| Edition |
Five Star Collection |
| Chapters |
44 |
| Release Date |
3/21/2000 |
| Packaging |
Keep Case |
| Screen Ratio |
2.35:1 |
| Subtitles |
English; Spanish |
| Audio Tracks |
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Surround [CC]
|
| Layers |
Single Side, Single Layer |
| No. of Disks/Tapes |
2 |
|
| Purchase Date |
3/21/2000 |
| Owner |
Thomas Eisenmann |
| Store |
Best Buy |
| Purchase Price |
$19.99 |
| Condition |
Excellent |
| Reviewed |
Widescreen Review
|
| Bit Rate |
448 KB |
| Anamophic |
No |
| Links |
IMDB
|
|
| Disc 01 |
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Fans of The Abyss will certainly enjoy all the features Fox has added to the two-disc set. The movie disc itself offers both the original theatrical version as well as the special edition which adds 28-minutes of additional footage. There are extensive cast and crew biographies, and in that same section (called the “Personnel Lockers”), you’ll also discover text segments on The Story, Filming and Recording Dialogue Under Water, Building “Deepcore,” “The Diving Gear” and the history of submersibles. There is also a text commentary feature included for both versions of the film.
The second disc includes a fascinating 60-minute making-of documentary Under Pressure: Making The Abyss and a short making-of featurette/trailer. Go into The Imaging Station and read James Cameron’s original story treatment or final shooting script, view all 773 storyboards laid out in sequence or take a look at photos and artwork in the Image Gallery. There is behind-the-scenes footage of special effects making, the crane collapse scene shot at 120 fps, a look at the surface unit shoot. There is a demonstration of miniature rear projection and a motion control timelapse montage. Watch the building of the Deepcore exterior or see some of the video storyboards, and while watching, you can toggle the letterboxing on and off. There is a multi-angle segment where you can switch between the storyboard, working cut, original daily or final version using 10 different scenes. DVD-ROM users can also take advantage of additional extras using their PCs. Theatrical trailers are included plus bonus trailers for True Lies and Aliens. If the fantastic menu designs confuse you, go to The Drill Room where you can view the supplemental materials by chapter rather than by graphics. |
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Special Notes:
DVD jacket erroneously claims disc is “enhanced for widescreen TVs”
Story Synopsis:
This two-disc special edition of The Abyss with delight fans with its overwhelming number of extras. When a nuclear submarine crashes deep in the ocean, an undersea drilling rig is commandeered by Navy SEALs on a rescue mission. Now it’s up to the rig’s foreman (Harris) to fight the crazed Lieutenant Coffey (Biehn) who is determined to detonate a nuclear warhead. But deep in “The Abyss,” something unknown has the power to save them.
DVD Picture:
The THX digitally mastered 2.30:1 DVD is miscredited as being enhanced for widescreen TVs. Viewed in component video, the non-amamorphic DVD exhibits sharp and detailed images with excellent contrast and shadow delineation. Though pleasing throughout, aliasing problems and minor edge enhancement make for a picture that, by today’s standards, does not hold a candle to anamorphically enhanced titles.
Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel discrete soundtrack, though a bit dated in fidelity, still stands as an exemplary sound mix that stands the test of time. The utilization of dimension, surround sound envelopment, and deep bass are remarkable, along with the enhancements incorporated for the re-purposed 5.1-channel soundtrack. The effectiveness of the directional and ambient sound effects is noteworthy, and stands on its own even with many of today’s digital soundtrack productions. The dialogue production has the typical ADR characteristics but otherwise is presented at a pleasing listening level. The surrounds are craftily utilized, often aggressively, creating a convincing sensation of being underwater or inside the submerged environments. The only limitation with the surrounds is that they are sourced from a 4-track master, and therefore are generally mono. Deep bass utilization is remarkable, with a rumbling presence that is sometimes intense and penetrating with some .1 LFE enhancement. The well-known Alan Silvestri music score sounds a bit dated but nonetheless is expansive and engaging. The Abyss delivers an excellent soundtrack experience that easily holds it own with many of today’s 5.1-channel soundtracks. It is definitely sure to please and an essential cornerstone of your home theatre software library.
This Disc Contains The Following WSR-Rated Superb Qualities:
Collector Edition
Superb Cinematography
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality
