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The Beast (1996) (TV) More at IMDb Pro »

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34 comments in total

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Best of Giant Squid Films, 21 November 2006

Author: Andrew Hillier (hillier_20@hotmail.com) from St. John's Canada

I first saw the movie in 1997 on TV. I loved the movie. Even though it is a made for TV movie, it was still awesome. They could have made some money in Theaters I'm sure. The Giant Squid is an amazing phenomena in its self. For all you movie lovers of Big Creatures or the unexplained... This ones for you. I would highly recommend watching. It's better than a lot of theatrical movies. Ever since I saw it, I am determined to one day get a big boat & go fishing for one of those Giant Squid. Who knows? It is an interesting movie. I didn't find it boring at all. With a little twist along the way... But you'll have to try & find it somewhere & watch it to find out. It is a hard movie to come across. Anyway, Andrew Hillier from St. John's NL, Canada gives it a Thumbs Up and a recommendation. Peace!

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
What's the problem?, 19 April 2001
Author: Matt Willis from Middlesbrough, England

Very good version of Peter Benchley's novel 'Beast' about the arrival of a giant squid and the danger it presents to a small fishing community. Obvious references to Benchley's far more successful 'Jaws abound but the story remains as strong as ever, humans going up against a seemingly unstoppable sea creature to which anything but mortal fear would be an unusual reaction. While I personally disagree with a few of the editing decisions no one can deny that Charles Martin Smith's Graves is a better character than in the book and that William Peterson is perfectly cast as the hero Whip Dalton. Anyone who has read the book will be able to accept the smooth changes along with the rough and believe that this is a far-above average adaptation of any simple novel, especially one destined merely for TV.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
"Peter Benchley should be proud.", 9 February 2007

Author: vip_ebriega from Philippines

After watching "Jaws" and "The Beast", I could conclude that Peter Benchley should be proud when his novels translated well when filmed. I've heard many bad reviews about this movie, mainly because it was loosely based on Benchley's bestseller. But, hey, this is a movie. Not everything has to go by the book. Directors and screenwriters have to add a couple of twists from the novels. okay, a lot of twists, but this has been a case in many Hollywood movies, and some turn up to be very good, why can't this? The plot is quite like the plot for sci-fi monster movies, a hungry creature makes snacks out of unwary victims, and a good guy tries to stop it, while a money-hungry guy tries to capture it and put it on display. But still, that kind of plot is what makes this kind of films really good, and "The Beast" uses it effectively.

The performances are fine. William L. Petersen (from "C.S.I." fame) is okay as a Richard Dreyfuss-style hero Whip Dalton (the surname was Darling in the novel). Charles Martin Smith is fine as the profit-hungry town owner Schuyler Graves (the Liam St.John character from the novel). Creature effects were great and Don Davis' score is terrific.

So I would still recommend it, although not as good as "Jaws" was, it is still a very effective B-style sci-fi sea-monster movie.

TV movie rating: **** out of 5.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A Very Enjoyable Movie, 29 September 2004

Author: hotwheelsking from Toronto Canada

I don't agree with the other review at all I though even though they did mess with the story from the book if you forget about the book and concentrate on the movie itself its a pretty good movie.Sure it wasn't done on a high budget but its not cheesy and all in all the special effects are good.I think if you liked Jaws or any of its sequels you'd like this movie I certainly do.I thought it was a really good movie and I think that the squids look really good.I liked the fact that they kept them to a huge size but a size of squid the could exist.Its makes it seemed scarier to me.If you like monster movies or action movies like peter benchley's the deep I definitely think this is a movie for you.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
An old school t.v. classic, 30 July 2008

Author: badmofu from United States

This film first aired on television when I was in middle school. They advertised it heavily and it turned out to be a really great film. It is a well produced television movie that will give you the creeps at certain points. One underwater scene near the beginning of the second half of the film will really get you going. This is the uncut version I am talking about.

There are several cuts of the film that are out there that are very incomplete. The version I have is the one that originally aired on t.v. If you are into things like jaws and King Kong, then you will get a lot of enjoyment out of this film. Some of the characters may be a bit corny but they are played well by some familiar character actors. William Petersen is especially good in the lead role. You really buy the weight he brings to the character. He seems like a genuinely good guy.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
This movie has all you need!!!, 20 June 2008

Author: Maximilian Kohler (maximilian.kohler@gmail.com) from South Africa

This movie has all you need or want!!

The story is simple, a small sea town is terrorized by a huge giant squid! After a few people get killed, the man of the town goes and hunts down the beast. Like in many other movies! But instate of another stupid shark, you have something more mystical in this movie: a giant squid! Thats a real spooky thing! In general you have a good story, that is exciting, not bad acting, a love story, action, killings and much more! The special affects aren't that bad for a TV Movie! So just lie back and enjoy 3 hours of terror!

Go and what " Grizzly" too!

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wait for the uncut version-June 3, 21 May 2008

Author: disdressed12 from Canada

i wasn't impressed with this,the condensed version of the movie,which was originally a miniseries.i found this version didn't have a lot of flow to it.there seems to be some things out of context.i will say,though,that the beast is pretty impressive to look at,and would definitely inspire fear in me if i ran across it in real life.some of the dialogue is not always the best,but the actors do what they can with what they have.William Peterson(Pre CSI)stars,along with Charles Martin Smith,Larry Drake and Karen Silas.i think this movie had the potential to be exciting,and maybe the uncut version will be.for me,though,this cut version rates a 5/10 at best

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Cheesy, but a hoot, 15 October 2005

Author: ddidee from CA, United States

Yeah, it's Jaws on a budget, but just pop the corn, sit back, and have a little fun. I have sat through some atrocious horror movies (some of those in the 1950's and 60's are just awful), but this one is quite good for it's genre. Go ahead and root for the calamari, if you must! But she is protecting herself and her child as any mother would do in the same situation. The scenery is gorgeous, too--all shot in Australia, I think. I am not big on his love interest...she is a bit bland, but I do like Dana, his character's daughter. She was very believable and quite sweet. (Has she been in anything else?) Whip Dalton is my kind of guy: earthy, but charming...besides, anything with Billy Petersen in it is worth watching.

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1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
2 Bonus points for the attempted Dreyfuss Clone, 25 October 2006

Author: shanefen7 from Ireland

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I don't really want to write too much about this movie but i've got to write at least 10 lines or they won't let me leave a comment. So...

Giant Boat Sea Squid Rubber Drunk Explosion Blown Engine Stranded Small Costal Community Bounty Squealing squid

I should really have switched over to Deal or No Deal, the Indian guy who's been on it for ages was in the seat. But Noel Edmunds is scarier than the squid

In summation:

Heavy undependable sinking shark beats Giant Evil Eyed intelligent Rubbery Squid with an Ass Paddle.

And Richard Dreyfuss cannot be over rated.

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1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
the book was better!, 30 October 2005

Author: vmorris9386 from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

i read the Peter Benchley book The Beast a few years ago. When they came out with the t.v. movie, I thought "Wow! maybe it'll be like the book." Boy was I wrong! This worthless piece of dung can't even be described. These script writers must have been stoned to make the movie out like this. There are some strange going-ons in this small harbor town. A giant squid is attacking the locals, so the town officials hire a drunken, idiotic boat captain to kill the beast. Personally, I think they should have left it alone. It probably would have died of boredom after watching its rendering in this crap-fest. Trust me, go to your local library, and read the book. Much better!

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