Jackson Booth-Millard
The low-budget Mega Shark movie franchise started before the Sharknado series, the first film was abysmal, but the following year the creators brought us another helping of the nonsense. Basically deep in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an illegal diamond mining operation is interrupted when a giant 150 foot (46 m) prehistoric crocodile is awoken. Meanwhile in Atlantic Ocean, the giant Megalodon shark has survived the giant octopus fight, and attacks and sinks the US Navy warship USS Gibson. Lt. Terry McCormick (Jaleel White) is the only survivor of the attack, he was experimenting with a sonic shark-repellent device, while in the Congo, English hunter Nigel Putnam (Gary Stretch) has captured and tranquilised the giant crocodile. In Los Angeles, California, McCormick is interrogated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Special Agent Hutchinson (Sarah Lieving), McCormick feels guilty that he lured the shark, he offers to help to catch it. Meanwhile the crocodile is being carried on a cargo ship, it is revealed that it is carrying the crocodile's eggs as well, without warning the shark attacks the ship, waking the crocodile, Putnam and his partner Jean (Gerald Webb) jump overboard before the ship is destroyed. Onboard aircraft carrier USS Lexington, McCormick meets Admiral Calvin (Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Picardo), he tells of the objective the hunt down and destroy the Megalodon, while Hutchinson meets Putnam, she is shocked to find out about a giant crocodile on the loose as well. They then discover the location of some crocodile eggs, Calvin assigns McCormick to accompany Hutchinson and Putnam and capture an egg, which are about to hatch, but a shark fin is spotted close to the island, an airstrike takes place. As the team leave the island, the crocodile is angered by the shark swallowing its eggs, while missiles are fired at those eggs remaining in the cave, the crocodile attacks Miami, before an arc flash fire sends the creature back into the sea. Putnam suggest opening an egg to find out the crocodile's vulnerabilities, one egg is aboard the submarine USNS Invincible, while two are being taken by Black Hawk helicopters, but the shark is attracted to them, and attacks these crafts. With no trap big enough to capture both creatures, a retrieval plan to use more crocodile eggs is devised, these are dropped in Panama Canal, both creatures are lured by them, where they battle each other, while the Navy attack, the chaos causes a tidal wave to destroy Panama Canal as both creatures continue to fight. It is revealed the crocodile has adapted itself to lay more eggs, hundreds more are laid on the American coastline, hatchlings are attacking Santa Monica pier, while the two giant creatures are heading towards Hawaii. A nuclear submarine misses with a missile attack, and is swallowed by the shark, the creature is now a bigger threat, as it has a nuclear reactor inside, while the crocodile attacks the helicopter carrying McCormick, Putnam and Hutchinson, they survive the crash, but Hutchinson is unconscious. McCormick and Putnam will use the sonic emitter as part of a new plan, to lure both creatures to an undersea volcanic range, both adult creatures are lured and fight each other, while the crocodile hatchlings come to assist their mother. Hutchinson recovers and picks up McCormick and Putnam, as the volcano explodes and detonates the nuclear reactor inside the shark, the combined blast kills both the adult and juvenile creatures, the charred shark and crocodile are still latched onto each other as their bodies sink into the volcano. Also starring Dylan Vox as CWO Butowski and Hannah Cowley as Legatt. There may be one or two faces I recognised in the cast, more than previously, but it doesn't matter, and there were more special effects to bring the giant shark and crocosaurus to life, but as before, they are awful, as is the story and the concept, another waste of time science-fiction horror. Poor!
Mark Holloway
A huge crocodile and shark attack some US city?Is this meant to be a self spoof? I think not. The incredible acting, which oscillates from wooden to unnecessarily urgent/angry, poor special effects and hilariously predictable plot make this fascinating watching. Much like watching 'Thunderbirds' was 30 years ago.We see the same helicopter scene at least 10 times, the same 'fleet with submerging submarine' at least 3. Did the Producer really have so little imagination?If you are desperate and/or are watching this with some buddies, a LOT of beer and some popcorn - go for it! Else, go and watch some paint dry.
Wuchak
What can you expect from a film called "Mega-Shark Vs. Crocosaurus" (2010)? How about some measure of entertainment? After all, 2000's "Octopus" was surprisingly good, and "Crocodile" was very entertaining. Don't get your hopes up with this one.The title tells you everything you need to know about the plot.The CGI effects are laughable. Grade B films of the 70s-80s look realistic by comparison. The story is barely interesting.On the positive side, they assembled a good cast, led by the always-likable Jaleel White (aka Urkel), Gary Stretch, Sarah Lieving and the guy who played The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager. They all take the material seriously and you have to respect them for not cracking up.Urkel, an action-hero? Yes, and he works just fine, thank you. Meanwhile Stretch is reminiscent of Pierce Brosnan. As for Sarah Lieving, although she plays a dead-serious Federal agent here, she's almost worth the price of admission, almost.The film runs 88 minutes.BOTTOM LINE: Unlike, say, "Octopus" this one doesn't deliver the goods, but it might be worth some laughs with friends. Thankfully, the likable cast tries to make up for a bad film (notice I said "tries").GRADE: D
