|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| INTO THE BLUE (2005) | |
|
|
The cinematic concoction Into the Blue by John Stockwell brings the memories of many B-movies released during the 1970s and 1980s, as it provides a healthy dose of butt shots, sexual innuendos, and violence in its visuals.
Occasionally, it proves to be an efficient blend, as the film presents levels of humor, suspense, and action.
However, the complete product also allows the audience to reminisce about where B-movies emerged.
The film displays large portions of cinematic awkwardness that seems to rest within a partially finished script, one-dimensional characters, and the obvious of exploitation of Jessica Alba’s female curves.
In the tropical paradise of the Bahamas, Jared (Paul Walker) has found himself a refugee from the monotonous life of holding a stead job and listening to the orders of bosses. He is an avid reader of history, as it supports his desire to be a treasure hunter. It is not for the quick riches Jared seek treasures, but for the self-fulfilling purpose to uncover the truth of the lives and the tragic fates of those lost at sea (or at least that is what the film tries to convey.) At his side, always wearing a bikini, the audience can find Sam (Jessica Alba), as it is treasure enough for Jared and the whole world watching the film, something the director is obviously aware of due to the numerous shots scanning her body. The film opens with a plane crashing into the ocean, which Jared later discovers during a snorkeling trip with his best friend and lawyer Bryce (Scott Caan). Bryce has come to the Bahamas to have a little well-earned vacation (I wonder if this character has ever worked or gone to law school as he shows tremendously little work ethic) and he has brought an easy girl, Amanda (Ashley Scott). Together this quartette goes snorkeling while discovering valuable remnants of a shipwreck and the crashed plane full of drugs. Both discoveries offer opportunity of wealth, but the choices will reveal the true character and the choices will have dire consequences. The idea is honest, however, the story, the characters, and the abusively large amount of underwater shots adds lead to this cinematic experience, as it slowly continues to sink towards the bottom. The story does not evoke a sense of urgency, or secrecy as the characters party all night long and dive all day (when do they sleep?) It also makes the discovery on the bottom of the sea feel unimportant. The cast accentuates the awkwardness by only allowing their presence and actions to emerge on the screen while the emotional expression is that of a rock. The film has an overwhelmingly large amount of underwater scenes, as most of it works like additional visual fluff. If the viewer is fond of seeing men and women in bathing suits, it is obvious that this is a film for them. Jessica Alba’s sex appeal might also sway a group of audience members to seek out this visual experience. However, the sexiness cannot save the complete cinematic experience, as Into the Blue presents a truly deficient experience that might induce inappropriate laughter and much eye rolling in-between the bootylicious camera shots. |
|
DIRECTED BY |
|
| John Stockwell | |
|
COUNTRY |
|
|
USA |
|
| REVIEWED | |
| BY KIM ANEHALL – 12/19/2005 | |
| GRADE | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Internet Movie Database. |
