A guy called Ronald McDonald (okay, Rodney, but I was close) directs this lousy military-themed thriller that features a few familiar faces of interest but is in every other respect something of a dud. This low budget story features a heck of a lot of stock footage scenes of helicopters and submarines and the like, but almost all of the action takes place on dark secrets and in gloomy rooms with specialist teams shooting bad guys in bloodless, repetitive interludes.The main hero role is taken by Billy Warlock, former BAYWATCH actor but someone I know best from the delightfully surreal horror film SOCIETY. He's okay, but quite wooden here. The two old-timers in the cast are Billy Dee Williams and Gary Busey, both of whom have absolutely nothing to do aside from barking orders and acting tough. To say that they're underused is an understatement. The story fails to be exciting at very time, and the best word I can use to describe STEEL SHARKS is simply 'bland'.

The movie starts very slow but don't judge the movie by its initial 40 minutes at least. Story line is pretty straight forward and easy to watch. The sequences in the submarine "hunter and hunted" scenes in the second half of the movie are excellent. Acting improves all the way in the movie. You will be gripping at your arm rest to know how it will end. Somehow it seems like acting school movie for both producers and actor/actresses. But the outcome is certainly watchable. Underwater filming of the subs in motion is commendable. And I feel the end scene could have been something more glamorous and looks like the film budget hit the wall here!

This movie started out very slow, but then picked up the pace, and started to become more exciting. I nearly fell asleep during the first half hour, but sort of woke up during the last parts of the film, when you got to know the characters a bit better, and their escape from the submarine began.I thought it was kind of funny that the foreigners couldn't decide on whether to speak in their native language, or to speak English, it just seemed like improvised play and/or poor planning.I liked most of the actors though, and especially thought that Gary Busey's portrayal of the bizarre captain (he always said something weird in critical moments) was amusing. Seeing him in navy clothes brought back some memories of "Under Siege", where he also appeared in the same kind of outfit, and also acted crazy throughout. Overall, I have to give this movie 5/10, because it wasn't completely bad, and some of the settings were kind of cool, but it was just unexciting, dull, and lacked genuine thrills and excitement..But to be honest, this movie just lacks the presence of Steven Seagal.. Billy Dee Williams and a crew of Navy Seals led by Billy Warlock doesn't quite cut it.

Full of flaws, stiff acting, bad effects, bad plot and very silly stereotypes of non-american soldiers. This is a bad movie but somewhat exciting a second or two with Gary Busey, excellent as always, in one role but this does not save this silly movie. Not even watchable for a laugh. Not recommended; 3/10.