Definitely in need of a trim, but still high-grade science fiction. I had never seen it before this year. Obviously drawing from other megamovies like "E.T.," "Close Encounters," and "2001," it still manages to offer some movie rewards of its own. A bit more for adults than Spielberg's (superior) efforts---in the relationship between the deep diver and the woman above--it is nonetheless essentially pure entertainment with an eye on its youthful core audience. The shimmering otherworldly effects that are finally fully delivered are great (if really quite highly derivative), and there is a perfectly acceptable comic book shiver of awe during much of the last twenty minutes. Then you walk out of the dark and realize it is the same old world -- which is just why they make movies like this. The director James Cameron's ambitions would come better into their own with "Titanic." The big ship movie, flawed but impressive, is more straightforward but in some sense more original, even though it reins in the all but a bit of the magical aspect (but shares the similarly epic reach). 3.5 stars. 2.09

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