Coming between "Aliens" and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," James Cameron‘s "The Abyss" is for better or worse, not as well remembered as either of those films. That said, few films would be, sandwiched inside two game-changing, blockbuster, sci-fi movies. But 25 years ago, on August 9th, Cameron delivered his underwater thriller well before he would make "Titanic," or take a submarine to the Mariana Trench, and while the weekend kept us busy, this making-of documentary might be a good way to kick off your week.
Running one hour long, this doc kicks off with a bang, with the director underwater announcing: "I’m James Cameron, and I want to take you into a world of cold and darkness, and unrelenting pressure — the movie business." It then cuts to Cameron sit down interview where he announces that his aspirations: "If I couldn’t do when ‘2001: A Space Odyssey‘ did for science fiction films taking place in space, if I didn’t feel that I could do that in the underwater arena, then I didn’t want to make the movie." Damn.
The doc chronicles the arduous six-month shoot, that brought a plethora of technical challenges, tested the stamina of all the actors involved, all while the production tried to keep up with the high demands of Cameron. Take a deep breath, and watch below. [Make Film Teach Film]
Maybe Cameron could take two weeks off of his Avatar franchise and maybe release an anniversary blu ray edition of this and True Lies this year. Maybe release both cuts.