"Jaws"...Only More So

by Jason R. Hewlett

Wanna have some fun for a few hours? You know, the kind of brain-dead joyride that summer movies are meant to be? If so: check out "Deep Blue Sea."

To make a connection to "Jaws" is a bit unfair because the only similarity is that the baddies in both films are large sharks. That's about where the similarities between Renny Harlin's new film and Spielberg's classic end. "Deep Blue Sea" involves a group of research scientists, a corporate executive, a shark wrangler, and a cook who are trapped in a sinking research facility that is under attack from genetically enhanced sharks. The sharks have had their brain mass increased during a series of tests designed to find a cure of altheimzers. The outcome made the sharks smarter...and meaner...and really ticked off.

Most of the film, after a somewhat clunky first quarter, is a breathlessly exciting race to escape the sinking facility and three of the killer sharks. Director Harlin, a veteran of action movies such as "Cliffhanger" and "The Long kiss Goodnight," handles these sequences with style and flair. The shark attacks are stunning and full of joyfully clever surprises. Characters you think will make it out alive...well, I won't spoil anything. Suffice to say the film delivers the goods in spades. You go into the theatre wanting to see shark action and that's just what you get. Who could ask for anything more!?!

The cast is well put together too. Saffrom Burrows, glad to be as for away from "Wing Commander" as she can get, makes for a convincing and fetching scientist while LL Cool J is surprisingly good as a comedic, Bible quoting cook. Newcomer, at least to me, Thomas Jane is fine in the action hero/shark expert role. Not quite Robert Shaw but still decent. Of course there is also the great Samuel L. Jackson, who is as convincing as ever and looks to be having a fun time doing it.

Overall, a good, fun time at the movies...and well worth the price of admission.

7 out of 10!