Piranha (2010) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2010
Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Steven R. McQueen, Elisabeth Shue, Christopher Lloyd, Jerry O'Connell, Ving Rhames
Rating: R
Release Date: 20 August 2010; 26 August 2010 (Indo)
Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes

The Movie Review

Piranha film still 1


PIRANHA (2010 remake)
Storyline:
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Yesterday, I read a news about Steven Spielberg got fined for 172 euro for having a sudden event of meet and greet with fans in Sardinia Beach, Italy. That fine is nothing compared to his wealth which undoubtedly he built upon the success of Jaws (1975). Some filmmakers did also tried to cash in on the success of Jaws which undoubtedly including the original Piranha (1978). So as you can see, Piranha (2010) is not a novelty. But this time the remake was directed by Alexander Aja, a well-known director for his works such as The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and Mirrors (2008), so some hopes did arise for a while to see a better version of Piranha.

I noticed a lot of viewers were entertained by the cheesiness of the movie which is actually a straight stupid brainless albeit great popcorn entertainment for the summer! But there were also audiences who thought this film was nothing but a piece of crap exploiting nekkidness and blood. By combining dark comedy and horror and some nude actresses or bikini-clad ones, Piranha perfectly fit as summer movie indeed. Just don't expect for something different than just another entry in the animal gone wild kingdom.

A biologist (wonderful Christopher Lloyd from Back to the Future (1985)) says "This particular piranha vanished off the face of the earth more than 2 million years ago!" Yeah..., we're dealing with the original Piranha here, The Pygocentrus, and man do they look menacingly awesome or what?! I really like their look actually, make 'em gigantic and Godzilla would have to fight them for peace. Anyhow, the plot centers of a small area which houses a beautiful lake called Lake Victoria. The lake is currently used as spring break by all the horny teenagers who think nothing but to drop unconscious or drop down their clothes. Amidst all that, there is one unfortunate local guy, Jake (Steven R. McQueen) who has to babysit his two younger siblings, Zane and Laura, at home because his mother, Sheriff Julie Forester (Elisabeth Shue), is busy taking care of about 20,000 tourists/spring breakers there. A porn film producer, Derrick (Jerry O'Connell), is coming to town and all the people are very enthusiastic about his current project. By coincidence, the pornographer hires Jake to be their local guide to show them the exotic places for their film. Of course, Jake takes them to the lake which means leaving his sister/brother alone at home.

However, a very horrible thing is about to befall unto this spring break event because an earthquake has set free a pack of viciously hungry ancient Piranhas to the surface, and they are ready to eat another type of meat (your legs and arms) after 2 million years of cannibalism. It gets worse, because they are constantly doubling in amount. And without Jake's permission, Zane and Laura rows their little boat to sand island and accidentally stranded. What will happen to Zane, Laura and all the teenagers vacationing there?

B*obs and blood, blood and bo*bs, boats and bikinis, oh my that's all! It's too much man! The movie seems don't know what to do with the horror of Piranha except for dedicating as many minutes as they could to pour some bikini babes and lingering skinny-dipping, and also wet t-shirt contest, and also topless parasailing and everything similar! But thanks to fast-pacing and good cinematography, the remake could be on top of the food chain. There are some good moments of horror in this remake of Piranha with the highlight is the long minutes of splattering blood, body parts in a feeding frenzy scene, but all the intensity is somehow overshadowed by the gratuitous nudity which makes it looks cheap and the excessive disgusting gore which would make Saving Private Ryan (1998) wave a white flag! In a nutshell, Piranha (2010) is simply an exploitation movie of animal gone wild subgenre which is nothing more than boobs and blood. Oh if you can still catch it in 3D, that would be one awesome experience!