The plot involves Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) banding together the latest iteration of his Expendables Special Forces team, under the guide of government agent Marsh (Andy Garcia), to stop some stolen nuclear devices from being activated. His right-hand man Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) joins up with old regulars Gunner (Dolph Lundgren) and Toll Road (Randy Couture). Along for the ride are new recruits Easy Day (50 Cent), Galan (Jacob Scipio) and Lash (Levy Tran), with Lee’s on again-off again girlfriend Gina (Megan Fox) also in tow.

No-one goes into these films expecting Oscar-worthy scripts, but the dialogue this time around is especially wooden and has no natural flow to it whatsoever. We know these people can act because we’ve seen it before, but ‘The Expendables 4’ seems to have been mapped out with no consideration for what’s come before, a complete lack of character development and a basic misunderstanding of what a classic 80s action film was all about.

The cast do what they can with the poor material laid out in front of them. Sylvester Stallone is in it more than I expected, but it’s still woefully underusing him and his talents. Jason Statham must be exhausted because he’s carrying this entire film on his back, but even he can’t work miracles in these trying circumstances. Megan Fox is a decent actress when she has the right material (‘Jennifer’s Body’ is an absolute classic and she is brilliant in that), and I’ve been a fan of her work in the past. She is obviously a siren, and dutifully portrays this in the film. But her character is so thinly put-together it’s absurd. She will no doubt get stick for this film, but a better writing team can easily make her character useful, and not just the seemingly obligatory eye-candy.

Dolph Lundgren’s character has historically been wasted in this franchise as an inside-joke that no one asked for. His comic relief is awful, and that’s no fault of his own. It’s completely down to the awful writing he has had to endure. Lundgren is a good actor – give him better material for the love of God. An absolute waste of a talent. Andy Garcia chews up the scenery, 50 Cent offers nothing of real substance and Levy Tran is completely wasted as Lash. However there are some positives. Randy Couture is still solid and Tony Jaa steals the film as Decha, a former ally of Barney who helps Lee out mid-film. Iko Uwais is always a joy to watch onscreen, and Jacob Scipio does a fantastic job playing Galan (who is meant to be Antonio Banderas’ character’s son). Banderas was meant to reprise his role of Galgo in this movie, but scheduling conflicts prevented it. So, (in the only good move the writers made with this entire film), they repurposed the character to be his son. Scipio does a remarkable job channelling Banderas trademark charisma.

How it took four writers to come up with this story is beyond me, but we have Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, Max Adams and Spenser Cohen to thank for this mess. Not forgetting Scott Waugh’s poor direction which frequently opts for close-up action when a wider shot would have been far more satisfying to see the impressive set-pieces play out in. The fight between Jason Statham and Iko Uwais was great, as was any scene featuring Tony Jaa, but its impact was always affected by the way the sequences were put together, from its cinematography right down to its editing. Thankfully this isn’t ‘Taken 2’ levels of bad epilepsy-inducing action, but it also doesn’t hit its (very easy attainable) marks. Do the basics right and you win half the battle.

‘The Expendables 4’ is a massive missed opportunity and a complete waste of a chapter. Especially when we’ve had 3 very enjoyable movies already. And with the cast aging out soon, it seems like this is even more wasted time to deliver action fans a good, all-star ensemble. It was a long gap of almost 10 years between ‘The Expendables 3’ and this ‘Expend4bles’ mess, so we are running out of time. So please hire better writers and a proper action director if we are to get one more round with these characters. There is a market for this if anyone is willing to actually invest the proper time and attention this franchise needs. The fans deserve a much better finale than this.

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Megan Fox, Randy Couture, 50 Cent, Dolph Lundgren, Andy Garcia, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Levy Tran, Jacob Scipio Director: Scott Waugh Writer: Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, Max Adams, Spenser Cohen Certificate: 15 Duration: 103 mins Released by: Lionsgate Release date: 22^nd September 2023

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The plot sees Dom (Vin Diesel) and his crew (family) being targeted by a vengeful villain from his past, who nobody knew about until now. His name is Dante, and it turns out he is the son of the bad guy from ‘Fast 5’ and he has an axe to grind with the Toretto crew. He is absolutely psychotic however, and doesn’t just want revenge, he wants them all to suffer in various unspeakable ways. All you need to know about this Dante fella, is that he’s played by Jason Momoa. More on him later.

