Wolff rating: NOT BAD/GOOD
Plot summary: Soldiers of fortune find a cruise ship in the South Seas empty except for. . .things.
Biased, pithy comments: The producers and Sommers knew they were making a horribly derivative movie. They knew that the people who went into this movie would be jaded by years of ``Aliens'' clones and ``Die Hard'' clones, and that just making squishy SFX bad guys wouldn't be enough. Instead, they mixed in humor, one-liners, and a fast-paced plot that, though not plausible at all, is at least internally consistent. This isn't a movie where you spend time wondering whether anyone will die, who will die, or even what order will they die in, but rather only if it's time *now* or in a few minutes. Still, this is as good an ``Aliens'' clone as you'll get in the past few years (quite better than, say, ``Screamers'') and worth the price of your popcorn, even if you know what's going to happen. I had fun. Janssen makes a good action heroine, and the comic sidekick guy managed not to grate until the very end. Sommers went on to direct ``The Mummy,'' another derivative action movie I enjoyed thoroughly. Serious moviegoers will think this is a drek film, but afficiandos of survival horror will have fun. Thus, the split rating.
Other Notes: So, any time you assemble a bunch of obnoxious mercenaries who slime on the ladies, you just don't sell 'em life insurance. The very last SFX shot is lost on video, and that's probably a good thing. I'd start with ``Tremors,'' though, if you're into somewhat comic action/monster films.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Treat Williams, Famke Janssen, Anthony Heald, Kevin J. O'Connor, Jason Flemyng, Clifton Powell.
Directed by: Stephen Sommers