Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Jon Turtletaub, Warner Bros, M 113 Minutes.
Many movies have been made about giant sharks but none as memorable as Steven Spielberg’s 25-foot Great White shark shown in ‘Jaws’ (1975) that spawned three sequels and then a succession of reincarnations over more than 40 years.
This time filmmaker Jon Turteltaub (noted for his popular ‘National Treasure’ films) has come up with a prehistoric monster shark known as the ‘Megalodon’ – considered by many to be extinct – and estimated to be three times the size of Spielberg’s shark.
As the movie opens, Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham –‘Spy’) a deep-sea rescue diver, is on a dangerous mission to save some scientists trapped in a nuclear submarine at the bottom of the ocean when the attempt is suddenly cut short.
Five years later Jonas is living in Thailand after abandoning his job when he is approached by Zhang (Winston Chao –‘Skiptrace’), head of a Chinese company, to help rescue three scientists trapped below including his ex-wife Lori (Aussie Jessica McNamee –‘CHIPS’).
After Jonas arrives at the underwater research facility off the coast of China he wastes no time in undertaking his own rescue following the failed attempt by oceanographer Suyin (Chinese actress Li Bingbing –‘Resident Evil-Retribution’) in her submersible.
Assisted by Dr Heller (Aussie Robert Taylor- ‘Focus’) another scientist Jonas earlier saved, tattooed scientist Jaxx (Aussie Ruby Rose –‘John Wick 2’), and former friend Mac (NZ actor Cliff Curtis –‘Risen’) he is only successful in saving two of the three scientists.
It soon becomes evident that they are dealing with the prehistoric predator after attacking the scientific station and alarming Melying (Shuya Sophia Cai’s first English language movie) the precocious daughter of Suyin with whom Jonas has a romantic involvement.
Knowing that time is running out Jonas, together with the facility’s remaining members, makes their final plans to destroy the Megalodon on a nearby popular Chinese beach forcing him to come face to face with the gigantic monstrosity.
In spite of some flaws in the storyline ‘The Meg’ is still an entertaining movie due to its action sequences, an impressive international cast, not to mention the Chinese and New Zealand settings.
Considering this is an American and Chinese co-production it further features three Aussie actors (McNamee, Rose, and Taylor) as well enjoyable performances by Bingbing and Statham in his usual action role of getting stuck into a ferocious shark
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
