The Invasion
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.70 You Save: $18.28 (91%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Invasion
Movie Review: The Invasion-Good remake updated for the times
Summary: 4 Stars
The Invasion was a very enjoyable four star remake of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This particular Blue-Ray DVD appeared to be an exceptional video transfer on my large screen HDTV. The Invasion did not feature too many special effects but did open with some nice CGI animations of the space shuttle burning up during re-entry. Other very excellent computer animations of space-borne microbes and some exciting stunt and action shots did appear during the course of the film, but it was definitely not a special effects movie and aimed its greatest efforts at telling a fine story.
It told a good solid sci-fi tale open to many interpretations. I have watched all three productions, however, much as I liked the original felt this was somehow the best. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig were both excellent. Nicole was beautiful and appears to grow more so with each passing year. Daniel (James Bond) Craig was very likeable and charming in his role and also helped make this film a hit with me.
Movie Review: Invasion? What invasion?
Summary: 4 Stars
What if we were invaded and no one noticed?
The idea of aliens taking over our bodies and then continue civilization as we know it but only without wars and heated arguments probably comes from the 50's Cold War. The Body Snatchers is the 'bottom up' alternative to the top-down Manchurian Candidate, the strategic goal being the same: 'they' take over our minds and 'we' end up with this regimented, full-consensus, beehive-like arrangement. I can see how the prospect would be terrifying to the freedom-loving citizenry in the 50's or the 60's. Better dead than Red. Right?
By the third millennium, the fears have subsided and those 'we' used to admiringly call 'rugged individualists' we call 'extremists' or 'lunatics' now. The Marlboro Man died of lung cancer, lacking adequate health coverage. We are not bees in a hive just yet but the wisdom of moving in that direction is at least debatable and it's viewed as a mainstream topic.
The impression of this remake, while watching it, could be "what's so bad about it"? We live in times where anyone caught with 'water' while boarding a plane is a potentially dangerous enemy. Airports metal-detecting checkpoints post warnings on not telling jokes about things that go 'boom' or risk prosecution and water-boarding. The radio broadcasts commercials on "click it or ticket" and the subways have posters urging patriotic activities such as "see something, say something" - if you are planning to take the New York subway be prepared to have your bags checked.
And... here they come... these dangerous aliens are taking over our bodies and are turning us all into... obedient, cooperative, responsible citizens who recycle, show up for work on time and never cross the street while the "Don't Walk" sign is flashing. We see the police chasing people because their faces express emotions - think of the airport cameras programmed to flag such individuals as possible dangerous elements or think of the New York City subway code of conduct. We hear that the war in Iraq just ended, the Middle East is finally at peace, everyone flushes only once and all follow the rules... what's not to like? See the irony?
On the surface, it's a semi-bad remake of an old classic and that was my exact impression after the first viewing. Then, I watched it again and I saw a little bit more in this movie. The general idea is that maybe we are trending 'there' anyway and, give it another 50 years and, if 'the invasion' came then, it would probably go unnoticed and it might be unneeded. You either stay awake and vigilant at all times, you make no compromises other than doing what it takes to blend and go unnoticed or you are assimilated and all your worries go away.
And, then, there's Nicole.
I took one star because of the slight Hollywoodization but maybe that's the price to pay if you want your movie to be viewed by people other than your friends and the inhabitants of So-Ho.
If you are to watch this movie, I suggest that you plan about watching it twice.
Movie Review: The Remake
Summary: 2 Stars
Saw part of it on TV, but didn't have a chance to see the resolution. I was actually interested enough to make a point to see the end. The movie starts out quite promising. Nichole Kidman is really great in this type of role(See also THE OTHERS). Maybe her encounters with Scientologists prepared her well for the role? The film is a little creepy and does succeed in engaging the viewer, or this one anyway. Upon viewing the ending the response it universly received was understandable.
But I went in with the lowest of expectations and managed to enjoy most of this arguably (somewhat) decent sci-fi flick marred by a very lame, unsatisfying ending. So, here's to low expectations.
But on the other hand I'm always against having low expectations in films. That's what most people do when they say, "It's just a movie" blah, blah, blah.. And I think we should have standards. Maybe, have low expectations for a film that sucks so you can enjoy it for what it's worth while at the same time freely acknowledging it sucks.
Movie Review: Made Me Hope That They Didn't Find A Cure...
Summary: 1 Stars
Somebody has to warn Nicole Kidman to leave classics like this and the very similarly disappointing The Stepford Wives alone. This, the third remake of the 1956 classic (also redone correctly the first time in 1978), is quite frankly all bark and no bite. Gone are the classic pods from another world simply replaced with a virus that makes you all cheesy while you sleep to awaken new, refreshed, and emotionless. At least with the first two films the possessed/aliens got angry from time to time, but in this the group plays the unphased to the point of boredom. At least they tried to make the film different with instead of a young couple running switching it to mostly a mother and her child (who is conveniently immune), but the chase is typical cat and mouse and the ending has to be one of the most upbeat & weakest ones I've seen in quite awhile. Watched off of cable (where it belongs), spend your next money to burn on the excellent 1978 version instead.
(RedSabbath Rating:5.5/10)
Movie Review: Hollywood ending
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a huge fan of the 1978 version of the Bodysnatcher "series" and also liked 1994's offering (I expected it to be pure muck but it was the only action movie left in the store I hadn't seen at the time). I heard all the bad reviews about this before I watched it and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The claustrophobic atmosphere was created very well.. the subtle hints building to the point which is the scariest of all.. when the aliens needn't bother with stealth any more - that's when you know we're in trouble for sure!
BUT (isn't there always a but!) the film was too short. It didn't give enough time to keep the suspense going. But that's not a major detractor. What is a major detractor is the hollywood happy ending. Please please please can someone involved with this project get the director's/alternaive ending/collector's/blah blah version out there with a different ending! I'll buy it straight away! It was the only thing to mar an otherwise suspensful, well directed movie with acting which was far better than I expected. Overall a slick production and worth buying if you get it cheap.