Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers (WGA):

Duncan Kennedy (written by) and
Donna Powers (written by) ...

Release Date:

28 July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

Plot:

Searching for a cure to Alzheimer's disease a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the bait as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.

Plot Keywords:

Killer Shark | Altered Version Of Studio Logo | Exploding Helicopter | Shark Attack | No Opening Credits

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Thomas Jane	...	Carter Blake
Saffron Burrows	...	Dr. Susan McCallister
LL Cool J	...	Sherman 'Preacher' Dudley
Michael Rapaport	...	Tom "Scoggs" Scoggins
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Jim Whitlock
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Russell Franklin
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Janice Higgins
Aida Turturro	...	Brenda Kerns
Cristos	...	Boat Captain
Daniel Rey	...	Helicopter Pilot (as Daniel Bahimo Rey)
Valente Rodriguez	...	Helicopter Co-Pilot
Brent Roam	...	Helicopter Winch Operator
Eyal Podell	...	Boy #1
Erinn Bartlett	...	Girl #1
Dan Thiel	...	Boy #2 - Kevin Crawford

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic shark attacks, and for language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Malaysia:18SG | USA:R (certificate #36877) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KNT | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Fox Baja Studios, Rosarito, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Company:

Groucho III Film Partnership

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Renny Harlin] [Finland]There is a small Finnish flag in Janice's room. In the kitchen there is a dry erase board with a shopping list. The first item is "Finnish pancakes." Helsinki (Finland's capital city) is also mentioned.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie with the party on the boat and the Gen 2 shark attacks the boat. On the boat the people are listening to a boombox with a teddy bear on it, as the sharks attacks the boat the boombox falls of the boat and into the water, but for a split second the camera shows the boombox still on the boat in its original place.

Quotes:

Preacher: You're the guy that got caught in that avalanche, right?
Russell Franklin: Yeah, I'm the one.
Preacher: Like black men don't have enough ways to get killed without climbing up some stupid ass mountain in the middle of God's nowhere! You leave that to the white folks! Brother!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hai-Alarm auf Mallorca (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Just Because

Not a complete waste of time

Knowing that Renny Harlin is the only noteworthy Finnish movie director in Hollywood is probably the only reason why I even bother to keep track on his stupid movies because even though in his own way he is an extremely talented in what he's doing (that is directing silly shoot-em-up's for a naive action-lusting audience) he certainly isn't the biggest genius among film-makers. Unfortunately his foolish, aimless and violent thrillers are far from being perfect.

He has an ability to direct excellent, speedy action scenes with lots of destruction, blood, explosions, shooting, excitement and superb special effects but for some reason everything else doesn't seem to matter anymore. All of this seems so pointless when the movie has no meaning of any kind. Therefore his flicks are aimed for more simple people who want to shut off their brains and try to avoid all thinking while watching 'em. Harlin's movies are for innocent kiddies who are sick and tired of cartoons - for those little boys who sneak to watch these films at evenings after mommy and daddy are already at sleep.

Well what is his best work? Sometimes even sadistic "Cliffhanger" (1993) was only watchable and the amazingly terrible "Cutthroat island" (1995) is obviously best to left unmentioned. His early projects "Born American" (1986) and "Prison" (1988) - ones he directed before he got some bigger name in Hollywood - were quite memorable and good but I guess in the end it's a tight battle between "Deep Blue Sea" (1999) and "Die Hard 2" (1990). What I'm saying is, "Deep Blue Sea" isn't all that lousy.

Samuel L. Jackson is probably the most well-known actor of the movie but it doesn't make the other ones look like less good. No troubles in acting department, that is. Movie is basically so full of worn-out clichés and stolen ideas from "Jaws" to "Alien" and dozens of others movies it's easy to find it irritating. Still, if it works it works. It's that simple. "Deep Blue Sea" has a nice, gripping script and once again Harlin gives the audience many thrilling effects, shocks and chases. It builds lots of excitement and keeps it up throughout the movie. Pretty good effort from Harlin but I guess in the end Die Hard's first sequel will remain as his greatest work.