Movie Review
'Deep Rising' rides shallow water
Campus Times
February 13, 1998
The opening scene is an exploration of an underwater sunken cruise ship,
the Argonautica. Then there is a flashback to before the ship sank. It is
a huge, luxury cruise liner. Of course, there is a man and women, who are
bound to fall for each other.
Sound familiar? Kind of reminds the viewer of "Titanic" but
instead the movie is called "Deep Rising" and in place of a romantic
love story there are gruesome sea creatures that appear from the depths
of the South China Sea to suck the fluids out of their victims.
In this case, the victims happen to be mercenary Finnegan (Treat Williams
of "The Devil's Own"), his mechanic (Kevin J. O'Connor of "Steel
Magnolias") and first mate Leila (Una Damon), who have been employed
to drive a group of villains out to the Argonautica.
These three are not only victims of the sea creatures, but are taken
as hostages by the villains, once they have been safely led to the cruise
ship.
With little plot originality, the villains' plans are obscured by this
oversized monster, whom the viewer is not allowed to see until halfway through
the movie.
The villains played by Wes Studi, Derrick O'Connor, Jason Flemyng, Cliff
Curtis, Clifton Powell, Trevor Goddard and Djimon Hounsou and Argonautica's
owner, Canton (Anthony Heald). They are too busy dragging out a few hours
of their lives before the sea creatures suck them up and spit them out.
The beautiful jewel thief Trillian (Famke Janssen, "Goldeneye")
is found alone on the sinking ship, after having been locked up for attempted
theft. It is obvious from the first time Trillian and Finnegan meet that
there is an attraction.
Like many dragged out horror/suspense films it is time and creativity
the movie lacks. Most attack scenes include blood, bones, guns and mucus
of some sort spewing across the screen.
The end result is predictable and leaves the viewer with a feeling of
regret for having wasted his time and money on the flick.
Advice to writer/director Stephen Sommers: Do not waste time on a sequel.
Move on to bigger and better and get your feet out of the water.
