Swarmed
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.00 You Save: $11.98 (80%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.85 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Swarmed
Movie Review: Inspired silliness.
Summary: 2 Stars
Swarmed (Paul Ziller, 2005)
What is it about movies that use CGI dots to represent swarms of flying things that I just can't stay away from? Okay, I admit, I was the target market for this movie; killer-bug movies were a huge part of my childhood growing up-- the rash of deadly-ant flicks of the late seventies, the killer-spider movies that followed soon after, the killer bee movies... I devoured them all in my preadolescent years. Genetically-altered wasps? Bring it on! That said, when top billing goes to a mediocre TV actor and a former supermodel, you can be relatively sure that you've got a cheesefest on your hands.
Plot: scientist (Michael Shanks of Stargate: SG-1) and environmentalist bug girl (Carol Alt of, erm, many Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues) have to fight a swarm of genetically altered, and very angry, yellowjackets. As with all killer-bug movies, there's something big going on in a nearby town, and the local higher-ups must make sure that nothing, but nothing, stops this thing from going on (in this case, it's a hamburger cook-off, which I gotta say was an inspired touch), even if not stopping it involves the deaths of everyone in the town. Add in a plucky exterminator (Narc's Richard Chevolleau), his apprentice (Take the Lead's Jonathan Malen), and the Guy Who Will not Be Stopped (Tim Thomerson) and hey, you have a movie.
Yes, it's dumb. It's a killer bee movie, of course it's dumb. Even when killer bee movies were in vogue (which, for trivia purposes, was from 1974 through 1978-- The Killer Bees to The Swarm), they were dumb. You were expecting great cinema from a passel of CGI dots and a supermodel? But it's fun dumb. Not fun dumb enough to transcend the awful acting, barely competent direction, and consistent overlighting that are the hallmark of the Sci-Fi Channel Original Movie, but you could certainly find worse ways to kill an hour and a half. **
Movie Review: Yellow Jackets Not Bees
Summary: 2 Stars
A firm is testing a new bug killer and accidentally creates two extra-mean and extra-toxic wasps. One is killed right away but the other manages to escape and kill. The new bug killer is not doing too well. Then a sample of the stuff gets used in the field and a whole new batch of the beasties is created. These creatures are meaner than usual and their attack pheromones help draw other, less lethal, yellow jackets to join the swarm.
Meanwhile the town is planning a big national cooking competition to determine the greatest hamburger. Apparently yellow jackets are drawn to raw meat. A lot is riding on the festival and a number of characters will do anything to make sure it goes on without a hitch. So finally we have a scientist, a sexy entomologist, an exterminator and a cop as the only defense we have against the killer swarm. The action culminates at the festival and we have the movie's finale.
This one is bad. It bears some resemblance to The Deadly Swarm but just does a lot of weird stuff. The special effects are not in line with the plot. The bug killer should kill 75% yet the field test results in more live yellow jackets than the nest should be able to hold. This is the first-annual cook-off but the press interviews the previous year's winner. Smoke causes a hive to wake up while in reality smoke is used to sedate them. Finally, it is almost laughable to see these yellow jackets actively fly into flaming barbeque grills (the flames have no effect on them although it is later used as a weapon). Countless other silly bits abound. Check out the minuscule barbell the Mayor needs a spotter's help with. All in all a fun movie to heckle but one that makes little sense.
More Movie Reviews:
1 2
1 2