5.4 | / 10 |
Users | 2.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Half shark...Half octopus...All killer!
Starring: Eric Roberts, Sara Malakul Lane, Héctor Jiménez, Kerem Bursin, Liv BoughnHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 27% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Very 'National Geographic,' isn't it?
What happens when a movie takes a goofy title, is played on a
network notorious for epically bad movies, and features the involvement of a producer who's made his living on churning out admittedly well-made
trashy movies, but trashy movies nevertheless? What happens when two "name" legends of campy cinema -- SyFy
and Corman -- team together? No surprise the result is as predictable as the sunrise, a film that's cheesy bad in true SyFy form but also sporting
some
amped-up production values, a hallmark Corman trait. Their love child is named Sharktopus, the new King of the bad SyFY movies, a film
that's awful but at the same time oddly endearing, which is just what a SyFY/Corman collaboration should be. Elements of both are readily
evident -- woeful acting and terrible special effects on one side, but a bit more attention to detail and a seemingly higher, or better-stretched, budget
on
the other -- and help make Sharktopus both unique and as-expected, a film that features the best and worst traits of its cousin films all in
one
so-bad-it's-good sort of movie. The SyFy/Corman collaboration is a brilliant one, one that took too long to come to fruition, but one that's here now
-- and that began with Dinoshark --
and that promises more of
the same good/bad sort of movies in the future.
Fish out of water.
Sharktopus features a generally serviceable but occasionally disappointing 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. The image is fairly crisp, sometimes a step-up from the usual Blu-ray output of SyFy Channel films, but it occasionally sinks back to the same level. There's some underwater banding; a touch of shimmering evident on a few building façades during an early flyover shot; and grain that often appears frozen in place over the image, giving it a dirty appearance that almost looks as if speckled film is covering the camera lens. The image can also soften up from time to time, and shots with characters offset against computer backdrops can look downright messy. Still, fine detail is quite good in most places, and the color palette can be extraordinarily vibrant. Check out the scene introducing Andy Flynn; the bright blue sombrero he's wearing and the lighter-shaded water he's in both look fantastically lifelike. Generally, this is a hit-or-miss image that's more often good than bad, but its problem areas equate to real eyesores that bring the score down considerably.
Sharktopus arrives on Blu-ray with a solid Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Often, this is a fine, commanding track that spreads out nicely across the front, enjoys crisp details throughout the entire range, and plays with a quality low end. While it's certainly not a track that rivals the best of the big-budget new releases, it is quite the revelation for a low-grade TV movie. The track delivers a quality array of well-integrated atmospherics, too, including the sounds of children at play on the beach, crashing waves, and seagulls that seem to come from every corner of the listening area. Attack sequences are accompanied by a strong low end punch, and underwater scenes are suitably heavy and give off a realistic sensation of submersion. Dialogue, too, is crisply and accurately delivered up the middle. It's not a top-flight track, but it is quite good given the quality and origins of the film.
Sharktopus features only the film's trailer (1080p, 2:39) and an audio commentary track with Independent Producer/Filmmaker Perry Martin and Producers Roger Corman and Julie Corman. As usual, Roger Corman delivers a highly engaging commentary, beginning by discussing his reluctance to make the movie but acknowledging its success. Roger Corman and company continue to deliver an honest track that looks at the ideas behind the creation of the creature, the work of the cast (including Roger's own cameo), what audiences want out of a film like this, shooting on water, and plenty more.
Sharktopus really isn't anything new in terms of story, but it is a bit better off that the usual SyFy Channel flub thanks to superior execution and a more pronounced understanding of what it is and where its place in the world of cinema lies. Roger Corman brings a little bit of both name recognition and clout to the film; he understands the genre maybe better than anyone alive, and his Sharktopus is a flat-out fun little film that's perfectly happy to thrive on cheese and live amongst the best of the campy Sci-Fi/Horror pictures. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Sharktopus features a hit-or-miss 1080p transfer, a good lossless soundtrack, and an audio commentary. Fans of cheesy movies will eat this one up, and it's worth a purchase for anyone looking to see what SyFY Channel flicks are all about.
2013
Roger Corman's Cult Classics
1978
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1957
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1954
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1958
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