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Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

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Mixed or average reviews- based on 78 Ratings

  • Starring: Allison Cratchley, Christopher Baker, Rhys Wakefield
  • Summary: Master diver Frank McGuire has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team--including 17-year-old son Josh and financier Carl Hurley--are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever? (Universal Pictures)
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 33
  2. Negative: 8 out of 33
  1. Reviewed by: Adam Markovitz
    Feb 3, 2011
    75
    As we go deeper into the cave, walls squeezing, water rising, the movie has a narrative pull as sure as gravity.
  2. Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    Feb 4, 2011
    60
    If you're able to think of characters as just air bubbles to get past, then dive in, the excitement's fine.
  3. Reviewed by: Nick de Semlyen
    Feb 5, 2011
    60
    Workmanlike suspenser, with plenty of cold water but sparse chills. When it comes to James Cameron scuba thrillers, "The Abyss" still has the edge.
  4. Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    Feb 4, 2011
    38
    It sounds like it was written by the star pupils at the Cameron Academy of Screenwriting.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 37
  2. Negative: 15 out of 37
  1. 10
    Leí algunas críticas destructivas antes de ver la película, sin embargo considero que están bastante erradas. La historia no está tan bien tejida y suele ser exagerada, sinembargo a nivel de aventura es muy entretenida, te produce mucha tensión y creo que desenmascara muchos instintos que tenemos de supervivencia y el egoísmo en el Ser Humano. Expand
  2. Note: This is identical to my review of this movie on Rotten Tomatoes. So here it is: This movie was a surprisingly good one. Now I have to say around the first half hour of the film the dialogue is pretty bad. There is a hell lot of swearing and in reality nobody would really curse that much. But after the cheesy half hour ends and the real movie kicks in it's actually pretty decent. The 3D in the film is better than most I should say. Since it's by James Cameron. Now to state my opinion I have to say this movie was better than Avatar for me. The story of Avatar was bad even though I liked the film. But if the dialogue wasn't so cheesy in this film then the story would get perfect marks. Now the characters are sort of one dimensional but as the movie swiftly improves they become more realistic. And that's what makes this film so good. I went to see this last night on my birthday party with three of my mates and they said they really liked the film. Now I liked it a lot too. The reason being is that the start of the film you're probably thinking, "Oh hurry up already I want to see the action!", or something like that. And by the end of the film you would be completely satisfied. Because that's exactly what you get. Now I'm not going to spoil anything here but all I'm saying now is that there is one survivor. And I don't know why but I sort of knew that there would a sole survivor so during the film I was thinking, "Who's going to escape safely?", and you're probably going to be thinking that as well. So in other words this film is somewhat suspenseful. Now I'm running out of things to say here so here's the rest. Since the movie is in 3D, and the 3D is the best 3D I've seen in ages, the film sort of drags you in with the divers. You feel so claustrophobic during the underwater escape scenes and by the time the movie ends not only the survivor gets a huge breath of fresh air but so do you. You feel so relived and happy for the character by the end of the film so by the end you'll probably be thinking, "That was worth it!", and you'll probably never forget it. Another thing I should note that the film actually seems much longer than it actually is. Instead of being one hour and forty five minutes to me it actually seemed like two hours and forty five minutes. So time doesn't actually fly when you're having fun. It slows down a bit. And well that's the reason I had a hell lot of fun with this movie! So to say what's left I have to say the film is beautifully photographed and filmed. The film looks brilliant. It's graphics and effects are just amazing. But that's not really surprising since this is made from the guy who made Avatar right? So to end this review I'm giving this movie an 8/10 for it's brilliant scenery, effects and tension but also for it's cheesy dialogue and slightly cardboard characters. So that's my review for Sanctum 3D and this is Mewtwo465 saying goodbye! Expand
  3. Well this is a hit or miss for most. Either it will grab you in or it will spit you out. The effects/scenery is pretty darn cool but thats really about it. The acting I found somewhat cheesy and overblown but for the most part it entertained. I cant say it was great nor terrible but its half and half for me. Expand
  4. lack of depth in concept. lifeless characters. poorly narrated. outdated camera movements and screenplay makes sanctum a hell of a movie. only saving grace is slick visuals in the movie. Expand

See all 37 User Reviews

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