'The Meg' Review- Dinosaur Shark
This film was released in 2018.
The Meg is a shark thriller film by Jon Turteltaub. It is based on the novel Meg: A Novel Of Deep Terror by novelist Steve Alten. It was released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is disgraced following an incident where he left two divers behind in a submarine after he claimed they were attacked by a large sea creature. Years later, he is approached by his friend Mac (Cliff Curtis) and engineer Zhang (Winston Chao) to help them rescue another sub that is under a cold layer of the ocean.
Jonas agrees, rescuing Zhang’s daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing) and two of the sub’s occupants. However, they discover that a predator is lurking beneath, a giant Megalodon Shark. It seeks to escape the cold layer and hunt, putting Jason and everyone in danger.
In a rare twist, I actually read the 1997 novel that this movie is based on. Honestly, except for the premise and the name of the main character, it is so different, the film could have been its own thing. For example, Taylor knows the billionaire Bud Harris, played by Rainn Wilson, and renamed Mac. In this movie, they are strangers who have never met.
Alten did not seem to mind this, saying that the filmmakers did a “really nice job” at adapting the book.
As for the movie itself, I found it very entertaining. I did not initially picture Jason Statham in the role of Taylor, but he did a good job. The rest of the cast is also decent. I cannot say anyone was a standout, but no one did terribly.
Shark movies have a tightrope to walk on because they will always be compared to Jaws. Fortunately, this one sets itself apart by focusing more on preventing the meg from making it to humanity instead of being reactive to shark attacks. That helped you compartmentalize it from the first summer blockbuster.
I will say that the plot does move very quickly, rarely slowing down for moments of brevity. You have to keep up and make sure you do not lose your place.
That being said, I did enjoy it. It provided all of the necessary jump scares and thrills to keep you invested in the plot. One of the reasons for this is that the meg looks terrifying. Whenever it comes on screen, you see its teeth, its large fins, and black eyes, increasing the tension. That is where the strength of the plot lies.
Essentially, this is the perfect movie for a Friday when you just want to turn off your brain to watch a man versus nature film. It is not as scary as other shark films, but it is definitely a thrill ride.
Bottom line, The Meg is the perfect Friday night popcorn film. The cast is decent, the shark is frightening, and the action is palatable.
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Bloody violence, Strong foul language, Frightening images
FAVORITE QUOTE: There's a monster outside and it's watching us.
Check out the trailer below:
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, anime, movie, or novel you would like me to review.