Mimic

Rating:
Summary: I liked it.
Review: I thought this was a awsome movie I thought it was going be scary.And I got what I wanted too!It was good movie but not as good as Mimic 2.But if your going to see Mimic 2 see this on e first.

Rating:
Summary: Atmospheric, suspenseful and entertaining!
Review: "Life finds a way." Ian Malcom, "Jurassic Park"

This famous line from Steven Speilberg's dinosaur adventure has become a popular lesson of many science fiction films today. "Mimic," a film in which genetically altered insects become something never intended, is no exception to this particular lesson; in fact, the movie uses it to its advantage on numerous occasions, that, and some very sophisticated special effects and filmmaking techniques. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, who directed "Cronos," turns what is a basic nature-gone-mad movie into something more terrifying, more chilling, and more suspenseful than anything we've ever seen done before.

That's not to say that "Mimic" is as fresh as a spring breeze. There are elements at work in the film that are all too familiar if you know your science fiction well. There's the obligatory explanation for the havoc surrounding the central characters, scenes involving them being trapped somewhere beyond any help, and a hero in the group that will devise all the plans for escape and the way in which to kill their opponent. But under a new premise, and some very strikingly intense moments, "Mimic" makes the old seem new again.

The hero (or herione, in this case) is Dr. Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino), who is called upon by the city of New York to find a cure for a fatal disease striking the city's children. Along with husband Peter Mann (Jeremy Northam), they create a genetically altered breed of insect (revealed as a cross between a cockroach and a praying mantis) to wipe out the disease-infested cockroaches underneath the city.

Of course, the bugs, named the "Judas" breed, were altered in ways that left them with a short life expectancy of only six months, plus a sterile female so that no mating will take place. But, after three years have passed, Susan encounters a bug closely resembling the "Judas" breed insects, and it becomes apparent to her that they have survived.

How did they survive? The movie never explains it, which is best; it's better left as a mystery. It also leaves room for the ensuing action sequences, as Susan and Peter, along with a police officer (Charles Dutton), make their way into the underground subways and abandoned facilities beneath the city streets.

This is where things get really interesting, as del Toro works his magic on us. A simple scene in which Susan attempts to retrieve a flashlight by sticking her hand in a dark hole is full of suspense, while a claustrophobic intensity permeates sequences involving an abandoned subway car where the group seeks refuge from their predators. Accompanying all of this is a heightened sensory perception. Del Toro toys with shadow and light, along with sight and sound, to add an atmospheric feel to each setting. Not since "Seven" have I seen a film that uses this technique so masterfully.

And the message behind it all? It's one we're well familiarized with, that playing God gets us nowhere. Sure, Susan's intentions were in the right place, and we even understand her reasons after an early shot of her in a hospital ward filled with sick children. I think the general theme behind all of the mayhem is not one of toying with science, but one on the many ways that life can change, and evolve into something previously unknown.

"Mimic" has a good cast in its favor. Mira Sorvino shines in a role that differs from others roles of her career, such as "Mighty Aphrodite." But she proves herself able to play a convincing character in any situation. Jeremy Northam is the last person you'd expect to see running through tunnels and putting himself in dangerous situations, but he pulls it off. F. Murray Abraham makes an appearance as Susan's mentor, Dr. Gates, playing the well-educated man to perfection, while Charles Dutton is superbly comical and heroic as Leonard, the police officer.

"Mimic" is a dazzlingly intense adventure that is genuinely suspenseful and totally entertaining. It's ability to tighten the intensity surrounding its sequence of events is a trait rare to this genre, as is its ability to bring us into the atmosphere of the film's murky settings. Del Toro has fashioned a new evolution of sci-fi out of old-school tricks; I highly recommend this film.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it because it did NOT follow convention
Review: This movie wasn't perfect but what I liked most is that in most horror movies people do exactly the wrong thing. The typical example is a Friday the 13th movie where even though people are dead nobody calls the police, people go in the basement or outdoors alone etc..

In Mimic, none of that happens. Each action that takes them further into danger is a logical progression. They did basically what you'd expect almost anybody to do in a given situation.

I don't understand the couple of completely negative comments that are up here. Seems like they were watching a different movie like "Relic" which came out about the same time but was horrid.

Rating:
Summary: Funny Shoes
Review: The opening credits alone of this hybrid, bio-scifi thriller are enough to breed nightmares: Squirming beetle tendrils silhouetted over images of diseased children as the texts darts in and out of focus at off angles. Right away you know you're in for a dark ride.