Dealing with the Dante threat, takes Dom and the gang all over the world into a series of incredibly over the top car chases, with Louis Leterrier (a veteran of vehicular mayhem) now at the helm. One sequence in particular, featuring a huge metal ball bomb, careering through the streets of Rome is a rare highlight. As for the rest of action, it is far too reliant on (some very sketchy) CGI. 

As with so many other big budget blockbusters we’ve had to sit through this year, most of the action scenes go on way too long. Which isn’t always a bad thing. A well-directed, perfectly paced action sequence can go on for as long as it needs to, and still be thrilling and entertaining. Look no further than the ‘Furious 7’ Azerbaijani chase, which begins with cars parachuting out of planes and only gets more brilliantly silly over the course of 20 exhilarating minutes. Nothing in ‘Fast X’ even comes close. Just boring, cartoony crap.

Now we all know these films jumped the shark a very long time ago. If you weren’t on board back then, you aren’t going to be on board with this one. I’ve always had a soft spot for these films, especially the spectacular run from ‘Fast 5’ to ‘Furious 7’ which in all honesty should have brought this saga to a close. Those three films were such fun, I could overlook the drop in quality we saw in 8 and 9. 

Those two were just as dumb and preposterous as the previous films, but the endless retconning and plasticky action whittled away most of the goofy charm and goodwill that had been built up. ‘Fast X’ however just doubles down on everything bad from the previous two. More characters being introduced, more backstories being rewritten with each passing scene, more table setting for some grand finale being concocted in Vin Diesel’s big shiny dome, and more hideously digital action. The film’s tongue may be firmly in its cheek, but bad is still bad.

You’d think after so many films together, the chemistry between the main cast members would be at the very least believable. I’m not expecting acting miracles, but some sense of familiarity between them doesn’t seem a lot to ask. Alas, the dialogue scenes between Diesel, Rodriguez, Brewster, Emmanuel et al, are just getting worse with each passing film. I zoned out more than once. As for the so-called hilarious “banter” between Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris, it is the perfect storm of god-awful writing, terrible acting, and bad improv from people who think they are funny.

As well as the core regulars, ‘Fast X’ introduces us to a whole new bunch, including Oscar winners Brie Larson and Rita Moreno. Alan “Reacher” Ritchson and Daniela Melchior also join the cast, with Scott Eastwood returning to sub for the absent Kurt Russell. None of them are really given all that much to do, as there’s so many characters already jostling for screen time. However, given the half-arsed performances being phoned in by the main cast, I’d much rather spend time with this lot, even if it occasionally looks like they’re being held at gun point.

Thankfully, soaring above all this dross, is the deranged genius of Jason Momoa. He takes a one note villain role, and turns it into the funniest, funnest, and most deeply disturbing character in the entire franchise. Every time he is on screen, the film becomes watchable. Every time he isn’t, it’s just a boring bowl of CGI soup you will want to drown yourself in. His wardrobe, his mannerisms, his line-readings, are not at all what you would expect. A truly chaotic performance. And the scene with the two freshly murdered corpses. What. The. Hell?

Momoa’s intervention just about saves this from being a one-star film, but it is still the definitive low-point in the franchise. I live in hope that the final two instalments will recapture some of the previous magic, but the road back after this mess is longer than the runway in ‘Fast & Furious 6’.

If you want more of this, the 4K UHD release comes with over an hour of bonus features, including scene breakdowns with Louis Leterrier, and all-new featurettes exploring the new cars and locations used in ‘Fast X’.

Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Jason Momoa, Brie Larson, Helen Mirren, Jason Statham Director:Louis Leterrier Writer: Dan Mazeau & Justin Lin Released By: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Certificate: 12 Duration: 141 mins Release Date: 4th September 2023

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My biggest problem with the ‘Fast’ saga is how they’ve completely abandoned the laws of reality, physics, and common sense. But with that comes a freedom of expression to do some utterly bonkers things like driving a car down a dam whilst it’s on fire. So looking for sense in this high-octane world of live action ‘Hot Wheels’ is kind of pointless. So if you go into it in the right frame of mind, Fast X’ does deliver huge amounts of spectacle and action. Just don’t think about it for more than a second and you’ll enjoy the ride a lot more.

The plot, and it does have one, is that Dom (Vin Diesel) and his crew are being targeted by a vengeful new adversary named Dante (Jason Momoa). He’s the son of slain crime boss Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), who you’ll remember from ‘Fast Five’, and who met his own Wiley Coyote-style demise at the hands of his own safe ramming his car off a bridge. Now Dante is out for pay-back, but he just doesn’t want to kill the gang. He wants them to suffer. So begins an elaborate plan that takes them around the world as Dante turns the tables on Dom’s ‘family’ and makes them public enemy no. 1.

‘Fast X’ has a truly huge cast and for the most part they all do well with the material given to them. Vin Diesel is a great front-man for this franchise, it must be said. The energy and verve he brings to this saga is a large reason why these films still resonate with audiences the world over. Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang and John Cena are all fine in their roles. Jason Statham gives the film a much-needed jolt in the arm when he’s introduced. Helen Mirren, Scott Eastwood and Alan Ritchson should have been used more, Charlize Theron must need a new swimming pool or something – she’s too good for this fare, Pete Davidson’s cameo is pointless and screen legend Rita Moreno adds a nice bit of class as Dom’s grandmother Abuelita.

A lot of this franchise’s new faces are great additions though. Leo Abelo Perry who plays little Brian, Dom’s son, is a good kid even though we are meant to believe he drives Dodge Chargers for fun at 10 years old. Brie Larson is solid but doesn’t have much to do here, which is a shame. Daniela Melchior is excellent as a mysterious new street racer with ties to the gang, but it’s Jason Momoa who completely steals the film. His portrayal of Dante was superb – played larger-than-life and completely for laughs. Momoa is almost in his own film and is the best villain this franchise has had in years. He has the best lines, the best outfits, the best moments and easily the best role in the entire movie. ‘Fast X’ is worth the admission price alone for his performance.

Pretty much a live-action fever dream of a young kid playing with their toys, ‘Fast X’ is bombastic, energetic, and completely ridiculous – but there’s stuff here that will keep fans happy. The stunts are insane and unbelievable, but now I guess that’s part of its charm. I still struggle with that, but after 10 films that’s really my own problem to overcome. And you better get comfortable for a longer ride because we are getting two more chapters of ‘Fast X’, making this tenth finale actually a trilogy. I’m not sure what they can possibly add to the mix, but they’ll have fun trying, no doubt. And perhaps a few of this film’s big surprises will detail where the narrative (!) goes next. For now, buckle up and experience cinema that I can only describe as a happy meal with a toy.

Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Momoa, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, John Cena, Jason Statham, Helen Mirren, Scott Eastwood, Alan Ritchson, Charlize Theron, Pete Davidson, Rita Moreno, Leo Abelo Perry, Brie Larson, Daniela Melchior Director: Louis Leterrier Writer: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin Certificate: 12A Duration: 141 mins Released by: Universal Release date: 19^th May 2023

The post ‘Fast X’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Directed by Ben Wheatley, the film stars Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, Sienna Guillory, and Cliff Curtis.

Dive into uncharted waters with Jason Statham and global action icon Wu Jing as they lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal Megs and relentless environmental plunderers, our heroes must outrun, outsmart, and outswim their merciless predators in a pulse pounding race against time. Immerse yourself in the most electrifying cinematic experience of the year with ‘Meg 2: The Trench’ – where the depths of the ocean are matched only by the heights of sheer, unstoppable excitement!

