Disc Reviews
The Andromeda Strain Review
A satellite crashes just outside of a remote Utah town. Shortly all the inhabitants of the town fall down dead, dried of blood that has turned to sand or inexplicably they commit suicide. The area is soon quarantined by the military but the first units to arrive without hazmat suits meet the same fate. The US government and the military are soon made aware of the disaster and realise that a micro-organism from the satellite has been released and is not only airborne but highly contagious. The military nick-name it Andromeda. A militarised exclusion zone is erected around the area but a two survivors are found alive: a drunk and a young baby. A new hi-tech lab is set-up nearby and a team of scientists battle against time before a military conspiracy is uncovered and the military nuke the site.
The 1969 novel by Michael Crichton (yes the same Michael Crichton who had written ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Westworld’) was made into a cult science-fiction film in 1971. The original had a moody eeriness to it that kept the story confined to its principles and created a sense of impending doom. This version now released as a double DVD by Fabulous Films was a 2008 mini-series has expanded the story out to introduce the President and his family and Pentagon officials and is more like a disaster movie like Independence Day in personality. Produced by Ridley Scott and his Scott Free company and his brother, the late Tony Scott the viewer can expect some great special-effects and high production values. They get that in part. Some of the CGI now looks outdated, even by 2008 standards in the way sand comes from human veins or the manner in which an F-16 fighter bomber breaks apart. It is clear then that the film is very slick but feels flawed and bears more semblance to a 1950s B movie with its soapy editing and B movie dialogue and acting. The plot is brought up to date as it cross references external modern politics such as global nuclear politics such as the President being reluctant to count on a nuclear strike on the affected area when they are trying to get “Russia and China to disarm and scale back Iran and North Korea.” There is also the additional clichéd paranoia and conspiracy theories of Area 51 Roswell thrown into the mix.
The cast are all big names from cable TV if not Hollywood feature films: there is Eric McCormack who played Will in ‘Will & Grace’ as well as various actors from ‘Scrubs’, ‘Band of Brothers’, ‘Lost’, ‘Law and Order’ and ’24’. The only mainstream feature actor is Viola Davis. At 169 minutes it is clear in the editing where the add breaks go and the plot does come across as somewhat soapy and what it may lack in genuine suspense it makes up for in cliffhanger excitement.
There are a handful of extras including a Making Of documentary, commentary with director Mikael Salomon (who had previously directed ‘Band of Brothers’) and big shot executive producer David Zucker and crew members as well as a piece on the special-effects.
Chris Hick