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Red Water [2003]
![Red Water [2003]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WEGJZR0DL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £3.78 (subject to change)
NOT BAD BUT NOTHING SPECIAL
Review date: 2007-10-29 Rating: 6 out of 10
After threatening to take his boat away, John Sanders, (Lou Diamond Phillips) is approached by Kelli Raymond, (Kristy Swanson) his ex-wife, and Gene Bradley, (Gideon Emery) to help fix a problem with their oil drilling operation. Patrolling the same area are drug dealers Ice, (Coolio) and Brett, (Langley Kirkwood) looking for a stolen shipment of money. A series of brutal animal attacks has concerned the authorities, and are cautioned against going any further. When the two sides meet up at the oil platform, they find a killer shark has infested the water. Trying to get the money and the shark before the drug dealers do, they fight to survive the night.
The Good News: There isn't a whole lot to really say about this one. One of it's main strengths is its setting. Transplanting the notions of a killer shark story into the rivers and bayous of Louisiana lends a nice degree of unfamiliarity to the action, and there is a lot of rather lovely location footage right throughout the film, which has the virtue of having being shot almost entirely on location. The fact that the action in the bayou helps its execution, since the murky waters both add some suspense to the attack scenes and makes the shark look all the better. Another great aspect is that it junks almost all of those flogged-to-death re-workings. There's no "event" interrupted by the shark's presence; there's no venal politician authorizing a cover-up or refusing to close the river; there's no lone wolf hero unable to convince others of the shark's existence and the list just goes on and on. The fact that these don't appear at all in here gives it a little more creativity. The finale, an action-packed extravaganza with plenty of gunfire, kills, explosions and close-calls that it becomes the highlight of the film. That also includes the method of dispatching the shark, which is a classic B-movie moment that has to be seen to be believed. The one sequence where the shark traps a character inside a sunken vehicle is a really tense one, and features a couple of attempted jumps. All these, though, comprise just a little bit about the film.
The Bad News: There's not a whole lot to like, and most of what's wrong is that the shark is off-screen for so long. It really disappears for the middle of the movie and is replaced by a really slow and drawn-out robbery plot. The middle section almost completely loses the shark to change angles, and that robs the film of what's the true intention, a killer shark movie. It can't be a shark movie with it absent for most of the film. That alone is a major reason why this is nothing more than just average. It also lays on almost every kind of cliché with a disheartening enthusiasm. We got the estranged couple reunited by danger, the "Hero With A Tragic Past," we got the evil business executive who gets his comeuppance, and the local people who turn on a colorful local festival at the drop of a hat. The frustrating thing is that there is some attempt made occasionally to twist these standards in slightly different directions. It easily features more of the usual film retreads than shark film ones, and while it's a nice change of pace, to see that it had an across the board disdain from going along with retreads would've been nice. Again, most of the shark scenes are pretty bad. Even though it features a mechanical shark, it still looks off from the real shark, and whenever it goes with an open mouth, there's the sense that's simply just a mechanical shark. Whenever there's a CGI version of the shark, it loses the battle without much of a fight. There's hardly a scene where it looks real, and it's a lost fight. All of these make it just a mediocre shark film.
The Final Verdict: There's potential here for it to be a decent killer shark film, but it descends into mediocrity far too often for it rise above that level for long periods. It is really only interesting for those who love killer shark films or have a taste for these kinds of films.
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Reviews
Not bad
Review date: 2004-12-28 Rating: 8 out of 10
Just watched this and it isn`t as bad as everyone says. It`s very cheesy and predictable but some people like that kind of film. I am one of those people. The shark looks fake(jaws anyone) and apparently this UK release is the american tv edited version. This explains why there isn`t as much violence as expected and why there are a lot of noticeable cut aways. If you are looking for a laugh or a good time rent/buy this film I enjoyed it. If you are planning to buy this for your kids, don`t it will scare the pants off them. Although there isn`t as much violence as one would expect, the film certainly is not suitable for the certificate it has been given : 12. On the disc the other two ratings for Ireland and Germany are 15 and 16. This should comfirm that the film isn`t suitable for 12 year olds.
Worse film I have ever seen!!!!
Review date: 2004-05-04 Rating: 2 out of 10
Watched this film in the hope that it might be an up to date Jaws.
Oh how I was proved wrong. No story line.Acting is terrible.Very very bad casting.
I really do not have anything good to say about this film.
All I can say is dont waste your money!!!
Doesnt deserve 1 star.
I may be a little critical but this takes the P*@1!!!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Jaimz Woolvett
Coolio
Lou Diamond Phillips
Kristy Swanson
Rob Boltin
Creators:
Lou Diamond Phillips (Primary Contributor)
Kristy Swanson (Primary Contributor)
Charles Robert Carner (Producer)
J.D. Feigelson (Producer)
J.D. Feigelson (Writer)
Michael G. Larkin (Producer)
Mitch Engel (Producer)
Tim Christenson (Producer)
Chris Mack (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822608436
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL,
Release date: 2004-02-23
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 86 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-08-17
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
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Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
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Language: Spanish (Dubbed)