Starring: Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, Samuel L Jackson, LL Cool J

Director: Renny Harlin

Category: Sci-Fi Thriller

Tag Line: "How fast can you swim? "

Rating: 18

Premise: A group of scientists working on a cure for Alzheimers Disease, modify Mako sharks in order to enlarge their brains to create quantities of a hormone. Only, trouble hits when they discover that the sharks abnormal brain size means they are incredibly intelligent.

Summary: I had followed this film with great interest since I heard about it months before it's release. I refused to listen to the hype about a 'sad remake of Jaws'. I wanted to see this one for myself and formulate my own idea about it.
So, come cheap day at the Odeon cinema in Exeter, my girlfriend and I bought our tickets and made our way to the auditorium. The place was far from busy, but there were enough people to make the experience more interesting.
And so, eventually, the film opened up with a group of young people on a catamaran out on the ocean…in the dark…drinking…listening to music..having fun…when a shark decides to have a pop. There is no suspense in this part of the film. I am sure that Renny decided everyone would know what was gonna happen, so I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen it!
Anyway, we basically follow the progress of the chief scientist (Saffron Burrows) as she details to Samuel L Jackson all of her plans and progress, until we get to the experiment, with Sam watching on as an observer for his boss, to assess the financial necessity of this project. You will be forgiven for drawing conclusion to Jurassic Park at this point. Ambitious pioneer trying to do good with financial backers pushing to down the whole project. And it is true, it follows in exactly the same way, seems great, cool, can save loads of lives with a cure made from shark brain-juice. However, inevitably, the sharks get smart. They want out of this cage they are kept in and want to roam the seas as nature intended, and who can blame them when you are constantly having brain probes spiked into your head! Overall, the film moves along at a good pace and there are enough serious bits mixed with amusing bits. LL Cool J gives an exceptional performance considering most Rappers are not fantastic actors. However, his god-faring cook complete with parrot on shoulder adds a nice bit of humour and lightness to a film which, without him, would have been a tiny bit too dark.

Great cast made up of virtual unknowns
LL Cool J
Great scenery

Cons:
Script a bit drab and poor, Samuel L Jackson has some of the worst lines since he cameoed in Star Wars Episode 1.
CGI sharks are a bit too obvious
Too 'Jurassic Parkie'

Rating: 7/10