BODY SNATCHING 2007 STYLE
Written: Aug 17 '07
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: A good re-make for a change with excellent acting
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: This is a nice twist to the now four-time version of "The Body Snatchers"
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| mike.holmes's Full Review: The Invasion |
Jack Finney's original novel, "The Body Snatchers", has had a life of it's own in Hollywood for the last fifty years. The first version, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) starred Kevin McCarthy and was a very good sci-fi thriller. The second rendition with the same title was made in 1978 and starred Donald Sutherland and Leonard Nemoy. It was also a pretty decent film although not quite as good as the original. The third incarnation was 1994's "The Body Snatcher" starring Meg Tilly and Forest Whitaker. That was the worst film in the franchise.
Having read a bad review of the fourth film in the series, I thought the new "Invasion" might not be a good movie. Fortunately, I was wrong. While the film is not perfect, it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat for the last half of the film. In fact, I found it interesting from the very first.
THE PLOT
The story revolves around "a gooey" substance that arrives from outer space (this time via a failed space mission) and immediately starts "infecting" people all around the world. Psychiatrist Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman-"The Hours", "Moulin Rouge!", "To Die For") is the main character in the film which also stars the latest James Bond, Daniel Craig as Dr. Ben Driscoll. Dr. Bennell is among the first to discover that something is amiss when her ex-husband, Tucker Kaufman (portrayed by Jeremy Northam) suddenly shows an interest in their son Oliver (young Jackson Boyd) after ignoring him for four years.
Not only in this sudden interest unusual, but Tucker behaves very oddly when Dr. Bennell takes her son for a visit. Dr. Bennell has noticed this strange behaviour in other people. Along with Dr. Driscoll and a research scientist named Stephen Galeano (Jeffrey Wright ("Syrianna", "Angels in America"), Dr. Bennell discovers that the so-called flu epidemic in the United States is instead an alien "virus" which takes over the bodies of every one that it contacts. Every one that is except a fortunate few.
For the last two-thirds of the film, Dr. Bennell and Oliver are chased by the "new humans" which are determined to change them into their kind.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE FILM
In the "professional" review that I read this morning, the reviewer stated that this version of "Body Snatchers" was not even frightening. That makes me wonder if that reviewer (Christy Lemire of the Associated Press)) had been infected by the alien virus. I found the film not only frightening but much more realistic than the previous versions. The science shown in the film had much in common with the CSI shows on television. The "infections" were spread rather easily in a less hokey way than in the previous films (although a sickening manner of exchanging bodily fluids).
Nicole Kidman is certainly one of the better living actors and she's not afraid to play totally different roles. I thought that she was extremely convincing in this movie as the frightened, but brave protector of her son. She is in virtually every scene in the film.
Daniel Craig also does a fine job in the movie as does Jerermy Northam ("Gosford Park", "Emma"). One of the surprises in the film is the excellent acting by Jackson Boyd as Oliver. He is the type of young actor that you instantly like when you see him. He doesn't overact but instead is totally believable.
The "pro" review also took director Oliver Kirshbiegel (German movies including "Das Experiment") to task because the film needed some "necessary tweaks" from uncredited director James McTeigue which caused the film to seem unfocused. Hmm. Seemed focused to me and not "truncated or rushed". I could not even tell that a second director was involved.
The screenplay by Dave Kajganich was an excellent modernization of the original Fenney tale and the cinematography by Rainer Klausmann ("Das Experiment") was tremendous.
What had bothered me about the previous films were the use of very unrealistic music which supposedly represented the sci-fi genres. Here, the music was not "other-worldly" but very effective is setting the mood of excitement and fear.
There has been a political element in each of the films. The "McCarthy" era was evoked in the 50's version and Viet Nam in the 70's. Here, there is a message that is more subtle while at the same time recognizing the lack of perfection in our world. The moral here is that as bad as they seem, fooling around with "Mother Nature" (even with the aid of aliens) can be worse.
I found the film to be totally satisfying and properly scary.
FOUR STARS
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Scary Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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mike.holmes
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Member: Mike Holmes
Location: Odessa, Texas
Reviews written: 1240
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About Me:
TO HONOR TED KENNEDY, CONGRESS SHOULD PASS A MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE BILL
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