dajones-4

I had read many of the reviews before deciding to watch this anyway. So, I was not expecting much going in.

Many of the reviewers belch out their complaint that it is an "Abyss" ripoff. I guess it is simpler to condemn something and not research anything. In fact, though, Abyss was released over 2 months AFTER Lords of the Deep. So, if their was any "copying" going on, it looks to me that Abyss was copying Lords.

Abyss had 70 million dollars to stick in to the production, whereas Lords of the Deep doesn't even list their budget. Obviously, it was vastly less than 70 million dollars. And it showed.

That is about it for me defending this movie. It was not very good at all. I'm no director, so I cannot say just what I would have done differently, but the "acting" was more "reciting" than acting.

It is set over 30 years in the future, after humans have obliterated earth's resources, so they have moved under sea. I guess. There must be something still going on "up top" because they are continually referencing a replacement crew.

Most bad movies, for me anyway, have something I can grasp onto and hope for more. This thing never gave me a thing. Nevertheless, I was still prepared to give it a 4 star rate. That is, until the final 2 minute sermon. Honestly, if it had had a British accent, I would have been certain it was Greta Thunberg.

Generally, I can give an "if this" or "if that," then watch it. There is really no reason to watch it. Unless you are like me, and just want to see what all the bellyaching is about. I won't ask for my time back, but if it ever gets to the point that this is the ONLY movie left on the planet...I think I will just read a book instead.

If you are looking for great acting or familiar faces, well, this ain't it.

The premise of the story of technology, mainly cell phone tech, coming into being 40 years sooner than it has is interesting. I was sucked into this movie by the fact that it has a Private Investigator as the main character. Couple that with the 1st-person narration, similar to Marlowe and Hammer TV, and I was in.

The PI is trying to track down a serial killer who has been on the loose for close to 20 years. They do a halfway job of sticking to the plot with a handful of social items tossed in such as race and guns.

I will give them credit for doing a pretty good job of getting the timeline acceleration of high tech explained in the first 4 minutes. Without that, it would have been tough knowing anything of what was going on.

One thing that really helped hold my attention was seeing all the mid-60's cars. And a few from the 50's. Brought back some memories seeing the old Pontiac with the similar front grill to the '66 GTO I had.

I don't claim to know every new actor who shows up, but I didn't see any familiar faces. The lead character does the directing along with other tasks. But hey. On a low budget, you have to save where you can.

You are not going to come away from this thinking you have just seen an Oscar winner. But likewise, you probably won't be kicking yourself for watching it. I wouldn't recommend buying or renting it, but it is streaming currently for free on at least 2 venues I know of.

The acting by itself only gets 3 to 4 *'s from me, but the story premise and the old cars pull it up to an overall 6 stars from me.

C'mon. It's a tough, dangerous job, I'll grant that, buy hey, the Saguenay doesn't resemble the Fitz other than its length and color. And the "raging" storm? Blowing snow, maybe, but the wave height didn't reach 8 INCHES... yes, I said inches, not feet.

These guys are a bunch of tough mouthed characters that want to impress everyone with the great one liners, like; "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps." I love the Great Lakes, so I'm sure I'll continue watching this...I am Priming it on Amazon...but I hope these guys can stop being "Deadliest Catch" wannabes and develop their own characters.

The premise of the show is great. Seeing the different jobs necessary to keep the shipping industry on the Great Lakes moving. When the Saguenay lost its ability to steer and had to be towed, I'm sure there was probably a little nail-biting of the crew.

Anyway, if you like the big lakes, you'll probably like the show. Oh, and hey...to the tug captain? There were 29 on board the Fitz, not 34.

I'm giving this episode a 5*, which is 2 under my normal 7, if a show is average to a tad above average.