I feel bad for Paige Turco. Whatever else is true of her career, she was in the second and third live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies (April O'Neil!), which makes her notable in at least some small sense. She gives the best performance of anyone here. How did she come to be involved in a film as dubious as 'Dark tides?'
The opening sequence is disjointed and unconvincing. There's exactly one likable character in this, and it's the one that Turco portrays. Scene writing and dialogue are as repugnant and unbelievable as the characters. The narrative is, at one point or another, predictable, questionable, untenable, common, blunt, bland, and/or unnecessary, and the sequencing strains suspension of disbelief. There were absolutely a couple instances where I just had to stop and wonder what was going on, what the writer was possibly thinking - there are multiple antagonistic figures here, and it's unclear how they are connected to one another, or what their stake is. On the other hand, 'Dark tides' can actually claim a couple good ideas - even noir-esque overtones! - but they center entirely around Sara (Turco) as a sympathetic character, and if the picture is sadly troubled even where that theme is spotlighted, then when it's not it becomes dull and tiresome. These negative descriptors also apply at large to the performances: whether it's owing to thin material, poor direction, inherent lack of skill, or some combination thereof, much of the acting is flimsy and weak, always either underwhelming or overcooked but never meaningfully finding a happy middle ground.
The cinematography is suitable, but sound design is deficient. Daniel Gold's score is okay, but the "popular songs" that round out the soundtrack are abhorrent and unlistenable. Basic camerawork and lighting both waver on a point between adequate and unsatisfactory. The few stunts and effects that we see look good. Yet what value the feature has to offer is wildly insufficient to carry it through. Why, when a lie is told in the narrative, it's emphatically the least credible one! There's so much about 'Dark tides' that is just tawdry, and at times it almost seems like it's actively declining the most fruitful path.
This was hardly a well-known, recognized title upon release in 1998, so of all the ways one may chance upon it, random happenstance seems to be the order of the day. Whatever the circumstances, I can only apologize to Turco - you deserved better. We, as viewers, deserve better. There was potential here, but for one reason or another, it just didn't completely pan out. By all means, there are still worse pictures you could spend your time watching; the climax is executed well enough that I begin to reevaluate my opinion. Yet unless you're an utmost fan of Turco, or deeply curious, there's just not much of a reason to watch 'Dark tides.'
Most recommendable for an extra lazy day.
