Meg 2: The Trench (Movie Review)

 ***This review will contain spoilers***

Summary:

Jonas Taylor leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators.

Opening scene:

Set 65 Million years ago during the Cretaceous period. We see the Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing 'Snappers' or Rauisuchians who then gets eaten by a Megalodon. I quite liked this opening because it visually showed us the circle of life during that time period. 

Sequels always tend to be worse than the original movie and alas this movie is not an exception. The first movie was phenomenal because it gave us so much action, we got attached to the characters and it felt like I was on the same journey as them. This go around man there was just too much...of everything. Too many creatures where it feels like they're shoving too much down my throat. We have new characters that we barely got to know thus making their death meaningless and are we really supposed to believe that Jonas can kill this many ginormous creatures without breaking a sweat? Sorry, but at some point it becomes really difficult suspending my disbelief. 

We have a few returning characters but for the most part are missing a chunk of the original cast. Jaxx, Lori and even Suyin was missing without so much as an explanation. For Suyin, it is alluded that she died in a diving expedition but let's be forreal here. After defeating not one but two Megs plus having Jonas in your life is there such a accident that would happen? It seems more like poor writing than anything else. 

The biggest question I have is why the hell would they go on such a dive when the last time caused nothing but mayhem and a bunch of people died? What didn't they learn the first time? And why wouldn't they even think to equip their subs with weapons in case God forbid the same shit happens again? But guess what? They were stranded underwater running from big ass sharks and Snappers. And people died again. While trying to escape a bunch of sharks, Snappers and even a damn Kraken sized squid all chased after them and ended up finding their way to the surface to create havoc. 

I was surprised to learn that the Meg movies were actually based on Steve Alten Meg book series. There are currently 7 books in the series and makes me wonder if there would be more Meg movies. They have been a success in the box office  even this sequel despite in my opinion not being the best. I wouldn't be surprised if a Meg 3 gets released in the summer of 25' or 26'. 

Rating:

1 star on 5. I did not enjoy this movie at all. It had a subpar plot and felt like it depended on all the action scenes to make up for the lack of story. An entire trained team couldn't kill a single Megalodon in the first movie but Jonas could kill multiple all by his lonesome? What about him swimming on the Trench without a suit? Who comes up with this shit? Anyway, save yourself from this waste of time.