‘Meg 2: The Trench’ features a screenplay by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (‘The Meg’) and Dean Georgaris (‘The Meg’), and a screen story by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, based on the novel ‘The Trench’ by Steve Alten.

‘Meg 2: The Trench’ will be released in the UK on 4^th August 2023 by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The post ‘Meg 2: The Trench’: Jason Statham is back in action sequel – watch the trailer appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who we were first introduced to way back in 2011 in Fast & Furious 5 gets his own movie alongside former villain turned reluctant ally Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). A powerful chemical weapon is in open play, which has attracted the attention of Brixton (Idris Elba), an enhanced human who is looking to acquire it for a shadowy organisation. Before he can, Deckard’s sister Hattie Shaw (Vanessa Kirby – Mission: Impossible – Fallout) manages to take it, but that means she has become the number one target for both the bad guys and the authorities. Enter Hobbs and Shaw, who reluctantly team-up to save Hattie and bring Brixton down before he unleashes hell.

If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that this movie looks more like one of those fake films teased in Tropic Thunder than a plausible expose into the world of military espionage. The absurdity of the spectacle is fully embraced by a knowing cast though, who all go full-throttle to deliver a pure piece of escapist fun. The script is pretty poor and story is very familiar (see Mission: Impossible 2 for basically the same set-up), so what it doubles-down on is big action. The set-pieces utilise some brilliant locations around the world (including some great location shoots in London). It’s a shame the trailer gave so much away because there was little that surprised me in terms of action.

The chemistry between Johnson and Statham is enough to carry the film, with the two power-houses butting heads at every given opportunity. Their constant bickering is hilarious and I’m glad Statham is given more to do in the movie than just bounce off Johnson, whom we all know can do this type of gig in his sleep. The action stars give their all and deliver some really funny sequences, and with the strength of these central characters, it’s easy to see a sequel or two popping up down the line.

The supporting cast are all good too. Idris Elba clearly has fun playing ‘Black Superman’ as he dubs himself, and more than holds his own in the movie. The final fight between Johnson, Statham and Elba is really well done, including the way its shot in a rainstorm using high-definition slo-mo, capturing every bone-crunching punch and kick in a very cool way. Helen Mirren is always entertaining as Shaw’s mother and there are a few surprise cameos from some well known faces. But Vanessa Kirby easily steals the film as Hattie, and she elevates the material with a great performance full of action and comedy.

It won’t leave much of a mark (unless you see this in 4DX, and if you do my condolences), but Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a shame that more time wasn’t afforded on the script, because everything else was in-place. But it matters little if you’re looking for a great distraction. In these troubled times we live in, Hobbs & Shaw could be just the tonic to escape the pressures of everyday life and just enjoy a little bit of mindless fun.

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Helen Mirren, Eiza González, Eddie Marsan, Cliff Curtis, Lori Pelenise Tuisano, John Tui, Joshua Mauga, Joe ‘Roman Reigns’ Anoai, Rob Delaney Director: David Leitch Writer: Chris Morgan, Drew Pearce Certificate: 12A Duration:135mins Released by: Universal Release date: 1st August 2019

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A new action-packed trailer for the film has been released and be warned, it’s going to have you counting down the days until it arrives in the cinema. Take a look below:

Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw is the first stand-alone film from the franchise that has released 8 films so far. It sees Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham reprise their roles as Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw.

Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Fast & Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down.

But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.

Hobbs & Shaw blasts open a new door in the Fast universe as it hurtles action across the globe, from Los Angeles to London and from the toxic wasteland of Chernobyl to the lush beauty of Samoa.

The film is directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2) from a script by longtime Fast & Furious narrative architect Chris Morgan. It is produced by Morgan, Johnson, Statham and Hiram Garcia. The executive producers are Dany Garcia, Kelly McCormick, Steven Chasman, Ethan Smith and Ainsley Davies.

Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw blasts into UK cinemas on 2nd August 2019.

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The first stand-alone film from the main franchise focuses on Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw played by Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham respectively. Watch the trailer below:

Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Fast & Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down.

