The Meg 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Review

THE MOVIE — 3.25/5

Ever want to see a big budget Asylum or SyFy TV movie? The Meg pretty much is that, though a whole lot more fun and gets the big benefit of having, outside of the better production values, of starring Jason Statham playing pretty much similar roles he’s done in the past, like The Mechanic: Resurrection or even The Transporter Trilogy, albeit at least The Meg has a better screenplay, for whatever that’s worth.

At the Mana One Research Center, funded by billionaire Jack Morris (RAINN WILSON), housed on a platform in the middle of the ocean, scientists take a sub vehicle down to some of the deepest part of the ocean to gather samples and pictures of this unknown area when they are attacked from some unknown, yet large, creature.

With their vehicle immobilized and running on fumes to stay alive, former rescuer Jonas Taylor (JASON STATHAM), who five years prior made the tough decision to leave two sailors behind on a submarine, which was being bombardon by a mysterious creature, likely the same one that has hit the submersible. After some initial hesitation, he eventually agrees after being informed that his ex-wife (JESSICA MCNAMEE) was piloting it. Although he does manage to rescue them, the return above what is called a thermocline cloud of hydrogen sulfide (basically on top is warmer water, below cold, is breached and this creature, as we discover is a Megalodon, a species long thought extinct, is now on the top and is on the hunt for prey.

Now it is up to Taylor and the other members of Mena One to take the shark down before it wreaks more carnage before it’s too late.

The Meg doesn’t exactly have an in-depth plot and that’s kind of its charm as a disaster-thriller that doesn’t waste too much time on an over-complicated story and instead embracing some of the stupity which I found, for the most part, did actually work quite well. Key there is, “for the most part” as there was a few moments, particularly during the climax which was just too dumb, though without getting into major spoiler territory, can’t really reveal (only to say it involves helicopters which come into play adding an additional predicament to Taylor and company.

The acting isn’t anything special, but is fine in service of a big budget B-movie. Jason Statham is his usual gruff self but has the necessary charms to carry on a fairly thinly written part; Li Bingbing had a few nice moments although her character’s forced romance with Statham’s Taylor never quite paid off; Rainn Wilson was okay as your stereotypical Richie rich archetype; and the rest fill out their respective parts just fine, including Ruby Rose who really doesn’t have a whole lot to offer, which is disappointing because I tend to like her in John Wick Chapter 2 and, yes, even xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Here, she’s just a hard ass and really doesn’t bring a whole lot to the ensemble.

The visual effects were pretty standard stuff and while they weren’t anything overly impressive, still were on par with what you’d expect from a movie with a reported $130-170M, although there were a couple times where the effects were on the weaker side, but given anything with the sharks was shot in the dark water, probably help hide some of the flaws.

The Meg was directed by Jon Turteltaub, better known for the National Treasure movies and has been a capable enough director, though like Gore Verbinski, not sure you’ll ever be wowed by any of his films, though he does make entertaining flicks like While You Were Sleeping and Last Vegas. I place The Meg right there with them.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.5/5

This release comes with a matted slip cover, inside a redemption code for the Digital HD copy. Despite being a box office hit worldwide, we only get a couple featurettes: Chomp on This: The Making of The Meg (12:09) taking us behind-the-scenes with some generic interviews with members of the cast and crew and  Creating the Beast (10:25) which looks at the design process for out megashark.

There’s also an advertisement for the New Zealand Film Commission (1:53) where the film was shot.

Previews (on Blu-ray)  – Aquaman, Shazam

4K VIDEO – 4.75/5, BD VIDEO – 4.5/5

AUDIO – 4.5/5

OVERALL – 3.75/5

Overall, The Meg is a fun enough if not also forgettable science fiction action-adventure flick, a bigger budget version of a plot you’d see from Asylum that somehow managed to get an A-grade actor to star. That said, it’s top-of-the-line escapist entertainment. The 4K release from Warner has great video and audio transfers and a so-so selection of bonus material.