THE MEG

Film Review by FIORE

THE MEG may be the last great summer popcorn flick of 2018.  It contains all the elements of a summer blockbuster, including: a tragic hero seeking redemption; an erotic love interest; children in turmoil; friends and skeptics; spectacular special effects; campy dialogue; a rousing soundtrack; and one very large prehistoric shark with plenty of unsuspecting beach goers.  Makes the Mesosaurus in the waves at the end of JURASSIC WORLD: FORBIDDEN KINGDOM look like child’s play. 

I saw this film in IMAX.  It was impressive.  The SFX are decent.  There are, however at least six scenes obviously shot with 3D in mind.  I suspect seeing THE MEG in 3D and IMAX is probably the best venue.  It would be worth the extra price of the ticket for the full effect.

The book the film is based on was published decades ago.  This screenplay, penned by Dean Georgaris, Jon and Erich Hoeber,  improves on the original story, making it more palatable for the viewer.   They also incorporate respectful nods to the original, and still the best shark film, JAWS, by Stephen Spielberg.  The homage scenes are readily detectable and provide relaxing chuckles amid rather intense action.

Beside top-notch SFX, provided by Production Designer Grant Major and Cinematographer Tom Stern, THE MEG offers a strong cast.  Jason Statham plays Jonas.  He is a disgraced hero, held in ridicule because he claims he saw a Megalodon during a rescue operation.  Five years after he is ostracized, he is proven right and now is the only man capable of stopping the prehistoric beast from devouring half of Southeast Asia.

With Statham is BingBing Li.  She plays Suyin, a deep sea researcher and daughter of the manager of the Manus One research vessel. Earlier in the year, I reported Li was in trouble in China.  As one of China’s largest and most powerful movie stars, Li kept two sets of ledgers, to avoid paying massive Chinese government income taxes.  She, and her representatives, hope she makes a big splash in THE MEG to stay in Hollywood and become a star here, too.  She looks good in THE MEG and if the box office returns back the gamble, her wish will come true.

Robert Taylor plays Doc Heller, the skeptic leading the charge against Jonas’ resurrection.  Good to see him on the big screen after his excellent performance as LONGMIRE for the past six TV seasons.  Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson, Cliff Curtis, Page Kennedy and Winston Chao, and Shuya Sophia Cai also make appearances.  They all perform well, but Rose is displaced.  Normally, she plays a very butch female, with a large chip on her shoulder.  This role does not call for that, and her black finger nail polish, tattoos and sculpted goth hairstyle play against her role.  You may think I’m playing an old-fashioned mien, but it is doubtful someone with this appearance would be hired by a deep sea Japanese research firm.  Reality; it cost Samantha Fox a number of parts, and it will cost Rose some also.

I enjoyed THE MEG.  It was solid entertainment for a warm summer night.  It’s the kind of film you see, and then spend several rounds in the neighborhood pub discussing the scenes, the effects, the stuff that wouldn’t work, and of course the possibility of strange life under the sea.  Not a bad way to close out the summer.