But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.

Hobbs & Shaw blasts open a new door in the Fast universe as it hurtles action across the globe, from Los Angeles to London and from the toxic wasteland of Chernobyl to the lush beauty of Samoa.

Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw is directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2) from a script by longtime Fast & Furious narrative architect Chris Morgan. The film is produced by Morgan, Johnson, Statham and Hiram Garcia. The executive producers are Dany Garcia, Kelly McCormick, Steven Chasman, Ethan Smith and Ainsley Davies.

The film arrives in UK Cinemas on 2nd August 2019.

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Bored of Bresson? Fatigued with Fellini? Tired of Tarkovsky? Drained by Dreyer? Of course you are. Film as a philosophical art form can only nourish the soul to a certain extent. Occasionally you need something more. We all do. And so how lucky we are to find ourselves living in a period of cinematic history that has given us The Meg – a film where Jason Statham fights a giant prehistoric shark. These truly are blessed days.

It may sound as if I’m being a bit facetious, but I assure you I am not. I genuinely enjoyed the hell out of this film. It received a bit of a critical pummelling when it hit the cinemas back in the summer, but I think expectations were just a little too high. I’m not entirely sure what people thought it was going to be, but when they saw the film was a tongue-in-cheek B-movie about a massive shark, they went ‘oh is that it?’ Well of course that’s it! What more do you want?

Adapted from the first of Steve Alten’s 6-book saga (yes that’s right – there are so far six books about this bloody big shark) The Meg sees Jason Statham playing Jonas Taylor, the world’s best deep-sea rescue diver. When a rescue effort he is leading goes tragically wrong, and he claims some unknown oceanic beast is to blame, his career and reputation are destroyed.

Years later in the middle of the East China Sea, at a technologically advanced research station funded by billionaire Jack Morris (Rainn Wilson), a team of oceanographers led by Dr Zhang (Winston Chao) and his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing) are preparing to explore the deepest part of the ocean. They believe there is more to be found if they go deeper, beneath the Marianas Trench. Honestly, didn’t these fools watch Lord of the Rings? Do they not know what happens if you delve too greedily and too deep?

But alas, it isn’t a Balrog they unleash, but a Megalodon, a 75-foot prehistoric shark. All manner of chaos is inevitably unleashed, and with the crew stranded at the bottom of the ocean, there’s only one man they can turn to. Yep, you guessed it. It’s Jason bloody Statham. The rest of the international cast, featuring Cliff Curtis, Ruby Rose, Page Kennedy, and Jessica McNamee are all game, but none of them are having quite as much fun as Statham. He is clearly having a ball, and as always is a joy to watch.

Jon Turteltaub directs The Meg with minimal fuss. The action is clean, clear, and mostly entertaining. Giant shark versus little dog is a genuine high point. The whole thing however could have benefitted with being a little bit more frenzied and unpredictable. It’s all a bit safe. But I’m sure that was entirely intentional. If nothing else, The Meg was a film made to gobble up as much cash as possible. This is four-quadrant filmmaking on a global scale. There ain’t no room for macabre mayhem in that equation.

So where does The Meg land on the shark movie ranking? With Jaws in an unassailable position at the top of this genre, and the Sharknado movies occupying the dark, shitty crevices at the bottom, The Meg lands somewhere in the middle, near Deep Blue Sea. It’s not quite as entertaining as Deep Blue Sea, and doesn’t have anything as ludicrously wonderful as Samuel L Jackson’s “ice” monologue, but it does share some of that same bonkers high-concept energy. I guarantee in a few years, whenever it’s on TV, it’ll be one of those films you have to switch on and watch to the end.

So what do we get on the blu-ray for parting with our hard earned dollars? First up is Chomp on This: The Making of The Meg. This is a 12-minute featurette, and very much in the modern EPK style. There are a few clips from the film, but the majority of the running time is taken up with interviews with the director, the cast, and key crew. There’s also some behind the scenes footage. But rather disappointingly there is no contribution from the Stath.

