MEGALADON (2004) ** I like the idea of making a movie with real people, and sets nearly entirely computer graphics (oil rig, helicopter, prehistoric sharks, snow, etc.). It's ambitious. I mean, hell, can you imagine how much it would cost to shoot a film like this with realistic props? Could it ever possibly be worth it? The CGI is very good. Pat Corbitt employs some flash tricks to bring the visuals above those of a particularly well made video game for the hardest core action sequences, and you have to give him credit for being resourceful. It all works ok, which is the best you could have realistically hoped for. The acting's not bad, the plot's not bad, the messages aren't unduly sanctimonious (venture capitalist polluters are people too…ok?), it's an entertaining enough portion of an afternoon. So if you can stand this saturation level of CGI, which I can, it's worth it. Now I know that I'm in a grotesque minority, but I think it would have been even more effective with cardboard shark and sets, more bombastic speeches, and Shakespearean edit shouting matches between Leighanne Littrell and the jaded science guy on the balance and art of giving up, reporting effectively to an audience that just doesn't want to know, and the relative importance of your hair being the right color and your eyes being the same one. Also, if they would have had a dog, and it became friends with the shark, and then the shark helped them find oil and so they gave it to the helicopters to eat…then perhaps a closing soliloquy (Leighanne, in a punk rock t-shirt) on cost effectiveness, truly bearing their heart on their platform.
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