bowmanblue
Monster movies come and go and most are totally generic and even more forgettable. They're all: big monster eats cast. Roll credits. And yet 'Lake Placid' is as much fun to watch today as it was back in 2000 when it was first released. And, that is simply down to one thing: the script. Oh, and the cast is actually pretty good, too - maybe I should have said its success is down to TWO things.Again, monster-munching movies are well-known for having absolutely no recognisable actors, therefore leaving us viewers with no real connection with those we see disappearing down a mutated woodlouse's throat. I won't call 'Lake Placid's' cast 'A-list,' but they're actually pretty recognisable. We have Bill Pullman in the lead - he's been in loads of stuff (feel free to Google for exact examples), Bridget Fonda, who's quite famous and has been in a couple of successful films back in the nineties, Brendan Gleeson who you remember from... oh, that film where he pops up. And Oliver Platt, who you also know from somewhere. So, they're hardly The Avengers in terms of an ensemble cast, but, again I stress this is just a B-movie, so it's a reasonably respectable gathering.Although, even if you haven't got a clue who any of those actors are, you should appreciate the script. Again, it's hardly anything new in terms of monster movies. You have an oversize crocodile who's found its way to Maine in the US and is now chomping its way through the local wildlife (including background extras and peripheral characters).The script oozes self-knowingness and satarises itself. 'Lake Placid' knows it's a cheesy B-movie and never tries to be anything else. It's packed with tonnes of 'jokes' which will make you laugh, most of which come from the banter and bickering between the main leads. They may not be The Avengers in terms of 'star power,' but they have the bond which makes their combined interactions work perfectly.There are a few deaths in the film and, yes, they are quite grisly, but at no time would I ever call this movie a 'horror.' It's too self-knowing and funny to be horror - more a 'black comedy' than anything else. And, it's worth mentioning that the special effects are actually pretty good. Yes, the croc isn't real and therefore is probably a mixture of practical effects and CGI, but it does work and you'll probably be having enough fun with the film not to care if occasionally the cow looks a little 'super-imposed' (you'll have to watch the film to see what I mean with that one!).Like I say, if you're looking for a simple and fun monster film then this is the template others should use when considering the genre. It's held up perfectly today in terms of entertainment factor and deserves its place as a 'cult classic' (just don't get me started on the numerous sequels that it spawned and I'm guessing some may take issue with how Bridget Fonda's female character is hardly as 'empowered' as we may be used to today).
ironhorse_iv
To some, Lake Placid might seem, like it mastered, the B-movie horror genre 'so bad, it's good', type of a film. However, for others; the movie is full of mean-spirited, unfunny, somewhat offensive jokes. For me, I felt like, this movie was pretty entertaining, however, I'm not one of those, who would be, a tailgater for this film. This movie can bite me! This tongue-in-cheek, killer croc film was pretty stupid. Directed by Steve Miner, the movie tells the story of a group of wildlife experts, trying to hunt a giant, 30-foot-long man-eating crocodile, which is terrorizes the small community of Black Lake, Maine. Can they capture the beast, or will they become the crocodile's next meal? Watch the movie to find out, if you want to! Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, that Lake Placid isn't that great. Not at all! However, it's a lot better than the later, crocodile related horror films. One thing, that I didn't like, about the film is the characters. All, of them, has their moments of annoyance to me. The only, two characters, I was, somewhat rooting for, was Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson) & Fish and Game officer Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), because they were the ones, that seem, somewhat normal. Everybody else, I was kinda rooting for the crocodile to eat them. Bridget Fonda as the History paleontologist Kelly Scott, comes across as a whinny city girl, looking for a hookup. The first part of the film, with her, was very hard to get through. I really didn't care to find out, what her previous relationship did to her. Nor did, I care for her forced relationship with Bill Pullman's character. She really doesn't do, much for the film, besides endangering herself and her teammates, anyways. Nor, does she really care, that the crocodile kill people. She still wants it, to be capture, rather than, not killed. What type of human being, does that!? It was there, that I really couldn't stand her presence. Mythology professor/crocodile enthusiast Hector Cyr (Oliver Platt) was the same way. While, he was somewhat funny. His jokes were, mostly a miss, rather than a hit, due to his offensive, often homophobia and womanizer nature. I really didn't like, his preachy, keep the animal alive, approach. Both characters should had died, and the crocodile should had be luggage. See you later, alligator. Bye! Bye! Another problem, with the film was the settlings. For a movie call Lake Placid; it really has a lame excuse for the name, Lake Placid. I was really hoping, the movie settling was, indeed, Lake Placid, New York. Maybe, have, some type of Olympian swimmer, kill the beast in the end. Who Knows! It could probably, make a better movie, than we got. While, this film was a financial success at the box office and was followed by a series of sequels and a crossover film with the Anaconda series. Sadly, this animal attack movie doesn't have the thrill and chills in suspense, like Steven Spielberg's 1975's hit, Jaws. It's not scary, at all. Nor, does the movie master, any sense of horror comedy like Ron Underwood's 1990 Tremors. Still, compared to a lot of killer croc films, out there. Lake Placid features some semi great special effects by both Stan Winston and Digital Domain that, for the most part, hold up, today. The crocodile looks somewhat realistic. The gore effects was good enough for stomach curling. The sequels however not so much, though I do admittedly, they look better than most Sci-Fi Channel Original films. The movie also doesn't really, have much in exposition or plot development. It seem like the movie didn't care about the science, too much, as it's somewhat abandoned, explaining, toward the middle of the film. Even in the end, you still, don't have, no clue, how the crocodile got into the lake in the first place, and how it's able to survive there. Regardless, the movie does have, some good pacing. There were very few filler scenes in this 82 minutes film. Another thing, that I like, about the film is the music; however, it rarely matches, what's going on, with the film. Honestly, how in the hell does 'I Think I Love You' by singer, Maureen Davis & 'It's Not Unusual" by singer, Tom Jones, have to do, with a 20ft killer crocodile!? Noting, if you ask me. Overall: While, the music doesn't match, well with the film. I still have, to say, this movie still entertains me, enough to get, through it. Nevertheless, this feeding frenzy movie is only good for a one-time watch. Not worth, the rewatchability. This movie has reptile dysfunction.
