Post by Quorthon on Feb 14, 2006 11:51:18 GMT -5
Virus
Science Fiction/Horror/Action
1999
Color
MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: John Bruno
USA
This is not that Robin Cook "Virus, just so you know." This SF film stars a Baldwin brother, Donald Sutherland and Jami Lee Curtis. You really can't tell from that playlist if this is going to be a good film or not, can you? Well, typically, I like Donald Sutherland. I don't mind Jami Lee Curtis. But I'm never big on a Baldwin. So, since the actors don't convey what quality this movie may have, I guess the story will have to do that.
Virus is about a group of people on a tugboat stuck in a typhoon. They lose their cargo, much to the chagrin of Donald Sutherland--who's the captain of this vessel--but happen upon an apparently abandoned Russian military science ship built to communicate with satellites and the Mir space station. Okay, so the movie is dated a little. Well, the ship isn't abandoned. In fact, it's crawling with evil robots built by a crazy energy entity from space. Really.
Here’s the breakdown:
The Good:
--It's really nice to see a film like this that isn't shat out by half-assed filmmakers cobbling together some lame story, over-blown with CG special effects for the Sci-Fi channel.
--Fairly unique story, if a little silly at times.
--Generally really great special effects. No over-emphasis on CG here. All of the robots, except one major one, and (heh heh) cyborgs are typically animatronic. They look pretty cool, and are well detailed and original.
--Killerbots made from parts of the science vessel and the bodies of the dead also look great.
--Decent amount of gore for us gorehounds, and excellent quality.
--Quite a bit of violence. A rare Hollywood SF/Horror/Action film these days that didn't hold back the entire time.
Didn’t Hurt It, Didn’t Help:
--Overall lackluster acting and dialog. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes just... there...
--Quite a few cheesy moments, all thanks to that cheesy writing.
--Donald Sutherland doesn't play a likable character here. Shucks.
--Decent characters, amazingly. No real over-the-top cliche's or stereotypes. No lame minority planted in the film for comic relief purposes.
--Pretty good atmosphere and cinematography, but really nothing special or notable.
--Average music for this type of film. Nothing really memorable. You expected what? John Williams? Get outta here...
The Bad:
--There are moments where the CG effects look kind of crappy.
--The surviving Russian chick (no, this isn't a spoiler, it's pretty predictable) speaks really fluent english. How odd.
--Predictable moments. Knowing which Russian would survive the original attack was just one of them.
--This movie has something in common with Wisconsin: Lots of cheeeeeese.
The Ugly:
--Jami Lee Curtis feels a little out of place in this movie.
Memorable Scene:
--Big robot scoop out brain.
--Also, some of the dialog of the "alien energy entity" is pretty entertaining.
Acting: 7/10
Story: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Character Development: 6/10
Special Effects/Make-up: 8/10
Nudity/Sexuality: 0/10
Violence: 4/10
Gore: 6/10
Dialog: 5/10
Music: 6/10
Direction: 7/10
Cheesiness: 5/10
Crappiness: 1/10
Overall: 7/10
Well, this one is for SF, Horror, and Action buffs. I almost gave it a 6, but as it turns out, I actually enjoyed it. It's a pretty zany and generally fun film, but not without it's glaring flaws. May actually be dumb enough for the average movie goer, though still too Science Fictiony. Very cheesy. Be warned. You pretty much have to be a fan of all three of the genres this touches upon.
Science Fiction/Horror/Action
1999
Color
MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: John Bruno
USA
This is not that Robin Cook "Virus, just so you know." This SF film stars a Baldwin brother, Donald Sutherland and Jami Lee Curtis. You really can't tell from that playlist if this is going to be a good film or not, can you? Well, typically, I like Donald Sutherland. I don't mind Jami Lee Curtis. But I'm never big on a Baldwin. So, since the actors don't convey what quality this movie may have, I guess the story will have to do that.
Virus is about a group of people on a tugboat stuck in a typhoon. They lose their cargo, much to the chagrin of Donald Sutherland--who's the captain of this vessel--but happen upon an apparently abandoned Russian military science ship built to communicate with satellites and the Mir space station. Okay, so the movie is dated a little. Well, the ship isn't abandoned. In fact, it's crawling with evil robots built by a crazy energy entity from space. Really.
Here’s the breakdown:
The Good:
--It's really nice to see a film like this that isn't shat out by half-assed filmmakers cobbling together some lame story, over-blown with CG special effects for the Sci-Fi channel.
--Fairly unique story, if a little silly at times.
--Generally really great special effects. No over-emphasis on CG here. All of the robots, except one major one, and (heh heh) cyborgs are typically animatronic. They look pretty cool, and are well detailed and original.
--Killerbots made from parts of the science vessel and the bodies of the dead also look great.
--Decent amount of gore for us gorehounds, and excellent quality.
--Quite a bit of violence. A rare Hollywood SF/Horror/Action film these days that didn't hold back the entire time.
Didn’t Hurt It, Didn’t Help:
--Overall lackluster acting and dialog. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes just... there...
--Quite a few cheesy moments, all thanks to that cheesy writing.
--Donald Sutherland doesn't play a likable character here. Shucks.
--Decent characters, amazingly. No real over-the-top cliche's or stereotypes. No lame minority planted in the film for comic relief purposes.
--Pretty good atmosphere and cinematography, but really nothing special or notable.
--Average music for this type of film. Nothing really memorable. You expected what? John Williams? Get outta here...
The Bad:
--There are moments where the CG effects look kind of crappy.
--The surviving Russian chick (no, this isn't a spoiler, it's pretty predictable) speaks really fluent english. How odd.
--Predictable moments. Knowing which Russian would survive the original attack was just one of them.
--This movie has something in common with Wisconsin: Lots of cheeeeeese.
The Ugly:
--Jami Lee Curtis feels a little out of place in this movie.
Memorable Scene:
--Big robot scoop out brain.
--Also, some of the dialog of the "alien energy entity" is pretty entertaining.
Acting: 7/10
Story: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Character Development: 6/10
Special Effects/Make-up: 8/10
Nudity/Sexuality: 0/10
Violence: 4/10
Gore: 6/10
Dialog: 5/10
Music: 6/10
Direction: 7/10
Cheesiness: 5/10
Crappiness: 1/10
Overall: 7/10
Well, this one is for SF, Horror, and Action buffs. I almost gave it a 6, but as it turns out, I actually enjoyed it. It's a pretty zany and generally fun film, but not without it's glaring flaws. May actually be dumb enough for the average movie goer, though still too Science Fictiony. Very cheesy. Be warned. You pretty much have to be a fan of all three of the genres this touches upon.
