Komodo

Whether the komodo dragons are depicted with animatronics or computer graphics, they look top notch and scary - when you see them. (You don't see them as much as you might think.) However, the rest of the movie is A MESS! The characters were murky and unlikable, and the story was at times so lacking in key details, I am positive that the movie was either handed to the most incompetent editor alive, or that they didn't have enough money to shoot everything. (I don't think anyone could be that dumb to have chosen to film the script if it had actually been written the way the movie progesses onscreen.) Not enough gore or action for the red meat crowd anyway.

I wasn't going to watch Komodo when it first came out on video here in the United Kingdom-I'd had enough of films featuring snakes and lizards and dinosaurs as they always disappointed me. But Komodo was different.

Firstly, I think Komodo dragons are evil looking creatures (apologies to anyone out there who has a pet komodo)and this film was quite scary at times. It was set on an island and the Komodo's were crawling around although you could never be sure when or where they would strike. When they did strike, they did it hard!

There have been quite a few disappointing lizard/snake/amphibian films over the years where the creatures have looked totally fake and the plots have been very comedic. I am pleased to say that Komodo was very different and I would recommend checking it out.

While I wouldn't call Komodo a classic by any means it is the most fun direct-to-video movie I've stumbled across in some time. The direction is pretty good, the acting is tight, and the lizards look great, especially when you take into account how low the budget was on this film. While the story is a bit lacking, it still comes across as reasonably entertaining. I recommend Komodo for a weekend rental. It won't change your life but its a fun way to spend an hour or so. You might also want to check out the DVD edition which has some neat features.

I know, I know, you're thinking not ANOTHER Komodo Dragon movie. But trust me, this one doesn't disappoint. Clearly it's not good, but that's what makes it great. The Giant Dragons actually looked decent, and the acting was not as bad everyone would think. The plot was crazy and not what a sane person would call realistic, but therein lies the beauty. What's not to love about an island full of crazy Komodo Dragons on a blood thirsty rampage? Nothing, that's what!

If you are looking for an intellectual thriller, I have a feeling Komodo is not your cup of tea. On the other hand if you like having a few drinks with friends while trashing a very watchable movie this one is right up your alley. Dare I say, Komodo-riffic? Yes, I think I do.

"Komodo" cries out with the anguished screams of wasted potential. Its flaws mostly smother its virtues. The acting is reasonably solid, with the exception of (among others) the film's useless villain, a tacked-on character whose accent which wanders clumsily from Cockney to Australian and back again. The special effects are the film's true strength, although in some scenes they seem poorly composited into the scene -- their ambient shadows are not colour-matched as well as they deserve to be.

Essentially, the problem with the movie is its lousy script, and Michael Lantieri's somewhat mechanical, dispassionate efforts as a director. I'm glad this guy gave up directing after "Komodo", because visual effects are clearly his forte.

As an aside, the locations are somewhat interesting for a Brisbane native -- I spotted the Cape Moreton lighthouse from Moreton Island, as well as the dodgy Brisbane suburb of Wynnum. The "street" scene was all too obviously an outdoor set, however. And what's a cop car with Georgia license plates doing in North Carolina? It wouldn't have jurisdiction there.

Four stars out of ten. Pity it wasn't better.