The Abyss (1989)

Rating: ****
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Director: James Cameron
Music: Alan Silvestri
Cast: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn

James Cameron's masterpiece sci-fi love story about some peace loving aliens living on the bottom of the sea whose existence is threatened when a nuclear sub goes down near them, and the people fighting for and against them (and among themselves). Gorgeous, powerful, and exquisitely made, with awesome effects and stellar performances from the entire cast.

Notes on the director's cut: The director's cut (1993) restores an extra thirty minutes of footage that explores Bud and Lindsey's relationship a little closer, introduces a whole new political twist with the alien encounter, and shows what the aliens can do when they threaten the destruction of mankind by raising gigantic tidal waves around the world.