‘Into the Blue: Review

Vince Yim, OP Blue Baller

Ah) oy 7

UAL Ta Ca

 

Jared (Paul Walker, The Fast and the Furious) and Sam
(Jessica Alba, TV’s Dark Angel) are a couple of divers
who just want to live the simple life. After meeting up
with two other divers, they learn of a sunken treasure.
Instead, they find trouble in the form of a cargo plane
full of cocaine. Run-ins with the local crime lords,
shootings at sea, and shark attacks ensue.

A quick glance at the trailer will reveal a film that
probably should have been released during the summer,
although watching the film from beginning to end will
indicate why not. Add this to the fact that the film was
shot over a year and a half ago (end of March 2004),
which would have given them plenty of time to release
this film since summer of last year, which indicates a
severe lack of faith on the part of the studio.

Admittedly, the film does have its charms, in that it
is very well paced and edited, plus it has some breath-
taking underwater cinematography. Eye-candy shots of
Jessica Alba don’t hurt either, which will probably have
you wondering how to get a hold of her personal train-
er (or her plastic surgeon for that matter). But none of
these are enough to get past the pedestrian script, end-
less action movie clichés, and the weak, unquotable dia-
logue.

Sitting in the director’s chair is John Stockwell, the
man behind the moderately successful B/we Crash. As
expected, he keeps the film from sinking completely, but
is bailing out a lot of water on the way. Despite his best
efforts, it can’t rise above the material, nor can the cast,
who try their best with what they’re given. To their
credit, no one turns in a truly awful performance,
although it feels phoned in for the most part. But when
you consider the previous films done by the two leads,
it’s not like they can do any worse. Maybe no one rises
above the material because they simply can’t.

The script comes courtesy of screenwriter Matt

 

   

“What’s the best reason to write ul the Other Press?
Vince Yim, Print Futures:

For the people and the pleasure of see-
ing my name in print.

 

' Kerry Evans, General Studies:
Because they tell you what a good writer
you are and it makes you feel really
good inside.

 

J.J. McCullough, (oops, | forgot to
ask what major. suggest: Sketching
and Organizing):

The Other Press is a great paper that is
actually willing to publish a variety of dif-
ferent perspectives. Not many college
papers would be willing to run a right-
wing hack like me.

 

 

 

 

Johnson, who gave us last year’s critically acclaimed
action drama Torque. That alone will tell you everything
you need to know. Indeed, the story is a seemingly end-
less string of clichés and is predictable from start to fin-
ish. By the first reel, you already know who the bad guy
is, who will eventually be betraying the group of divers,
and who will be shark bait. Any sort of plot twist is
seen a mile off, while there simply isn’t enough emo-
tional investment to care if someone gets shot or eaten
by a shark. But at least you won't be cheering when that
happens.

Not a horrible film, but not a particularly good one
either. While somewhat watchable, it’s quite forgettable.
Destined to fall between the cracks in the week’s major
releases (including Serenity, A History of Violence, and
Proof}, it’s destined to hit video shelves before long.