+++INITIAL THOUGHTS+++

When you think about it... how many good movies about "The Bermuda Triangle" are there? Missing ships, missing people, possible monsters...It just tickles the imagination with all the possibilities

There is one great movie IMAO from the 80s which is mostly forgotten. And part of the problem is the title. You'd never know it was about the "Bermuda Triangle" because of poor setup by the filmmakers.(more on that in a second)

A tweaking and slight reframing of the cult classic "The Island"(1980) starring Michael Caine.

Meant to cash in on the "Jaws" fame at the time, a couple more adaptations of Peter Benchley's work were presented by Hollywood. "The Deep"(1977) and "The Island"(1980).

I really loved this one as a kid! And it actually holds up really well, incredible in fact, given how much Hollywood has changed. Viewed now, it has a great stylish vintage 'the-new-Hollywood-golden-age-70s' style to it.

It's also one of few anthropological science fiction films that I know of (not everything sci-fi needs to take place in space, duh!). And it has a great plausible theory of (air quotes)"time travel", insofar as us visiting the past.

Also one of the great movies that treats violence and murder realistically. Yes, a shot to your arm can kill you. And given the movie's theme of man from the past versus that of the present, it makes for a great realistic monster film in its own right.

I don't want to give away too much as I'm surprised how many have not seen it. But actor Michael Caine is terrific in it. The writing is better than it has any right to be, given some of the awful films we endure today. A great slowburn thriller that looks its cue from early-Spielberg and makes the aforementioned sci-fi subplot into this 'great-short-film-within-a-film' structured movie that Jaws did wonderfully. Also great music against type clearly inspired by John Williams. Just a good overall movie.

+++HIGHLIGHTS+++

As much as I loved the movie, I didn't like the intro. Sets this movie up all wrong. And the title is likely the reason the movie tanked with audiences. At least with "JAWS" you knew what you were getting. But "The Island" makes me half expect Tattoo from the show "Fantasy Island" to show up.

*Changed the title to "The Bermuda Triangle"

*Redux of opening credits, with a better more fitting score and passing. This is a horror film, first and foremost, and needs to be more foreboding. Better setup what's to come, and helps buy some time with the audience given the slowburn narrative until things start to get interesting.

*Blink and you will miss them tweaks to tighten the flow through out.

*Dialed Michael Caine about 5% less of an as*h*le. Maybe he's not happy to be in this movie, who knows? But's he's just a bit too abrasive, and in a scene with the one person actually trying to help him in hell of sorts, he's just too big a jerk. So the slight tweak seems to make all the difference for his character arc.

+++FINAL THOUGHTS+++

So, there you have it! A great b-movie down in a high art style. Maybe it would've fared better had it been marketed or positioned better. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for esoteric sci-fi movies. In any case, now a chance for you to enjoy!

ENTER THEATER!

NOW SHOWING

+++INITIAL THOUGHTS+++

+++HIGHLIGHTS+++

+++FINAL THOUGHTS+++

Comments

Post a Comment