Is It Finally Safe To Go Back In The Water? "47 Meters Down"

47 Meters Down (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Chris Johnson, Yani Gellman, Santiago Segura, Matthew Modine

Written and Directed by Johannes Roberts

The Story:

Two sisters (Moore & Holt) on vacation in Mexico decide to go out on a boat and take a trip in a shark cage to see sharks up close and personal. I sure hope that cage doesn't sink or anything...

I want to like shark movies.

I think everyone that has read these reviews has gathered that about me by this point in time.

Good, bad or mediocre, I often try them all, or at least attempt to.

I'm guessing with the commercial, and critical success of The Shallows, studios are jumping back into the waters of monster movies because we will always be fascinated and a little scared of what lies beneath the surface of the ocean.

In theory, the movie hits most of the right notes.

Lots of jump scares with musical cues, just like Jaws.

But make no mistake, this isn't that good.

It's watchable, yet predictable.

That isn't good, especially given that they use 2 different tension devices in the film:

killer sharks
low air supply

Poor to stupid choices being made by everyone in the film makes you often throw up your hands in disgust that by the time you reach the finale...

And then find out that much of what you have just witnessed may not have even happened.

It's often an effective plot device, but here it was just a final nail in the coffin.

This one won't be joining our annual list of scary films to ring in the holiday season for Halloween.

This makes me want to find out what happened next in the Sharknado series.

:)

Final Grade:  C

What A "Tangled" Web We Weave Today!

Tangled (2010)

Rated PG

Starring Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy

Directed by Nathan Greno

The Story:

Rapunzel (Moore) is a princess with magical healing powers in her hair.  Kidnapped from her parents by Mother Gothel (Murphy), she lives alone, isolated in a tower.  Every year she sees a magnificent displays of light, unaware that it is her parents releasing thousands of balloons into the sky in the hopes that she will return.  When scoundrel Flynn Rider (Levi) makes his escape from the castle and is looking for a place to hide, he stumbles upon Rapunzel and reluctantly agrees to take her back to see the lights.  It's an adventure of a lifetime for the both of them.

This is a good princess movie.

Great voice actors.

Great storyline.

Great characters.

Fun songs from the returning Alan Menken.

Everything that Frozen was not.

:)

Why it got the love and not this film, I'll never understand.

Especially considering how much of this film seems to have been lifted and transplanted into Frozen.

This is one with well-placed musical numbers throughout the film, balancing out the story with musical numbers.

The dynamic between Flynn and Max provides a great hero/villain then buddy/action tale.

The love story is natural and not forced.

Even the rebellious nature of Rapunzel against her 'mother' was filled with conflict and remorse.
Yeah...

I don't get why this one wasn't better received.

It was, and is, clearly the superior film.

The one complaint I heard about this film was how the portrayal of the "witch" was an indictment against adopted parents...



Wow, talk about looking to get offended.

She. Stole. Rapunzel.

Didn't adopt.
Stole.

Her real parents never lost hope that they would get their loved one back.

In fact, it's one of the rare Disney instances where the parents aren't evil, stupid, or killed.

:) 

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Own it, and it's a great one.