Lake Placid [2000] [DVD]

Abit like jaws….but the people in it are brilliant and funny and dialogue between them is just great…

I expected cheap 3D cgi but it was like Jaws back in the day - a giant model / animatronics + some great cgi included. Thumbs up.

The other reviews have said it so well. Everything about this film is wonderful. The writing, location, cinema photography, even the budget limited practical and GCI affects punch well above their weight. Add to that a wonderful cast who are both fully invested and clearly enjoying themselves, you have that rare thing. A thoroughly well spent 90 minutes. Sit back and enjoy.

Small-town Maine sheriff Brendan Gleeson is out of his depth when a body, bitten in half, is pulled from the local lake. Allergic to country air, New York palaeontologist Bridget Fonda joins park ranger Bill Pullman on a dicey fact-finding mission. Soon they’re in over their heads, too, and face-to-face with a prehistoric 30ft crocodile. “An Asian crocodile in Maine?” says Gleeson, understandably nonplussed. “I’ve never heard of crocodiles swimming oceans before.” “Well,” sneers wealthy croc-hunter Oliver Platt, “they conceal information like that in books.” It’s the genuinely joky tone that lifts Steve Miner’s smartly-paced pond-shocker out of the rut. Gleeson’s crumpled indignation at a succession of sarcastic put-downs is a particular joy to behold, and the hugely impressive croc has his moments too.

Good all rounder

Such a good film. Especially the 18 rated.

One of my guilty pleasures.

Can't believe I haven't written a review for this . It is one of those films I return to every 5 years or so. A lovely transfer (bars top and bottom) good clear picture and sound, and good subtitles. For me this is one of the best "monster/croc/Alligator type films. The CGI is very realistic (I don't care if some don't agree). The croc is truly scary and some of the shock scenes are just that - shocking and scary. Plenty of humour, though why it was necessary to make Betty White quite so potty mouthed remains a mystery. Brendan Gleeson as the puzzled irritable sherrif steals the film, closely followed by the rest of the cast. Bridget Fonda - a bit of a comedown? Don't you believe it. She is gorgeous and feisty, even if she does scream a lot. I was surprised to see that the attractive deputy "Gare" was played by Meredith Salenger, who had been assured of a big career but here gets very low billing. Plenty of laughs, tension and action. A lovely way to pass 80 minutes. Highly recomended (just be aware of the "f ing" from Betty and occasionally others.)