Let's be honest, the involvement of Jim Wynorski doesn't exactly inspire confidence; he has operated on the approximate level of The Asylum since long before that production company existed. But still he makes movies, and still we watch them. This isn't to say that all his pictures are total schlock - but on the other hand, it doesn't take long after this one has begun that we can readily discern in multiple ways how the viewing experience is going to be troubled. Wynorski's direction is sometimes rather forced, and maybe blunt, in turn inherently robbing the acting of some of the nuance it otherwise might boast. Michael Kuge's editing is too often gawkily brusque, chopping up the feature into a stilted, unnatural gait and presentation (even at the end). The screenplay of James Morley III and Andrew Stevens is itself filled with some scenes and dialogue that are tiredly awkward for how ill-fitting they are, and for how they try to shove exposition and character information into small, concise boxes. Furthermore, in every capacity the writing follows well-trodden paths of tropes and familiar, similar action-thriller fare ('Die hard' on the sea, anyone?), and some small passing iotas just haven't aged well. Overall I actually do think 'Final voyage' is modestly entertaining, yet it's relatively passive in that regard, and is the type of film that one puts on in the background to "watch" without need for active engagement.
The narrative ideas on hand are a mix of the serviceable (or even kind of admirable!) and the overused; those that strain suspension of disbelief, and those that are plain contrivances of Movie Magic. I'll let others decide for themselves into which of the latter two categories falls the resources, knowledge, and level of organization of the antagonists. There are some unexpectedly fun lines of dialogue, and others that fall just short of being a bit sharper. I don't specifically have anything against the cast, for at least some of these folks we've seen elsewhere and we know what they're capable of, but I do think they're limited by the nature of the material and above all Wynorski's direction. As a result, the performances tend to either be just broadly suitable, or they might be overdone in some measure; more rarely do the portrayals feel Just Right. This is no mark against the actors, for they're just doing the best they can within these parameters, but for what it's worth they generally do a fine job. I'm inclined to think that Ice-T is the top standout here, for he depicts chief antagonist Josef with his characteristic, playful blend of self-confidence and derision, though Rick Ducommun is also a pleasant surprise with the neighborly innocence that he gives Jasper.
Those aspects of the title that so readily rub us the wrong way from the start don't necessarily go away as the length advances, and as the plot and action pick up. In fairness, though, they become less prominent, or at least take a backseat for what level of investment the proceedings can offer. Though most of the CGI is a tad too obvious, I will say that the practical effects are very well done, and the stunts; action sequences at large look great, an instance where the overly hard edge of the direction actually works in favor of the violence. I actually quite like Eric and David Wurst's original music - nothing super special, per se, but lending to what tense atmosphere the feature can claim to manifest. The sets are pretty swell, filled with nice detail, and the costume design, hair, and makeup are fetching. On that note, though: I'm no prude, but some of the wardrobe choices for the women (primarily Claudia Christian and Erika Eleniak) are overly exposing, and in a like manner, Wynorski takes another hit in my opinion as there are shots that needlessly emphasize women's bodies. That goes for cinematographer Ken Blakey, too, whose work is further characterized by a boyish excitability that becomes overbearing at times, even well before an element is infused of the seafaring variant of the "Star Trek shimmies." If I'm being honest, Blakey's contribution is as consistently vexing as Kuge's.
For all my words of criticism, though, I have to repeat that I did have a reasonably good time watching. 'Final voyage' isn't abjectly bad, and not for one moment do I regret spending time on it. The issue is just that there's nothing here to particularly set it apart from like-minded titles, and when you add in multiple discrete deficiencies, or poor choices of film-making or storytelling, it never had much of a chance to rise above being very "middle of the road." This is the type of action-thriller for a lazy day, when you don't want to sit for something that will demand or inspire major commitment as a viewer. And there's nothing wrong with that! There's a time and place for most all movies, and some are satisfied and duly satisfying to sit at that unremarkable place of "yeah, it's not great, but it's alright." I won't begrudge anyone who thinks notably less of this 1999 film, but at least for my part, I think 'Final voyage' is passably worthwhile under the right circumstances, and that's all it needs to be.
The narrative ideas on hand are a mix of the serviceable (or even kind of admirable!) and the overused; those that strain suspension of disbelief, and those that are plain contrivances of Movie Magic. I'll let others decide for themselves into which of the latter two categories falls the resources, knowledge, and level of organization of the antagonists. There are some unexpectedly fun lines of dialogue, and others that fall just short of being a bit sharper. I don't specifically have anything against the cast, for at least some of these folks we've seen elsewhere and we know what they're capable of, but I do think they're limited by the nature of the material and above all Wynorski's direction. As a result, the performances tend to either be just broadly suitable, or they might be overdone in some measure; more rarely do the portrayals feel Just Right. This is no mark against the actors, for they're just doing the best they can within these parameters, but for what it's worth they generally do a fine job. I'm inclined to think that Ice-T is the top standout here, for he depicts chief antagonist Josef with his characteristic, playful blend of self-confidence and derision, though Rick Ducommun is also a pleasant surprise with the neighborly innocence that he gives Jasper.
Those aspects of the title that so readily rub us the wrong way from the start don't necessarily go away as the length advances, and as the plot and action pick up. In fairness, though, they become less prominent, or at least take a backseat for what level of investment the proceedings can offer. Though most of the CGI is a tad too obvious, I will say that the practical effects are very well done, and the stunts; action sequences at large look great, an instance where the overly hard edge of the direction actually works in favor of the violence. I actually quite like Eric and David Wurst's original music - nothing super special, per se, but lending to what tense atmosphere the feature can claim to manifest. The sets are pretty swell, filled with nice detail, and the costume design, hair, and makeup are fetching. On that note, though: I'm no prude, but some of the wardrobe choices for the women (primarily Claudia Christian and Erika Eleniak) are overly exposing, and in a like manner, Wynorski takes another hit in my opinion as there are shots that needlessly emphasize women's bodies. That goes for cinematographer Ken Blakey, too, whose work is further characterized by a boyish excitability that becomes overbearing at times, even well before an element is infused of the seafaring variant of the "Star Trek shimmies." If I'm being honest, Blakey's contribution is as consistently vexing as Kuge's.
For all my words of criticism, though, I have to repeat that I did have a reasonably good time watching. 'Final voyage' isn't abjectly bad, and not for one moment do I regret spending time on it. The issue is just that there's nothing here to particularly set it apart from like-minded titles, and when you add in multiple discrete deficiencies, or poor choices of film-making or storytelling, it never had much of a chance to rise above being very "middle of the road." This is the type of action-thriller for a lazy day, when you don't want to sit for something that will demand or inspire major commitment as a viewer. And there's nothing wrong with that! There's a time and place for most all movies, and some are satisfied and duly satisfying to sit at that unremarkable place of "yeah, it's not great, but it's alright." I won't begrudge anyone who thinks notably less of this 1999 film, but at least for my part, I think 'Final voyage' is passably worthwhile under the right circumstances, and that's all it needs to be.