Into the Blue 2: The Reef

I wasn't all that impressed with either 1977's "The Deep" or the film it inspired 28 years later, 2005's "Into the Blue." They were decent oceanic thrillers but that's about it. I liked the actors in both -- Nick Nolte, Robert Shaw & Jacqueline Bisset in "The Deep" and Paul Walker, Scott Caan & Jessica Alba in "Into the Blue" -- but unless you're rabid fans of Bisset and Alba (or the guys) neither film ever rose above the level of average.

2009's direct-to-video "Into the Blue 2: The Reef" is a sequel-in-name-only that successfully builds on the template of those other two films, delivering a far more entertaining experience IMHO.

"Into the Blue 2" simply has a more engaging story, more dazzling filmmaking and better, more numerous bikini-clad babes. In other words, everything that you might be looking for in an island thriller is here, only better than those earlier pictures. Although the main cast is relatively no-name (Chris Carmack, Laura Vandervoort, Marsha Thomason & Dave Anders), they do a splendid job; plus the film is highlighted by two solid cameos of Parvati Shallow ("Survivor") and Audrina Patridge, both incredibly gorgeous. Another highlight is the ultra-serious and thrilling final act, which comprises the last 35 minutes or so. Up to that point the story is pretty much just a fun, light-hearted beach/diving flick. The dramatic change in tone works in the film's favor and keeps it from being one-dimensional.

Since "Into the Blue 2: The Reef" is a direct-to-video release it cost a fraction the expense of "The Deep" and "Into The Blue," the latter of which cost a whopping $50 million, believe it or not. This makes an interesting study: Filmmakers can make better films at a fraction of the cost; it's simply a matter of ingenuity. Hats off to director Stephen Herek, writer Mitchell Kapner and the cast - awesome job!

"Into the Blue 2" was shot in Hawaii whereas the other two were filmed in the Caribbean.

The runtime is 92 minutes.

GRADE: A-

And boy did we find it. From the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure comes the sequel nobody wanted from a film that nobody liked. Into the Blue 2: The Reef is bad soap opera dialogue, plot and acting with the egregious tits and arse of a Fast and Furious movie. There's the same underwater shoot padded over six times throughout the entire movie and the glorious use of split screen editing and incongruous and sudden bursts of ear-splitting music from unknown bands so the director could fit a music video's worth of stock underwater footage or bikini volleyball in for several 4 minutes 37 seconds and prevent the entire running time from being 40 minutes and change of actual 'plot'. Characters don't flinch after the people they love are killed, villains disappear, or instead end up acting with their mouths almost entirely shut, and none of it is engaging or interesting or makes a lick of sense. But sandwiched in two parts between a viewing of Ultraviolet, this film looked like Citizen Kane by comparison. Bad but not abysmal. Cheap and crass but not offensive or studio-destroyed. All in all, I guess they all made the exact kind of film they wanted to make, which by that, I mean, a film that allowed everyone to go to the beachside for the entire shoot.

while generally i find it a turn off when seeing 100% "preaty people as utterly unrealistic(this coming from a blonde one myself), for this particular feature it is bearable since it is an exotic adventure movie to start with = all comes down to exercising the imagination.

but the main aspect i truly enjoyed was the music score; great combination of uplifting sounds compounding many musical genres. this is a good movie to watch while preparing to leave for vacation...yes, very commercial at times but the feature does not pretend be more then what it is; a light pure entertaining plot(does not take itself too serious but good enough script to keep viewer in suspense)and full of visually rich cinematography(humans and nature).

if you liked "into the blue 1"-2005 and/or feel in an adventurous mood, then this one is for you.quiet a few scenes are literal rip-offs from the first one. my favorite actress was Marsha Thomason, great touch in moving plot forward . also the ending is not very predictable overall.

The picture starts perfectly and initially it was so excited but the main thing starts at the middle of the film, where the villains come into the picture. Initially started off after the villains come in is they wanted to search the Sand Cristobal which the hero and the heroine are searching for 4 years and after some time they turns the real story of the lovely couple into a disaster by telling what they actually wanted. But in the starting itself they will show us that two huge boxes are thrown into the ocean which is the main theme of the story. The villain people come to search them and take them home but ....

Cheers....

If it was for the actors, it is rated 8. Good choice, good looking, good acting. But for the writers? Well, more goof than good, and this is not a typo. You see a construct when it is coming. Is is like a simulation, in that the way and the end is paved within the book. But who am I to judge about other peoples storytelling? Who am I to demand a better story that better fits my very personal ideas? Right, no one. However, the scene that truly lead my opinion was at the hospital right after the rescue. In my very personal version of this movie, and this option will be available in some years provided by AI, the hero just punches the evil woman in the face right in front of all the witnesses. End of story, and they all lived happily ever after. Boring? Well, happy endings do not have to be boring. Who minds the young girl, shot to dead? No one, but me.