1PanelReview Deep Blue Sea

I really wanted to start reviewing several more random films using this new quick format for my reviews. So here's an horror film to loosely tie-in this Halloween season....

What it is: Deep Blue Sea

Which is: A science-fiction horror film

Directed by: Renny Harlin 
Year: 1999

Deep Blue Sea is a scifi horror film directed by Die Hard 2, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 & Cutthroat Island director Renny Harlin and it stars Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson! It follows a team of scientists responsible for a super smart engineered killer shark.. which ends loose around a submerged complex, killing people across underwater installations and whatnot.

What's Good about it: Errr... Do I need to spell it for ya? Super smart engineered killer shark, anyone?
The movie is simply really fun and even smart at times. The story ends up playing with several tropes of the genre for a change. The plot avoids several missteps and clichés you're used to.
Easily one of the best "shark movies" in ages since the original Jaw.
There are a lot of twists and surprises right until the very end, since the plot manage to stay one step ahead of the viewer (on the first screening).
The practical effects are still pretty amazing to this day. 
For a scifi horror film, the characters actually act smart for once like real scientist should (*cough*Prometheus?*cough*). Great characterization that is quite different from this usually mindless kind of film. Intelligent character who actually try to stay alive for once. 
Samuel L. Jackson!! Casted for the cook role, preferred to take this character instead.

What's Bad about it: It's really difficult to diss anything really, most details would be nitpicking.
There's not a lot to go for on multiple viewing, since it mostly counts on the surprise to shock and entertain. I'd suggest waiting a looong while before giving another try.
While I praised the practical FXs above, the CGi is kinda dated by now. And shows its age easily in the bigger scale scenes.
A lot of character start as annoying tropes at the start .. but they do get surprisingly better over the film.
Where my B-movie direct-to-video sequel??

Overall: At the time of its release Deep Blue Sea didn't get much of a warm reception. You got to notice it came out right after several Oscar-worthy adventure films. But it managed a modest success nonetheless. 

This film features easily one of the best death scenes on film in my eyes, because it's both totally random and unexpected. (plus it looks darn' badass!)

The super smart-shark was a nice touch.. that isn't that much used in the film at the end of the day. It's mostly a "shark in interior" kind of film. He does seem to think here and there... then again, killer sharks in films always seem to do so.

Fun notice, it is (was?) one of Stephen King's favorite films. It was the first film he did saw right after his accident back in the day.

 

I give it: 2.5 / 3 Quacks!
[How does my Rating System work?]