Short Attention Span Review - The Meg (2018)

Short Attention Span Review - The Meg (2018)

Ever since Jaws gave us the summer blockbuster, shark movies have been a thing.  And while most everyone recognizes Jaws as a legitimate masterpiece, none of these successors have come close to challenging for the crown despite the technological advances of the motion picture industry.  Lately, many films in this niche have embraced their second-tier ceiling and opted to pile on the cheese.  This effects-laden blockbuster straddles the line; the pitch (Jason Statham versus a dinosaur shark) sounds like pure schlock, but the script and execution aim for something more.  In retrospect, I wonder if the filmmakers would have been better served by embracing the zany nature of the piece and taking the plunge.  Here's why: as sound as the production values are, and as well as the picture is shot, things seem to work best when it is at its silliest.  And when it veers toward a more sincere approach, it can never quite overcome the ludicrous trappings of the production.  Even when an emphasis is placed on building or maintaining some degree of credibility, it still boils down to Jason Statham versus a dinosaur shark.  And Jason Statham spends a lot of the movie in the water, throwing down with a dinosaur shark.  I kept waiting for him to kick it.  Is The Meg entertaining?  It is, but it's not quite as entertaining as it should be.  It's way too silly to be taken serious, but the filmmakers treat it way too seriously to give the audience a silly good time.  That's the problem.  The good news is Jason Statham, who is all in, and does as well as anyone could have in a role that runs contrary to his greatest strengths* as a performer.  It's a big performance in a big movie--with an even bigger shark--and Statham nails it.

*Those kicks.

Final Grade: C+

The Meg is essentially Jason Statham versus a giant shark--and it is as good (and bad) as that premise would suggest.

Short Attention Span Review - Jurassic World (2015)

I think that Jurassic Park was probably a better movie than Jurassic World, but the latest film in this beloved franchise has to be the biggest spectacle that the series has produced thus far.  We've essentially traded a stellar ensemble cast featuring Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern for Chris Pratt (who is almost as cool here as he was in Guardians of the Galaxy) and a few big names like Bryce Dallas Howard and Vincent D'Onofrio in supporting roles.  There's also a different recipe in play--Jurassic Park was three parts suspense and one part mind-blowing carnage, while Jurassic World doesn't necessarily abandon the suspense but surely ramps up the dinosaur mayhem in pursuit of maximum carnage.  While I felt that the chemistry between Pratt and Howard was a bit forced and the plot in general wasn't quite as fresh (or plausible), Jurassic World is definitely a big winner in terms of entertainment.  Pratt shines throughout, and the script keeps his character busy by placing him in one terrifying predicament after another.  Also, he may not be Spielberg, but Colin Trevorrow's direction is rock solid, and I liked the score by Michael Giacchino, particularly when it paid homage to the original theme from the wonderful John Williams.  In truth, Jurassic World is everything we hope for in a summer blockbuster.  There's an intriguing premise that requires likable characters to battle incredible odds.  The picture draws us in before it starts wreaking havoc, and the climax is rather epic.  I liked Jurassic World a lot, and while I don't think I can peg it as the best film in this series, I am certain that it was the biggest and the most enjoyable.  The effects are amazing and Chris Pratt is a fantastic lead, making this a grand adventure with impressive scope that definitely ranks as one of 2015's best movies.

Final Grade: A

Chirs Pratt is a quality hero and this Jurassic adventure boasts a wealth of savage dinosaur action.