Creating the Beast is an interesting 10-minute look at how the Megalodon was conceptualised and designed, before being brought to life by the visual effects wizards. Finally there’s a 2-minute piece about shooting in New Zealand, which is really just an advert for the New Zealand Film Commission. They must be missing all that lovely Middle Earth money.

Cast: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, Cliff Curtis Director: Jon Turteltaub Writer: Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber Released By: Warner Bros. Certificate: 12 Duration: 113 mins Release Date: 10th December 2018

The post The Meg Blu-ray review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

If you can’t wait that long, the film will be available on Digital Download from 3rd December 2018. The Meg is available to pre-order now.

The cast includes Jason Statham (Spy, The Fate of the Furious), Li Bingbing (Transformers: Age of Extinction), Rainn Wilson (TV’s The Office), Ruby Rose (John Wick: Chapter 2) Winston Chao (Skiptrace) Page Kennedy (TV’s Rush Hour), Jessica McNamee (Battle of the Sexes), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), Robert Taylor (Kong: Skull Island), Sophia Cai (Somewhere Only We Know), Masi Oka (TV’s Hawaii Five-0) and Cliff Curtis (The Dark Horse).

The Meg is directed by Jon Turteltaub (the National Treasure movies).

A deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program— has been attacked by a massive creature and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean…with its crew trapped inside.

With time running out, former deep-sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is drawn out of self-imposed exile by a visionary Chinese oceanographer, Dr. Zhang (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter, Suyin (Li Bingbing), who thinks she can rescue the crew on her own.

But it will take their combined efforts to save the crew, and the ocean itself, from this seemingly unstoppable threat—a prehistoric 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon. Thought to be extinct, the Meg turns out to be very much alive…and on the hunt.

Five years before, Jonas had encountered this same terrifying creature, but no one had believed him. Now, teamed with Suyin, Jonas must confront his fears and risk his own life to return to the ocean depths…bringing him face-to-face once more with the apex predator of all time.

The special features on the Blu-ray and DVD releases include:

• Chomp on This: Making The Meg – Director Jon Turteltaub and the cast of The Meg reveal the physical challenges, the complicated stunt work and all the wild fun of filming in the open water!
• Creating the Beast – Meet Meg, the ocean’s oldest and most terrifying killer! From concept to creation, discover how filmmakers brought this 75-foot, 100-tonne prehistoric predator to life.
• Shooting in New Zealand
  The Meg DVD contains
• Chomp on This: Making The Meg – Director Jon Turteltaub and the cast of The Meg reveal the physical challenges, the complicated stunt work and all the wild fun of filming in the open water!

The post Jason Statham’s The Meg comes to Digital, Blu-ray and DVD in December appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is a deep-sea rescue specialist. The film opens up with Taylor and his crew attempting to rescue survivors from a stranded submarine. During the rescue something goes wrong and Taylor has little choice but to leave two of his team behind to die.

Five years later, Taylor is retired and living in Thailand. Despite the tragedy and now surviving on a diet of alcohol he still appears to be in fantastic shape.

Watch the trailer for The Meg below:

Meanwhile, a tech billionaire called Morris (Rainn Wilson) has funded a state of the art deep-sea research facility – Mana One. He’s visiting it for the first time and after an initial disappointment is impressed by the facility. The research team are preparing to attempt to break through a layer of hydrogen sulfide at the bottom of the ocean to see what’s beneath. Surely a bad idea?

The crew depart in a high-tech craft and, after breaking through the layer, become the first people to ever see what lurks below. They find a stunning untouched environment teeming with never-before-seen life. Then things go bad when their craft is left stranded.

The Mana One team decide to see if Taylor can help. He’s left diving behind and really not that interested. Of course, one of the stranded team turn out to be his ex-wife so he goes to help.

Once on site, Taylor goes to the rescue and realises that they are dealing with a prehistoric 70-foot shark known as a Megalodon, or Meg for short. After the team’s interfering, the Meg escapes and goes on the rampage, predictably attacking everything in its path.

