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I still have my first ever copy of Steve Alten’s novel, .

[image error]My original copy of Steve Alten’s novel, MEG

I also own all the subsequent sequels and the limited special edition re-release of the original book. Ever since I first read that now grubby, well-thumbed paperback back in 2001, I always thought it would make an amazing film, and hoped one day, the people with the cash in Hollywood would see fit to make it happen. Hell, the Meg books even influenced my own giant monster novels and the trilogy. Fast forward to 2018, and that long-term hope has become a reality and the film (re titled as The Meg) has just hit cinemas worldwide. Finally, I thought, I get to see it, the film adaptation of one of my favourite books. Sure enough, the trailers had made me wary. Jason Statham, for me, appeared badly miscast as Jonas Taylor, but my love for the books compelled me to set these worries aside and give it a fair chance to impress. After all, the book was great, surely they couldn’t possibly mess it up�.

A couple of hours later I sat for a moment in quiet reflection at what I had just watched and realised two things.

1: Jaws is still the greatest shark film of all time.

2: They completely screwed this up.

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JAWS: Still the greatest shark movie of all time. Seriously, just buy this instead. You’ll thank me later!

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There were so many scenes in the book I had been looking forward to seeing on the big screen. Scenes that, even from that first read through, played on the big screen in my imagination. The opening prologue set in prehistoric times when a T-Rex, chasing prey, rushes into the ocean and gets stuck, itself becoming food for the Megalodon.

There was the superb dynamic between Jonas and his estranged wife, Maggie. Hell, even Jonas himself was a deep and troubled character, displaying an intelligence and superior knowledge about the Megalodon he was so sure he had seen and had cost the lives of his work colleagues, leaving the man in the opening chapters of the book broken and filled with doubt.

I also couldn’t wait to see the spectacular Tanaka Lagoon, a key location and plot device for both the first book and the subsequent sequels. And who wouldn’t want to see an eighty-foot Megalodon leap out of the water towards a hovering helicopter where our lead and his friend, Mac (another deep and interesting character) narrowly avoid death.

I mention these scenes because the film I just watched has none of this. In fact, aside from character names and the fact it features a Megalodon, you could be mistaken for thinking the two have nothing in common whatsoever. Watching Jason Statham ‘act� his way through the film as a one-dimensional emotionless action hero is painful. Still, even the likes of De Caprio would struggle to make the writing for this sound good or even remotely entertaining. As I watched, I knew which lines of dialogue would be coming next as it was just so predictable.

[image error]Even the CGI shark seems embarrassed to be involved in this car crash of a film.

In fact, the entire cast seemed to just be going through the motions on autopilot and at times appeared embarrassed to be involved.

What follows is nothing more than a badly acted, cheesy, predictable dumbed down action film which is probably about as far away from the book and what made it good as it is possible to get. Also, people fall off boats A LOT.Ìý When you come out of the film and your favourite character is a dog who is a potential victim of the Meg, then you know it hasn’t been an entertaining watch. If you enjoyed the book and are yet to see this, my advice is to give it a miss and just watch Jaws again. It is still the perfect shark film and puts dumbed down dross like The Meg to shame.

This is no better than Sharknado with a budget, but at least Sharknado knows what it is and plays it with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

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Left: Sharknado. a dumbed down shark film done right and still more entertaining than The Meg.

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If you are yet to watch and unsure if you should, consider buying the book instead and make sure the author, Steve Alten gets paid instead of the film studio who were willing to turn out such utter drivel and expect people to enjoy it.

This was a huge opportunity to make an intelligent giant shark film which has been badly missed in favour of dumbed down Hollywood action.

My score: 3 / 10:Ìý Awful and predictable. Huge missed opportunity which neglects all the best points of the book it was adapted from.Ìý

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