Steineded How sad is this?

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Python Hyena Primeval (2007): Dir: Michael Katleman / Cast: Dominic Purcell, Brooke Langton, Orlando Jones, Jurgen Prochnow, Gideon Emery: Supposedly based on true events although the likely hood of that are probably exaggerated. The film has a film crew that flies to Africa to gain coverage over numerous deaths. Apparently a giant crocodile is to blame. Director Michael Katleman creates tension but it is interesting that the film's advertisements place no mentions on the crocodile. Instead they make it sound as if a human being caused over 300 deaths. The crocodile is indeed huge and looks fantastic but realism is tested when it attacks a car. Suspense abound although those sequel lovers may be in luck. It will put some viewers in mind of the horrible 1980 horror film Alligator, which is even worse than this. Dominic Purcell is there because he foiled a previous report. He is the one individual who contains any depth although that still doesn't elevate it above formula. He is accompanied by Brooke Langton as the film's official female so that one can be billed within the cast, and Orlando Jones as his cameraman. Jurgen Prochnow and Gideon Emery are also featured as potential menu specials for the croc. None of them are broad roles. Langton is pretty much a romantic tease for Purcell. Theme regards those things that are best accepted because explanation is oblivious such as the writing of this screenplay. Score: 4 / 10

L P **SPOILER** If you figured out 'Primeval' (2006) was about a killer croc before seeing it, consider viewing it anyway...you will not be disappointed, as its worth watching. The acting works & the cinematography is breathtaking. It's Primeval's writing that wasn't altogether cohesive...fresh in most respects, but simply lacking in some instances (fish hut scene for one). I really enjoyed 'Lake Placid' (1999), but I still can't quite place 'Primeval' in the same company as others have, as the limited humor in 'Primeval' has a very different delivery, & is much darker as well. 'Primeval' more ably favors comparisons to 'Anaconda' (1997) or 'Congo' (1995) in plot & atmosphere. For some, the bitter warring between the Burundi government & Hutus as a backdrop for this thriller, is a troublesome distraction. I for one found the weaving of two seemingly disparate narratives (with interesting similarities) to be a brilliant strength. Watch 'Primeval' to see a clever & thrilling take on the serial-killer/monster genre; however, this is not likely going to satisfy the die-hard horror fan. For similar themes consider: 'Rogue' (2007); 'Blood Surf' (2000); 'Alligator' (1980); 'Python' (2000); 'Crocodile' (2000); 'Boa' (2002); & 'Komodo' (2000). Also consider: 'Crocodile 2' (2001); 'The Relic' (1997); 'Python II' (2002); 'Venomous' (2001); 'Anaconda (2): The Hunt for the Blood Orchid' (2004); 'Frogs' (1972); 'Hotel Rwanda' (2005); 'Venom' (2005); 'Sssssss' (1973); 'Sometimes in April' (2005); 'Mimic' (1997); 'Snakes on a Plane' (2006); & 'Boa vs Python' (2004).

Paul Andrews Primeval starts in New York where TV news producer Tim Manfrey (Dominic Purcell) is in trouble for using false sources for a big story he ran, his boss Roger Sharpe (Patrick Lyster) orders Tim to accompany animal TV presenter Aviva Masters (Brooke Langton) to Burundi in Africa to capture a huge 25 foot long Alligator nicknamed Gustave that has been killing many of the locals & document it on tape for a show. Reluctantly Tim agrees & along with his cameraman Steve (Orlando Jones) & a minor TV 'Crocodile Hunter' is flown out to Burundi which has been ravaged by Civil war for years & is the poorest country on Earth. With limited approval from the Government the team get underway & a local guide takes them to the Rasizi River where Gustave operates, setting traps for the giant Alligator the team soon realise that it is much bigger & smarter than they first thought. Along with a giant man-eating Alligator the local warlords target the team after they catch footage of them killing innocent villagers...Directed by Michael Katleman this bloated Creature Feature about a giant Alligator tries to make a few political points & in the end can't really decide what it wants to be & leaves one slightly unsatisfied on all counts. The script was written by John Brancato & Michael Ferris who were also responsible for the likes of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), the awful Catwoman (2004), Surrogates (2009) & Terminator Salvation (2009) which should give you some idea how far you should lower your expectations, while the Creature Feature aspect of Primeval is pretty uninspiring stuff with a giant Aligator popping up every so often to eat a cast member the constant political overtones become annoying & are fairly clichéd anyway. The script tries to paint Burundi as a dangerous place where the innocent suffer, there's even time for the American news-crew to adopt an African boy & take him back home to the US in a supposed feel good moment that feels so fake it's untrue. There's an obligatory twist at the end which is just thrown in there so one was there, it really makes no major difference to the story or it's outcome. At over an hour & a half Primeval is pretty slow going at times resembling a holiday documentary as there are seemingly infinite numbers of wide shots of the Burundi landscape which just slow things down & get repetitive. Apparently based on a true story I would be very surprised if Primeval resembled reality in any way. The character's are boring, the romance between the two leads is predictable, the comedy relief black guy is irritating while the big game hunter with a grudge is straight out of Jaws (1975). The film feels a little thrown together, it's like there were two separate scripts, one for a giant Alligator Creature Feature & one for a political drama that were both combined. I really didn't think much of it, as either a Creature Feature or a serious political thriller.Generally well made there are a few set-pieces that are ruined by poor lighting & too many quick camera cuts that make it impossible to keep track of what's going on & where everyone is in relation to each other. There's some gore here, there's some bitten off limbs, some blood splatter, people are shot, there's a decapitation & someones head is crushed. The scenery is nice enough I suppose but while the film tries to show off the natural beauty of Africa I admit I wouldn't want to go there, far too isolated for me as I love my cities & mod cons. The special effects are pretty good here, the CGI Alligator looks good as does the puppet one when used.With a fairly poor opening box-office weekend of just over $6 million I doubt we will see a sequel anytime soon, well made with Hollywood style production values & gloss this was actually filmed in South Africa. The acting is alright, I can't say anyone was that bad or that good to be honest.Primeval can't quite make up it's mind what it wants to be & ends up feeling like two films stitched together, this makes for a rather unsatisfying viewing experience. The political message is basic & cheap, the Creature Feature aspect is clichéd & predictable with neither making much of a lasting impression.

bennyhagen The cast is okay and the production quality is good enough to make this kind of watchable, otherwise, the movie is just all over the place. African politics, native tribes, betrayal, sabotage, shamans, rocket launchers, black-guy-comedy and what not and then also there is a crocodile, for some reason. So what is this movie about? There is a lot of stuff aimlessly thrown around, genres mixed, but no part of it is going anywhere. Scenes are pasted together randomly and taking out any of them wouldn't generally influence the plot at all.Now there is at least the crocodile, you might think, but if you're looking for a creature feature, look elsewhere. The croc is not believable or awesome in any way, disregarding it's 10 tons or so it has the agility of your average urban squirrel, moving so fast you barely see what's going on at all, making this part randomly pasted in CGI animation.All this is hard to forgive already, but then the movie also totally fails to build up any kind of tension. There is something going on and then suddenly you get a minute of flying crocodile, people firing rockets at each other, or whatever and then you're back to the pointless "plot" where nothing actually develops. What makes this boat sink, is that there is absolutely no suspense going on and you'll find yourself looking at your watch frequently.Bad, boring, stupid movie.3/10