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The Invasion deserves a second chance on DVD. This ambitious sci-fi thriller represents a flawed yet worthy attempt to bring contemporary vitality to Jack Finney's classic science fiction novel, previously filmed as Don Siegel's 1956 classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Philip Kaufman's suspenseful 1978 remake, and Abel Ferrara's highly underrated Body Snatchers from 1994. And while those earlier films are superior in many respects, The Invasion is not without strengths of its own, particularly for those who prefer action and suspense. Unfortunately these strengths were compromised by the unpredictable misfortunes of production: Original director Oliver Hirschbiegel (hired on the strength of Downfall) was eventually replaced by James McTiegue (V for Vendetta), and the Wachowski Brothers (of Matrix trilogy fame) added high-octane action sequences to the original screenplay by David Kajganich. Perhaps the movie had a curse on it (star Nicole Kidman was almost seriously injured in a stunt-car mishap during last-minute re-shoots), but it's really just a matter of disparate ingredients that don't always fit together, resulting in a slick-looking film that can't decide if it's a sci-fi mystery, action thriller, or political allegory. It tries too hard to be all things at once.
Despite this, Kidman rises to the occasion with a solid performance as Carol, a Washington, D.C. psychiatrist who's convinced (with the help of costars Daniel Craig and Jeffrey Wright) that a flu-like virus is spreading throughout the population, its alien spores turning victims into soulless "pod people"... only in this case without the pods. The idea is that you'll be fine if you don't fall asleep, and especially if you don't let anyone sneeze or vomit on you. (There's a lot of vomiting; don't say you weren't warned.) With a crashing space shuttle to deliver the alien threat, cute tyke Jackson Bond as Carol's threatened son, and a nod to Kaufman's film with a small role for Veronica Cartwright, The Invasion will surely fare better on DVD than it did in theaters. If nothing else, it proves the timeless relevance of Finney's original premise, which continues to inspire a multitude of variations. --Jeff Shannon
Despite this, Kidman rises to the occasion with a solid performance as Carol, a Washington, D.C. psychiatrist who's convinced (with the help of costars Daniel Craig and Jeffrey Wright) that a flu-like virus is spreading throughout the population, its alien spores turning victims into soulless "pod people"... only in this case without the pods. The idea is that you'll be fine if you don't fall asleep, and especially if you don't let anyone sneeze or vomit on you. (There's a lot of vomiting; don't say you weren't warned.) With a crashing space shuttle to deliver the alien threat, cute tyke Jackson Bond as Carol's threatened son, and a nod to Kaufman's film with a small role for Veronica Cartwright, The Invasion will surely fare better on DVD than it did in theaters. If nothing else, it proves the timeless relevance of Finney's original premise, which continues to inspire a multitude of variations. --Jeff Shannon
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
`Invasion' is a modern take on `Invasion of the Body Snatchers' and sadly for me ended up being a huge disappointment. This is all the more so because I was on the edge of my seat and filled with the right amounts of tension the whole way through, only to be left aghast at the weak and `cop-out' ending that fizzled out without any impact. Following Nicole Kidman (who acts remarkably well in this film) and her family as they deal with the impact of an alien invasion that leaves the populations as hosts to the alien parasites, this film has excellent apocalyptic themes. You are nervous whenever she encounters an afflicted person and flinch every time she nearly gets infected and this never lets up for the duration. The story is well written and you are gripped the whole way through and then the end arrives and you are left angry and disappointed wondering what happened. At 90 minutes this isn't that long and they could have easily added an extra 15 minutes to tie things up more neatly. The effects are pretty good, everyone acts well and the direction is good as well. Overall this would get 4/5 stars for the first 80 minutes and then 1/2 for the last 10 minutes. Such a shame, but worth a look never the less.
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Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This is a very disapointing film. It tries to be to clever and instead of making a genuinly scary or tense film you instead get a film that shows you maybe we would be better off if we were "invaded" as would lead to peace. Throughout the film the action stays pretty mild and whilst waiting for an exciting dramatic ending it is just as damp as the rest and the final end just wraps everything up quickly, unrealisticly and stupidly. The extras consist of 3 2min documentries which are basically promotional videos for the film stuck together and a boring 20min documentary about "invasion" with no relevance to the film at all. The picture quality was great as was the sound but they are the only really good features. best to save the money and buy it on DVD or wait till its on Sky.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The Space Shuttle returns with a vinous that take over people when they sleep.
Sound familiar? Yep it is the second "popular" remake of the 1950's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." And based on the book "The Body Snatchers" by Jack Finney. With the exception that it is more up-to-date with technology they have brought back the old time suspense build up as apposed to just gore. It is almost flawless with the exception of the exception of the cell phones. First thing aliens would take over unless we are already subjects of automation invasion. Oh no that is a different movie.
The production is a vehicle for lots of old popular actors as cameos in this film. However the main actors, including Nicole Kidman are still good at their craft.
Music by John Ottman so permeated the movie that we do not get any down time to think.
Visual effects supervisor Boyd Shermis show the only bad CGI scene of a helicopter; other than that they do not let the graphics overwhelm the story as is the tendency today.
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For those interested in Blu-ray, it nether adds or subtracts from the film. There is an advantage that you can fast forward with sound. Oh yes and lots of DVD extras including an advertisement for the latest Warner Blu-ray.
Sound familiar? Yep it is the second "popular" remake of the 1950's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." And based on the book "The Body Snatchers" by Jack Finney. With the exception that it is more up-to-date with technology they have brought back the old time suspense build up as apposed to just gore. It is almost flawless with the exception of the exception of the cell phones. First thing aliens would take over unless we are already subjects of automation invasion. Oh no that is a different movie.
The production is a vehicle for lots of old popular actors as cameos in this film. However the main actors, including Nicole Kidman are still good at their craft.
Music by John Ottman so permeated the movie that we do not get any down time to think.
Visual effects supervisor Boyd Shermis show the only bad CGI scene of a helicopter; other than that they do not let the graphics overwhelm the story as is the tendency today.
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For those interested in Blu-ray, it nether adds or subtracts from the film. There is an advantage that you can fast forward with sound. Oh yes and lots of DVD extras including an advertisement for the latest Warner Blu-ray.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Deserved better treatment
The disc has no menu. The movie is very good, excellent quality, but the set remains hampered by the lack of extras.
Published 18 months ago by Char
twist, turn .shocking.suspenseful.Invasion: The Complete Series
For centuries man has searched theiskiesifor signs of intelligent life. What if they were already there?
Hurricane Eve slams into Homestead, Florida. Read more
Hurricane Eve slams into Homestead, Florida. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by S. F. husseiny
Good... Not Bad... Not Brilliant...
This film is one of those films that you watch, has good actors, the script is okay and the special effects (what their are of them) are good, but it lacks depth. Read more
Published on 5 May 2009 by Mr. T. Evans
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