Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated The Meg (2018) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
The Science of Game of Thrones: A Myth-Busting, Mind-Blowing, Jaw-Dropping and Fun-Filled Expedition Through the World of Game of Thrones
Book
A myth-busting, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping and fun-filled expedition through the world of Game of...
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Lake Placid (1999) in Movies
Sep 5, 2018
The spectacular fear of something huge and unseen in the water, a perfectly evolved marine predator capable of tremendous power and speed, with a jaw size capable of cutting you in half.
Jaws hit on a very primal fear, that there is an unreasoning, prehistoric simplicity to the shark, that reminds us that until the last few thousand years, we were just another form of food for many creatures on this planet, and that we could be again, in the right circumstances.
It is this fear that also informs our love of Zombie movies, our disgust at cannibals and keeps us watching endless episodes of dirty, tired-looking people arguing in 'The Walking Dead'.
Where Jaws created a whole genre of horror in 'Killer Shark' movies, their reptilian counterparts have had to make do with a somewhat less successful series of outings, with Alligator, Croc etc
They just haven't quite hit our imagination in the same way, whether that be because of their comical waddle on land, or having watched an excited Australian man jumping all over them on TV (RIP Steve Irwin)...
Regardless, Lake Placid is the one that most remember from recent history, and having listened to a 'Horrow Show' Podcast on the film recently, I mentioned to my better half I wouldn't mind seeing it again, to see if it is as bad as it sounded.
Well last night, said better half suggested we watch it and boy oh boy...
So first off, Brendan Gleeson was by far the best thing about this movie, his one liners and grumpy demeanor were, for long periods, the best thing about this movie, shortly followed by the hilarious Betty White.
Stan Winstone, legendary physical creature effects maestro turns in some great stuff, and when they are dealing withe the physical creature, it is very effective but all too often they resort to CGI, which is passable but still tends to take you out of the moment..
Oliver Platt's casting as a crocodile expert playboy is amusing at first, then confusing and eventually just...well not laughable exactly as it isnt very funny, but strange certainly.
The movie languishes for long periods, focusing on the incredibly inert chemistry between leading lady Fonda, and wooden cardboard cut out Pullman, giving you poorly written rom com scripts where we signed up to see a giant Croc eat people.
Long story short, this movie is light on tension and action, heavy on clumsy exposition and strange casting choices, and it a poor relation to Jaws, which is more worthy of your time.
50 People Who Screwed Up Scotland
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To be Scottish is to have a lot to live down, and as Allan Brown shows, this lot do the job...
The Deep (1977)
Movie Watch
This lavish, suspense-filled film was made from Peter (Jaws) Benchley's best-selling novel. Gail...
Sam Rockwell recommended The Deer Hunter (1978) in Movies (curated)
Cinderella, Volume 1: From Fabletown with Love
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When supernatural artifacts from the Homelands begin surfacing in the modern world, it falls to...
Deadly Animals: Savage Encounters Between Man and Beast
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Consider, if you can, the case of Jacob Fowler, who heard what he thought was the sound of his own...
Karl Urban recommended Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) in Movies (curated)
The Jabberwocky Princess
Book
Beware the Jabberwock . . . The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Kitchen maid Kainda is the...