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Meanwhile, mainstream critics lined up to point out things that confound the intellect. Andrew O'Hehir (Salon.com) says, "There's really nothing wrong with the premise of Reign of Fire, as ludicrous science-fiction premises go, but director Rob Bowman … does almost everything he can to ruin it." He concludes, "A monster movie with boring monsters is a boring monster movie."

Roger Ebert counts up implausibilities and plot problems.

MaryAnn Johanson argues that the film is too focused on practical solutions, without enough exploration of virtue and spirituality. "Reign of Fire could have stirred the soul. There's a lot of power here—firepower, that is—and not enough Force."

Dragons aren't the only scaly monsters crawling across screens this week. Steve Irwin stars in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, the big screen version of his popular television show. The fact that a nature show would make it to the big screen is a testament to its popularity.

Religious press critics are behaving like big fans. Mary Draughon (Preview) concludes, "Crocodile Hunter … is funny, informative and exciting … 105 minutes of wholesome, and educational, entertainment."

Jesse Florea (Focus on the Family) says, "If you're a fan of Steve Irwin's television show, you'll love every scene he's in. There's never a dull moment with Steve on the screen and the action is enough to keep audiences of all ages entertained."

Tom Snyder (Movieguide) agrees, but he also points out a "mild environmentalist message."

Phil Boatwright likes the TV show, but not the movie: "Irwin may be the greatest showman since P.T. Barnum … he's a lot of fun. Well, at least on TV. [The movie] isn't funny or interesting. Here, he's trapped in a one-ring circus."

Similarly, Michael Elliott reports: "Irwin … makes the film far more enjoyable than it otherwise might have been." But he adds, "The extraneous plot is immediately forgettable."

Mainstream reviewers responded to the film with stunned disbelief and confusion. Most disapproved, but some were inadvertently amused. MaryAnn Johanson (Flick Filosopher) gives it the strangest recommendation you'll hear this year: "You must see this movie if only to wonder at its very existence. I'll bring lots of people along to see it again, if only so at the end I can say, 'I'm not crazy, am I? This movie is insane, isn't it?'"

Next week: Enough of these gangsters and dragons. Bring on the Eight Legged Freaks. Plus, Harrison Ford returns as a Russian sub captain in K-19: The Widowmaker.

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July (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46