This is one of those truly outlaw mainstream films; a slick, polished production which thankfully avoids formulaic Hollywood conventions. It is the classic Frankenstein scenario, updated to 90's New York with an insectile twist: A well-meaning lady entomologist breeds a super-insect as the only means of containing a lethal epidemic carried by the common cockroach. The plan is a success, the plague is vanquished - but a whole new horror is unknowingly unleashed upon humanity, when this lab-bred creation begins to evolve, over the following years, on its own .......

Without giving too much more away, the pace of this dark ride accelerates rapidly, with an offbeat unpredictability that keeps the viewer riveted. The claustrophobic setting of NYC's decaying subway infrastructure is a ruinous manmade environment turned alien, out of control, not our world anymore .... a breeding place for the oversized Mantis-Roaches, who enter and pass through our nighttime urban wastelands, undetected with the help of a cleverly evolved "disguise", to prey upon derelicts or any who would dare violate their territory (an element recalling "Wolfen"). As our ragtag ensemble confronts the big buggy baddies, sympathetic characters (the comic relief, no less) and even kids aren't safe from nasty bits of onscreen massacre, and generous quantities of, um, fluids are spilled on both sides of the food chain in the course of correcting this ecological abomination. Like a small-scale "Starship Troopers" gone underground, lots of ooze and aahhhs.

For high energy, bleak, repugnant fun, "Mimic" is one of the better recent popcorn-level diversions, with impressive effects, immaculate sound, and just enough brain candy and class to keep the more jaded creature feature veterans interested. One small word of caution: you will hear sounds afterwards that may remind you of that ominous skittering chatter, and a small boy's voice saying, "Funny, funny shoes .... funny, funny shoes ...."

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS A REALLY GOOD....
Review: ...B movie. It didn't try to be anything else and make no bones, it does what all of the really great B movies did. Kept a serious tone in its premise with the possibility of mass destruction by some mindbending horror if our heroes don't take care of the problem within a certain timeframe. The actors took it seriously and some fine performances came out of Jeremy Northam, Josh Brolin and Charles Dutton, who probably knew this was the sort of film that would pop up in Enquirer trivia when they were more famous. Had they and the director del Toro (who gave us a memorable vampire tale in CRONOS)not taken pains to be believeable, it would have suffered. The ending is a little silly, but the heroes rarely died in the 50s monster movies either. This did well in the theatre and altho I own the VHS, the DVD is a lot of fun on a good surround stereo system. I look forward to the future work of del Toro, a gifted filmmaker to turn a fluffy storyline like this into a good film - like watching one of the great directors in their early days. Northam adds presence and depth to Sorvino and Dutton gets more to chew on than usual. I recommend this as a well done...B...movie, with some really memorable scenes and a few new scares.

Rating:
Summary: nail biting horror
Review: This is the first big-bug movie that I have actually liked. This movie starts out with a fairly harmless beetle created to do good and help destroy cockroaches that carry a disease that's killing children. Fortunately something goes wrong and these bugs evolve into some infinitely more deadly. What makes this movies work is you don't get a good look at them until further along in the movie when the heroes begin to figure out what these things are. Thankfully the special effects are very well done and only add to the horror.

Rating:
Summary: One Great Movie
Review: This a great kind of movie that justs lets you have fun! You almost root for the bugs! Buy this movie!

Rating:
Summary: Disgustingly boring
Review: I rented this movie one day, watched it, and absolutely hated it.

This has to be the most predictable, poorly written "suspense" movie I've ever seen. I wasn't thrilled or horrified at any given point throughout the entire thing, and almost fell asleep in front of my TV in the middle of it.

Definately don't buy this, in fact, don't even bother RENTING this.

Rating:
Summary: An original bug thriller
Review: Mimic is an original horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat during the action sequences with tons of suspense. Mira Sorvino is an entomologist and she accidentally creates a new kind of bug that no one has seen before. The bugs grow up to be huge flying insects that are said to have human instincts in them. Mira Sorvino and the others must destroy these monsters of a bug that she has created.

The bugs are very well done and convincing once you see them. Once during the movie, one of the bugs opens its mouth to eat one of the heroes in a way that it looks like a human's face, yet they are bugs and can fly around. The movie has good special effects and like I said the bugs couldn't have been much more original or better done. Once they smell blood, you better watch out. The acting by Sorvino and the supporting cast is also good and the suspense at times during the movie is top notch.

If you like great horror movies with a little bit of suspense added in, you should give Mimic a try. Most likely, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A viewer from the U.S.A.!
Review: I haven't seen this movie but from what I have heard, it sounds great. I love scary movies and I heard that this one is scary. I might buy it later this week. Buy it!