First Contact (The Abyss)
James Cameron has always been at the forefront of technology. And never more so than in 1989′s The Abyss, in which a civilian diving team pursuing a lost nuclear submarine encounter aquatic aliens. The movie’s hit-or-miss, but Cameron scores with his special effects. Of particular note are the moments when the glowing ship reveals itself to Lindsay Brigman (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) and the “pseudopod” sequence when a CGI water-based tentacle morphs into the faces of Linsday and husband Bud (Ed Harris). Audiences had rarely been treated to such movie magic before, and the pioneering director would use the technology to far greater effect in his Terminator sequel two years later.
Next: Tech Noir (The Terminator)
Tech Noir (The Terminator)
One of the most important moments in the entire Terminator franchise comes in the 1984 original, when the movie’s three protagonists gather at the Tech Noir nightclub. It’s a scene of such magnitude that its location gave rise to an entire sub-genre of film-making; “Tech Noir” now serves as a catch-all term for grimy science fiction. The scene marks the first time that the Terminator, Connor and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) appear together on-screen, and the moment is heightened by the pulsating music emanating from the club. As Reese saves Connor from the monstrous machine, he offers his hand and utters that introduction: “Come with me if you want to live.” It would not be the last time those eight words would be heard. And Reese wouldn’t be the only character to say them.
Next: Dancing Queen (True Lies)
