Ah, mid 2007 is really looking like a blooper for the kind of flicks those guys up there are churning
out. Some really silly movies here and there—‘Transformers’ (straight out of those
monotonous Jap cartoon thingies where the staple dose is stupid martial art stunt
pulling robo-beings or morphers), and if that wasn’t enough, you now have an ode to movies like of “body snatchers.
“Dawn Of the dead”, “Species” etc
etc. Nothing beyond flogging the old horse. And that’s about it with “The
Invasion” released slightly more than a week ago. I really fail to figure why they waste resources aned come up with puns like this.Dear Gawd! "The Invasion" is the fourth, yes fourth motion picture based on Jack Finney’s novel,
“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. In this edition, the alien life form comes to
Earth by hitch-hiking on a furlough space shuttle that breaks up during
re-entry thus spreading the “invaders” in earth’s biosphere. This advanced
virus like life form easily spreads through mere touch and is activated when
humans sleep. Soon the humans are transformed into mindless zombies, possessed
and controlled by the virus inside.
Psychiatrist Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman)
is inevitably dragged into this conflict, as her husband is one of the first
hapless victims to get transformed. She relies on her good friend Ben Driscoll
(Daniel Craig) to help put the pieces of this puzzle together to understand
what’s going on before it’s too late and save her son and the possible others from being transformed into zombies.
This is one of those movies that can only ride on the back of stars. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel the horror line of “The Invasion” is rather stereotype and the sci-fi theme too damn repetitive. Even that is
fine as long as there is a newer angle and tight direction. The movie looses focus and centers around
Nicole’s life drama in a desperate bid to add some substance to it. Kidman
doesn’t disappoint. She’s good in portraying the palpable fear, terror and
paranoia. Slab faced Daniel Craig- Well the least talked about him, the better.
In my book he is one of the worst actors around today. Six pack abs and a sexy
looking pout (many think!) doesn’t mean the bloke knows to act. And that’s
evident here again. He ain’t no David Duchovney. Nor he has the smooth confidence
of Michael Madssen (The Species)
The story,
though not much of it is there really, is rather loose and not unilateral. At
times there are snippets of suspense if you look hard for it. Audio n effects are okay. Actually one
should read “The Prey” by Michael Crichton—on the same lines, but more sinister
without the pizzaz if you are looking for this kind of kick. Naw! Do not expect
kicks out of “The Invasion”.
Definitely
not a must watch movie for serious movie buffs. This is one of those flicks
that you should watch when others are paying for you and you are really
desperate for a go. I mean it folk J For masala action n suspense there’s always ‘Resident Evil’
which dishes out a better fair.