Z/Web

Author: Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, and Dave Powers

Director: Renny Harlin

Cool little Jaws-like action romp. Scientists genetically enhance some sharks, making them smarter, and then all hell breaks loose. Fun, actually scary in a few places, with some amazingly realistic special effects. (Don’t watch this if you’re squeamish about seeing people being eaten.) Obviously not ground-breaking like Jaws, this is still well-done and a lot of fun. There are enough surprises and twists that even jaded action fans might find it cool.

Author: Robin Cook

Once again, another “thriller” where you’ve figured out the plot by page 50 but Cook keeps you in “suspense” until the last page. If you’ve got a mobster who’s blinded by acid and needs a cornea transplant, and suddenly ordinary people all over New York City are being killed by hit men, does it take a doctor to figure out what’s going on? Apparently so. In the meantime you’ve got hundreds of pages of corny dialogue and artificial arguing (can’t have the main characters getting along; gotta keep that tension up) to muddle through. It would have made a fine short story.

Author: Darcy Frey and Glen Charles

Director: Mike Newell

Not quite what I expected; more character-driven, less action and comedy. But still fun. Essentially this film is about control over your life, as the characters are air traffic controllers who have to be in constant control. Slow in a few places, the story drifts a bit in the middle, but ultimately winds up being satisfying. Good performances.