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Sharks have long captivated and terrified audiences, particularly in cinema. These powerful, agile creatures, driven by primal instincts to eat, swim, and reproduce, have become iconic figures. Since Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking Jaws in 1975, sharks have frequently served as antagonists in numerous films, ranging from Renny Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea to Asylum’s Sharknado franchise. Consequently, it was inevitable that Steve Alten’s novel about a Megalodon would eventually be adapted into a feature film.
A research team led by Suyin (Bingbing Li) and her father Zhang (Winston Chao) is tasked with investigating whether the Mariana Trench’s depth of 11,000 meters represents the true bottom, or if a hidden ecosystem exists beneath. During their exploration, the submarine is attacked and critically damaged, preventing its unaided ascent. A rapid rescue operation is initiated, with Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), the only individual with prior experience in deep-sea rescues at that depth, reluctantly agreeing to assist. However, the rescue inadvertently unleashes a massive, aggressive, and predatory creature from the Mariana Trench.
Only three individuals have successfully reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh descended in the bathyscaphe Trieste. Their descent took five hours, and upon reaching the bottom, the stirred-up sediment obscured visibility. After a mere 20 minutes, they commenced their three-hour ascent. This occurred in 1960, and it would be 52 years before another person ventured into the abyss: director James Cameron, as documented in the film Deepsea Challenge 3D. The immense pressure at that depth, approximately 1100 atmospheres, means that even minor structural damage to a vessel would result in catastrophic implosion.
Director Jon Turteltaub, a seasoned filmmaker with a diverse filmography including National Treasure and Cool Runnings, should have had a clear vision for this project. However, The Meg struggles with tonal consistency. It wavers between being a lighthearted popcorn flick and a serious, fact-based thriller. While maintaining a serious tone, the film often deviates significantly from established scientific facts. The exception, of course, is the historical existence of a shark-like creature called Megalodon (from which the film’s title is derived), though its exact appearance remains speculative due to the scarcity of fossil evidence, primarily teeth. The film would have benefitted from embracing a more overtly entertaining approach.
The marketing campaign employs humor, but the film’s tone is overly serious.The Meg relies heavily on genre clichés. Within the first seven minutes and six seconds, I identified three prevalent examples: The hero making a difficult decision with unforeseen consequences, a character attempting to speak a foreign language with embarrassing results, and a character initially unimpressed with a location until a grand reveal showcasing its splendor.
The film continues in this vein. We are introduced to Jonas Taylor, portrayed as a recovering alcoholic for the past five years, yet possessing a physique that a doctor later describes as being in “perfect condition.” Both this film and Maze Runner: The Death Cure could serve as a comprehensive compendium of cinematic clichés.
Are there any redeeming qualities to The Meg? Yes, indeed. The film features several genuinely suspenseful sequences, and Jason Statham’s inherent charisma contributes significantly to its appeal. Rainn Wilson delivers a compelling performance as the unscrupulous billionaire Morris, and Ruby Rose is effective as the character Jaxx.
The Blu-ray edition offers a good visual presentation, although, as is typical, the UHD version provides superior image quality. The film was digitally captured on Arri cameras in 2.8K resolution, resulting in a non-native 4K transfer. Nonetheless, color reproduction and detail are excellent, even in standard HDR10, as we were unable to evaluate the Dolby Vision HDR due to our current equipment limitations. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers a powerful and immersive experience, with enhanced surround sound during the underwater scenes and impactful sub-bass during the shark attacks. The Blu-ray also includes three brief behind-the-scenes documentaries. The first two detail the film’s production and the creation of The Meg, providing a general overview without in-depth analysis. The third segment functions largely as promotional material for filming in New Zealand, highlighting the positive experiences of the cast and crew. This segment felt somewhat superficial.
In conclusion, while an entertaining film, The Meg is hampered by tonal inconsistencies stemming from a lack of clear directorial vision. Therefore, the rating is adequate.
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