Orca - The Killer Whale
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Movie Reviews of Orca - The Killer Whale
Movie Review: A TBS Favorite
Summary: 3 Stars
Richard Harris tries his hand as whaling, but manages to attain an arch nemesis in the form of a killer whale, when the whale's mate and baby die at Harris' hand(or propeller as it were). Orca spends a good deal of the film trying to lure Harris into a duel to the death while Harris sulks and mopes about what he has done. The infamous(but not terribly impressive) scene where Orca chomps of Bo Derek's leg(can't say I blame him. I'd like to chomp off Bo Derek's leg too) is enough to put Harris into full Captain Ahab mode, and he sets out do battle with Orca and finds himself having a whale of a time.
On the books, Orca's not considered to be the best of movies. I can see why. Sure, I don't think it's terrible, but I won't find myself watching it much voluntarily. Like the whale in Free Willy(only more pissed off), the attempt here is to make the whale more of a real character in the film rather than a mindless killing machine. It's kinda corny, but I suppose it works to a certain degree. You do feel kinda bad when the mate and baby die. But at the same time, you don't really want Harris to turn up as whale food either. The high intelligence of the killer whale is a point shoved in our faces throughout most of the film, but I find it rather hard to believe the whale is smart enough to do some of the things he does. How does a whale know exactly where on the pier to ram his head in order to bust the gas lines and blow up the dock? Was he reading the blueprints or something?
Harris is good, though the rest of the cast is pretty much cardboard. Good ol' Will Sampson is wasted in a small role where he can sprinkle tidbits of Native American mysticism.
Orca's rather harmless, but for Jaws ripoffs I still go for Tentacles. Though it may be a worse film, it's more fun to me.
Movie Review: ok in a fun type of way
Summary: 3 Stars
Maybe its because i didnt go into expecting cinematic greatness a la jaws, but this movie isn't terrible. the acting is not really that cheesy at all....its more the premise of the film, and the effects behind it. the minatures look like minatures, and for some reason 'orca' likes to jump playfully amidst the trouble he causes in a sort of 'ha ha i got you!' type fashion, which obviously detracts from the drama the filmakers were trying to acheive.
ennio marricone's (spelled wrong probably) score is great, slightly repetative as much of his music is, but fantastic nonetheless.
i rather enjoyed richard harris' performance. though the killer whale expert lady is annoying, as she lectures him the entire movie on the whale and what it can do and what its thinking...only to claim she cant help him and has no idea what the whale is capable of when the time comes to go out and get it.
i would say dont compare it to jaws...but seeing has how there are constant stabs against great white sharks and one is killed in a rather silly (and unlikely) way in the begging, its funny to think the filmakers considered this a viable alternative. still enjoyable though. and good for a laugh or two.
*the miscariage scene is particularly bizzare and frightening, as is the way the mom decides to commit suicide against the boats fins. def pushes the PG envelope in the same vein that the captain quint death scene did in jaws.
Movie Review: ALL'S WHALE THAT ENDS WHALE
Summary: 3 Stars
Whereas the more superior film JAWS was a true "horror" adventure, ORCA is more of a "message" film----don't mess with Mother Nature and her more intelligent creatures. In this one, feisty fisherman Richard Harris accidentally kills a female killer whale and its unborn baby, sending the male whale into a vengeful rampage. You may side with the whale since Harris' character is not that likeable. Charlotte Rampling is fine as the marine biologist who warns Harris not to mess with the whales; Will Sampson is a Native American fisherman who joins the quest; Bo Derek made her film debut as the young girl/crew member who gets a close up meeting with the whale; and Keenan Wynn, Robert Carradine and Peter Hooten fill out the cast. The movie sometimes plays like a National Geographic special, but some of the photography is beautiful and the finale in the ice-ridden northern Atlantic is quite chilling. Not as bad as many critics would lead you to believe.Movie Review: There's a reason why they're called "killer" whales
Summary: 3 Stars
This is one of the more obvious "Jaws" ripoffs but it's an enjoyable way to pass a lazy summer afternoon or evening. Richard Harris plays Captain Nolan who decides to go after a killer whale (orcinus orca, hence the title) after watching one maul a Great White shark. Unfortunately for Nolan, he captures and inadvertently kills a pregnant female orca whose mate, the orca of the title, decides (?) to enact revenge on Nolan.
The Orca maims Bo Derek's character in a spectacular scene in which he destroys a house and sets nearly half the town ablaze. Ironically, this film is probably the only one where Derek keeps her clothes on. Charlotte Rampling plays a scientist, but she's not given much to work with here. The climax comes when Nolan faces the predatory whale on an ice floe.
Some of the underwater photography is good and the actors are all pretty good, especially Harris. It's the plot that needs work.
Movie Review: If you have Kids think twice!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
***This is a Review and Warning about the film, NOT the DVD***
Having see Orca - The Killer Whale while quite young I have a unique perspective on this film.
This is NOT a film for kids!!!
The death of the mother wale and the miscarriage is graphic. In fact even though I am a fan of this movie, I still to this day can not watch that scene. Having said that, It's nice to see a film where there's some understanding as to why this animal is killing people and I found myself siding with the whale. Even though it does come on the heals of Jaws, it's unique perspective from the animals point of view is refreshing.