Plot - What's it all about?

very so often I get a movie that makes me chuckle. Not in the sense that the movie in question is a comedy and the intended result is a laugh. No, sometimes a movie is just lame that you can't help but wonder what in the world the filmmakers were thinking. When it comes to movies about sharks and/or shark attacks, there will most likely be no replacement for the grand daddy of them all - "Jaws." Let's face it, that movie is the Paramount of what effect a movie can do and a major reason why I and countless others won't swim in the ocean. Spielberg's "less is more" approach worked and no matter how many imposters there have been and will be, "Jaws" is the best there is when it comes to a movie of this genre. But were the filmmakers out to make another "Jaws?" I highly doubt it. Just by reading the back of the box and seeing the phrase "scantily clad" seemed to me that this movie wouldn't take itself too seriously. It doesn't and here's what to expect.

We meet a group of Tulane University students who head to some remote part of southern Louisiana for a weekend of fun. Naturally everyone has to have a stereotype so we have the nerd (Joel David Moore), the brain (Dustin Milligan), the white jock (Chris Zylka), the black jock (Sinqua Walls) and the girls: Beth (Katharine McPhee from "American Idol" fame), Sara (Sara Paxton) and Maya (Alyssa Diaz). They arrive only to meet the local troublemakers and one of which has a past with Sara. After a brief encounter, they head to her estate where we just know a shark attack will happen. And it does! Malik (Walls) loses and arm and the rest of the group decides that he needs to get to a hospital. Of course they all split up on different agendas and they all suffer fates equal to that (or worse) of Malik. Is there any hope for our heroes or all they all destined to become shark bait?

I've no problem with campy "B" movies if they're done right. There are plenty of movies far "worse" than this but they don't really take themselves too seriously. I'm not saying that "Shark Nigh" does, but it's hindered by a few things. The main thing is its PG-13 rating. I'm sorry, but if you advertise "scantily clad women" on the back of the box, we'd better see the bikini tops come off. It's a rule. I didn't make it but I damn well expect it to be followed. As it stands, all we really get is a view from the back of Katharine McPheee as she's changing and lead actress Sara Paxton prances around the entire film in a bikini. We do get a few shots of Chris Zylka's backside early on. That didn't really interest me, though. A movie like "Piranha" is a classic example of a movie done right and not taking itself too seriously. This, for me, just didn't seem to deliver. The good news is that it's only 90 minutes, so even if you do watch it, you're not sacrificing that much of your day/night.

Video - How's it look?

If you look up this movie online you'll find the title to be listed as "Shark Night 3D" but this is the 2D Blu-Ray reviewed. The 1.78:1 AVC HD transfer is a bit hit and miss. There are several shots underwater and the greenish hue isn't the best example of an HD picture that I've seen. There's some gradient issues and some grain to boot. But I will say that the vast majority of the film is indicative of what we've come to expect from a new to Blu-Ray film. Flesh tones are natural and we do get to see eye candy on both the males and females (and, as mentioned before, they're clothed). Contrast is about average and black levels seem that way as well. I'm tempted to see what this looks like in 3D but that would mean I'd have to watch it again and, I'm sorry, that won't happen.

Audio - How's it sound?

The film includes a lossless DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack that's used to its full effect all of two or three times in the film. There's not a whole lot of action going on and even "Jaws" had that unmistakable music when you knew something was about to happen. This doesn't. Vocals are clear and natural-sounding and surrounds do kick in a few times here and there. However I'd have to say that the front stage takes on most of the action here. This is a pretty forgettable track, to be honest.

Supplements - It's all about the extras...

As for the extras, there aren't a whole lot to choose from. It's essentially a series of short featurettes, though I did learn a fact in that some sharks can swim up to 68 miles per hour. If that's really true then...wow. That's one more reason for me to stay out of the water. "Shark Attack! Kill Machine!" is a compilation of the shark attacks in the movie. "Ellis' Island" shows all of the cast kissing up to their director whose claim to fame was directing "The Final Destination." Moving onto the Blu-Ray exclusives we find "Shark Night's Survival Guide" which features a lot of text-based facts about our favorite killing machines. Finally we have "Fake Sharks Real Scares" and we see the effort that went into creating the fake sharks for the film. Admittedly, they do look pretty real. The original theatrical trailer is included as is a digital copy of the film.

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