Invasion of the Body Snatchers

	USA 1978 Director: Philip Kaufman Cast: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, Leonard Nimoy, Art Hindle Rating: PG Release Date: 20 December 1978 Running Time: 1 hour 56 minutes The Movie Review		INVASION Of The BODY SNATCHERS Storyline: Cast: Ending: Overall:
	To err is human... If we comprehend that and realize what it means, we would realize why we love our spouse so much, because sometimes their negative aspect could be just the one that makes us fall in love. So what if you have been living with the same person for many many years with all their humanly traits including their good side and flaws and suddenly the next morning you wake up next to a perfect person with perfect behaviour but no emotion?! A premise captured and elaborated so cleverly by a novel titled The Body Snatchers written by Jack Finney and is translated into big screen in this fabulous motion picture. Set in San Fransisco, Elizabeth Driscoll is a scientist working in a Public Health Department and is married to a sloppy and self-centered Dentist, Geoffrey (Art Hindle). On one Morning, Elizabeth (Brooke Adams) picks a rare flower in the public park and take it home with her. The next morning, she finds her husband acts strangely very mature and responsible but lacks any emotion. Worried and troubled thinking that she herself might have gone nuts, Elizabeth consults this condition to her colleague and best friend, Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) the Deputy Public Health Inspector. Although Matthew doesn't take her as crazy but he insists on Elizabeth to see his psychiatrist friend, David Kibner (Leonard Nimoy). Nevertheless, on the following days, Matthew himself --including his best friend Jack (Jeff Goldblum of Independence Day (1996)) and his wife Nancy (Veronica Cartwright)-- encounters some severely eerie incidents involving Elizabeth herself and people on the streets. Something wrong is definitely going on in the city... But what is it? And what will happen to Matthew and Elizabeth? Believe it or not, but Invasion of the Body Snatchers is actually a remake! Yes, if remake was an organization, it would've been proud of its 1978 member. It's a darn good remake which clearly has outdone its original one which was released 2 decades earlier, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). This remake has several positive aspects which its strength mainly lies on the storytelling and editing technique. This sci-fi movie is the creepiest and best interpretation to this day. Others may have broader appeal of giving nudity or employing more sophisticated CGI or having big-budget to support the production, but this 1978 version is very good and has aged very well. Running for almost 2 hours, I usually b*tch about the plodding pace, but there's always something interesting catching my attention. The movie is rather dark in places and might hurt from cumbersome production set or shooting location but it really can be overlooked. The music is eerie, the acting of all the cast is solid especially Veronica Cartwright and Donald Sutherland as well as a nice cameo by original actor Kevin McCarthy, unique camerawork and neat editing, it's all making the movie still entertaining even after more than 3 decades from its release date. And the topless nudity by lead actress Brooke Adams adds to the eerie atmosphere which also raises the question of its PG rating. Aside of selling its brilliant premise as the main selling point of the novel, the filmmakers of this 1978 remake has also managed to bring us this creepy feeling of not knowing your loved ones anymore and the feeling of trapped, alone and helplessly outnumbered. In a nutshell, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) is a must-watch for Science Fiction fans worldwide. > More remakes!: Body Snatchers (1993) and The Invasion (2007) which also features Veronica Cartwright! > The Cheesy versions of Pod People: Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962), Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973) and Invasion of the Pod People (2007). > The realistic, raw and deeply engaging movie of Body Snatchers from Croatia (Yugoslavia): The Rat Savior AKA Izbavitelj (1976). © iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com Twitter: @movielogy posted: Thursday, 13 October 2011 01:01 am

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