Monday, October 18, 2010

MOVIE REVIEW … PIRANHA

 

2879-E_PIRANHA 3d ART 70x100 OP 50%.indd Gaining early fame for his direction of Jaws, Steven Spielberg always maintained his favourite Jaws rip-off was 1978’s ‘Piranha’.  Filmed on a cheap budget by the King of B Grade films Joe Dante, it charted the havoc caused by some maritime monsters.  With dodgy puppetry used to represent the evil Piranhas, it became a notorious cinematic guilty pleasure.  Re-made with the wonders of 3D, this new version is just as kitsch with a cavalcade of camp the best line of defence against a swarm of nautical nasties.

 

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When a small underwater earthquake erupts, the citizens of Lake Victoria take little notice until people begin mysteriously vanishing.  Thinking something is awry, Sherriff Forester (Elisabeth Shue), her son Jake (Steven R. McQueen) and Seismologist Novak (Adam Scott) learn their assumptions are correct.  Discovering a deadly pool of Piranha’s waiting to chomp on unsuspecting swimmers, they use anything to destroy the ghastly beasties in a battle reaching a furious and water-logged crescendo.

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Those with a queasy disposition should probably avoid Piranha.  This becomes apparent from the first shot as the small terrors from the deep are ferocious in their hunger.  Not since Andy Warhol’s ‘Flesh for Frankenstein’ has a 3D horror movie been so grisly with Director Alexandre Aja more than happy to throw body parts straight onto the screen.  Saving it from becoming a dull gore-fest is the knowing humour with the actors playing their stoic roles with tongues firmly in cheek.

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Piranha’s underwater photography wrings much tension from a well-paced story light on characterisation but heavy on scares.  When most of the characters wear skimpy bikinis and seductive smiles you know you’re not watching Macbeth, although it does equal it in body count.  As a tribute to Jaws it works very well as most of the tricks it utilises are direct copies of those from that series.  Original star Richard Dreyfuss’ cameo adds to this illusion, with its enthusiastic energy echoing his pioneering blockbuster hit.

One can only guess what Spielberg would make of this Piranha reboot. With a silly premise and excursion into bad taste, it pushes its lenient MA rating to its maxim.  Although Spielberg would probably smile knowing his break-out film’s dubious influence still looms large over its blood drenched imitators.

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Movie Review Rating 6 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Piranha released in Australia on Thursday 26 August 2010.

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