Over the past 15 years, Ben Wheatley has established himself as one of the most captivating directors working today.
But while he’s received critical acclaim for the likes of Kill List, Sightseers, High-Rise, and Free Fire, each of which were made on lower budgets, Wheatley’s sensibilities have always seemed suited to Hollywood blockbusters, too.
That’s why there was plenty of excitement when it was announced that Wheatley had signed up to direct Meg 2: The Trench – the $129 million sequel to the 2018 sci-fi action film that made a surprisingly big splash at the box office.
The original revolved around a group of scientists, led by Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), who encounter a 22-metre long prehistoric megalodon and try to keep it from attacking a crowded beach.
This time around Taylor and his research team embark on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean, otherwise known as the Trench. But their mission soon hits a snag when they discover another mining team are already down there in this incredibly remote and dangerous area.
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In order to protect their mysterious backer, they try to blow up Taylor and his crew. This only brings them all to the attention of more megalodons, as well as other prehistoric creatures, who then try to break out of the trench to hunt down oblivious humans.
Meg 2: The Trench is full to the brim with sequences that should keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Starting with a cold open that takes place 65 million years earlier, it does a great job of showing just how dominant the megalodon was even against the most ferocious dinosaurs. Then, every few minutes, there’s a new nautical obstacle or terrifying creature for Statham, Wu Jing, Page Kennedy, Cliff Curtis, Melissanthi Mahut and Sophia Cai Shuya’s characters to contend with.
Considering that most of these moments take place thousands of metres underwater, you also can’t help but wonder just how far the creative team have stretched science to keep their characters alive.
Which makes it all the more disappointing that Wheatley is unable to deliver the thrills expected from Meg 2: The Trench. Sure, there’s a great pace to the film, as well as a few engrossing scares and jolting moments, but there are also too many wasted opportunities.
Especially when it comes to the scenes in the Trench – they are just too dark. So much so that you either don’t know where you are, what’s happening or which character is actually in peril. At the same time, you don’t get a good sight of the monsters that are wreaking so much havoc.
Initially, this feels like a purposeful ploy, so that Wheatley can build up the tension and allow viewers’ imaginations to wildly fill in the gaps about just how ruthless and dangerous the megalodons are. But by the chaotic final act, where all logic and narrative cohesion are dispensed with, you can’t help but wonder whether the film ran out of money or they just toned down the violence to get a more family-friendly rating.
It’s not just Wheatley at fault, though. The script from Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber and Dean Georgaris lacks originality and humour. Even the actors seem to lose interest in providing the intensity required to pull viewers into the bombastic and over-the-top story – although Curtis and Kennedy, both of whom are clearly having a whale of a time, do eat up every scene they’re a part of.
The film’s simple premise and various action set pieces should have resulted in Meg 2: The Trench being a hugely enjoyable summer shark movie that’s both gruesome and exhilarating. Instead, those involved ended up biting off more than they could chew.
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U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Company%20Profile
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Indika
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
The%20specs
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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