What follows is a ridiculous set of action sequences as the team try to track and contain the Meg. One of these involves Taylor swimming completely unprotected to try and tag it. It’s laughable to watch and totally unbelievable but does manage to be entertaining at times. I won’t spoil the rest of the movie here but you can probably guess where it ends up.

Statham does a decent job as Taylor and Li Bingbing plays the role of Suyin, a deep-sea expert and love interest for Taylor. Sadly the film is let down by poor visual effects and an absolutely shocking script with some of the worst one-liners I’ve ever heard.

Running at almost two hours long, watching the Meg felt like a slog and was actually on the verge of boring at times. It probably would have benefited from a lot less set-up and more focus on the action. If you’re a big Jason Statham fan you’ll probably enjoy The Meg but if you’re after a decent shark film you’d be better server with Jaws or even, dare I say, Sharknado!

Cast: Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Cliff Curtis, Winston Chao, Shuya Sophia Cai, Ruby Rose, Page Kennedy, Robert Taylor, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Jessica McNamee, Masi Oka Director: Jon Turteltaub Writer: Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber Certificate: 12A Duration: 113 mins Released by: Warner Bros. Pictures Release date: Friday 10th August 2018

The post The Meg review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The tense new poster features Jason Statham as expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor in the ocean, clutching a harpoon as a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon opens its jaws to devour him. Take a look at the new poster below:

Alongside Statham, The Meg stars Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao and Cliff Curtis. The poster is the second to be revealed for the movie and it certainly looks like the film could be one of the summer’s big blockbusters.

Looking very much inspired by Jaws but with the grandiosity of the recent Jurassic World films, The Meg is destined to be a real guilty pleasure.

The Meg finds the crew of a deep-sea submersible trapped inside after it’s attacked by the Megalodon. Jonas Taylor (Statham), an expert deep sea rescue diver, is recruited to rescue them and teamed up with Suyin (Bingbing), the daughter of a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Chao), as they risk their lives to save the crew.

The film is directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) from a screenplay by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, based on the best-selling novel by Steve Alten.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”257642″ player=”531″ title=”THE MEG Official Trailer #1 Warner Bros. UK”]

The Meg will arrive in UK cinemas on 10th August 2018.

The post Jason Statham is in grave danger in new poster for The Meg appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The eye-catching poster features the Megalodon shark visible through the water with it’s terrifying jaws wide open while an oblivious person is seen floating on a rubber ring.

The Meg stars Jason Statham (Furious 7), Li Bingbing (Transformers: Age of Extinction), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Ruby Rose (xXx: Return of Xander Cage), Winston Chao (Skiptrace), Page Kennedy (Rush Hour), Jessica McNamee (The Vow), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (The BFG), Robert Taylor (Focus), Sophia Shuya Cai (Somewhere Only We Know), Masi Oka (Hawaii Five-0) and New Zealander Cliff Curtis (Fear the Walking Dead).

A deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Bingbing), to save the crew—and the ocean itself—from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon. What no one could have imagined is that, years before, Taylor had encountered this same terrifying creature.

Now, teamed with Suyin, he must confront his fears and risk his own life to save everyone trapped below… bringing him face to face once more with the greatest and largest predator of all time.

[brid video=”257642″ player=”531″ title=”THE MEG Official Trailer #1 Warner Bros. UK”]

The science fiction action thriller is directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) with a screenplay by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber. It is based on the best-selling novel by Steve Alten.

The Meg is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers), Belle Avery (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) and Colin Wilson (Suicide Squad), with Gerald R. Molen, Wei Jang, Randy Greenberg, and Barrie Osborne serving as executive producers. Jie Chen, Ming Beaver Kwei and Chunzi Wang served as associate producers.

Take a look at images from The Meg in our gallery below:

You can see The Meg when it opens in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX in the UK on 10th August 2018.

The post New poster debuts for Jason Statham’s The Meg appeared first on Entertainment Focus.