Rating: 
Summary: One of my favorite films
Review: This movie, for many reasons is one of my favorites. It has limited special effects, but the storyline is excellent.Based on the Michael Crichton book of the same name, the film follows a group of scientists called upon to investigate a possible alien life form - a microorganism that poses a serious threat the the entire population of the earth. A satellite, Scoop VII brought back samples of the organism from space, where it crash landed outside Piedmont, Arizona. The townsfolk brought it to the town doctor, who promptly opened the satellite's containment, killing everyone in the town. The scientists are called in to investigate, and try to find a cure. The whole time, the government is considering nuking the area to cauderize the infection. The team begins the study in the super-secret Wildfire Research Station, a multimillion dollar facility 30 stories under the Nevada desert. The facility is equipped with a nuclear device for self destruct, and would be used if the infection were to break quarantine. Something happens, and the countdown is activated on the nuke. To make matters worse, the discover that the tremendous energy produced by the blast would not kill the organism, rather feed it. It's a race against time to learn all they can, and to stop the government from nuking Piedmont, and their own self destruct. I liked all the actors, only recognizing two of them from other things. Uncle Charlie from My Three Sons was there, and Kate Reid from Death of a Salesman (with Dustin Hoffman) were there, as were several other actors. There is a new version of this film out now, one with some extra features. I would recommend that one instead of this version. I might have to buy it also!
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Summary: Sets look like they could be for a Star Trek movie in 1971
Review: What facinated me with the movie was that the sets look like they could be in a 1970's version of Star Trek had it been made into a motion picture in 1971. If you look at the steely underground corridors and and computer control rooms it looks like the designer watched Star Trek in the 60's. As a kid the movie facinated me in the fact that germs from outer space could mean the end of mankind. What kept me watching was that it could really happen today or in the future. I wonder if the director, Robert Wise chose the same sterile look
on the bridge of Star Trek: The Motion Picture because of this film?
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Summary: Science Fiction for Grown-ups
Review: I will not go into detail about the plot and the seventies look and style of the film (which I think hold up pretty well). Those points are well-covered in other reviews.
Among the things I find interesting about the film is its place in cinema history. This was one of the last science fiction films made before Steven Spielberg (with Jaws) inadvertently showed Hollywood that astonishing amounts of money could be made from a motion picture and George Lucas demonstrated the best way to do it was to cater to the tastes and sensibilities of fifteen-year-old boys. The Andromeda Strain is remarkable in a couple of ways. First, it is one of the very few films ever made with a plot driven by the scientific approach to problem solving. The approach of the Wildfire team is meticulous and logical; most of the "action" is at the microscopic level. This probably would account for the fact, according to some of the other reviews here, that the film is still shown in school science classes. The other remarkable this is how the producers made every effort to remain loyal to the book, even in casting. If a team of today's producers were transported back to 1971 to make the film they would: cast Flip Wilson as a microbiologist (to provide comic relief); put Donna Douglas (fresh off "Beverly Hillbillies" and looking for an image change) in the role of the woman scientist (and potential sex partner for one or all of the male cast members); and somehow shoehorn one or more of the Brady Bunch kids into the plot no matter how convoluted or inane the explanation for his or her presence at the Wildfire lab. The Andromeda Strain harks back to a time when mainstream science fiction films were aimed at general audiences rather than at a narrow demographic that, having nothing more important to do, will pay the see the same movie over and over and over again.
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Summary: Suspenseful movie, still sends chills up my spine.
Review: Even though this movie is 2 decades old, it still sends chills up my spine. The thought of an extraterrestrial organism which comes to Earth and could very nearly be that which destroys the human race. The film stays very true to the novel (which many movies don't do), and even though the technology is dated, it is very believeable that something like Wildfire could even be out there today. If you liked Outbreak, you'll love watching this one. The best thing is to read the novel, then watch the film.
Rating: 
Summary: Wild Fire eurpts
Review: In this age where just about anyone can sow the seeds of biological warfare, The Andromeda Strain might seem quaint. Make no mistake, though, this is a very good suspense thriller with a science fiction angle from director Robert Wise. What's most interesting is how Wise and screenwriter Nelson Gidding chose to play up the "nonfiction" angle of the film. Crichton's novel was written begins as if it is a narrative of a real event. The plot is straight forward: a space probe that was returns with unexpected samples of an alien organism. It crash lands in a small American town where it literally wipes out the inhabitants overnight. The team sent to collect the probe are initially spooked by how quiet things are. The audio heard back at headquarters turns chilling when both occupants of the van scream and die mysteriously. Shortly afterwards a military plane is sent in to take photos of the town. The plane disintergrates. A team of scientist (Arthur Hill and James Olson both marvelous)are sent in to investiagate. Hill's character was involved in the original probe and he recruits the MD played by Olson to come along. What they find is horrorifying; there are dead bodies all over the town. They discover the recovery team dead in the van. One of them has a cut on his head that never bled. Olson's character slices the wrist of the man. The blood pours out of the man like...sand. They use a homing beacon to find the probe (which has been opened by the town's doctor). They also find two surprises; an infant who hasn't been fed since the occupants died and an older man in the hospital because of a bleeding ulcer. Both unexpected survivors are taken back to Wild Fire an underground level 4 lab where Hill, Olson and two virologist (one played by the marvelously understated David Wayne)attempt to discover what alien organism destroyed an entire town in less than a couple of hours. While some of the opticals are a bit dated, the film still looks marvelous and, due to Wise, Gidding and the cast, is very suspenseful. The believable performances add credibility to the film. Wise cast the film with well known character actors and not movie stars for a reason; he wanted the audience to be familiar with the performers but not bring the baggage of movie stardom with them (a similar approach was used in casting Michael Rennie in The Day The Earth Stood Still). Crichton's well written novel has kept intact and many of the bits and pieces that make it so compelling and believable contribute to the power of the film. There was a television promo documentary made (featuring Crichton)for the film's release. It played on many local television stations prior to the film's release. It's a pity that it hasn't been included here with this re-released DVD. The lack of extras are a pity as well. As far as I can tell, there isn't much difference between this edition and the previously released DVD except for the packaging. It's a pity given Wise's recent commentaries for Day and Star Trek: The Motion Picture that Universal chose not to add a commentary for the film. Clearly the redesigned packaging was done to attract fans of Spielberg's film adaption of Jurassic Park. It's a pity because many will be disappointed by the fact that this film has nothing (beyond Crichton's name) to do with that blockbuster. The Andromeda Strain needs to be discovered on its own terms; it's a grippiing, thoughtful thriller with powerful performances. It's ironic that it's being re-released in a world where we can come up with domestic viruses and bacteria that are easily the equal of Andromeda.
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Summary: What's with the cover?
Review: My video of "The Andromeda Strain" states-"A Robert Wise production,directed by Robert Wise and screenplay by Nelson Gidding".
Michael Crichton wrote the novel,not the movie screenplay and it is a pity that the DVD cover doesn't give credit where it is due,to director Robert Wise and screenplay writer Nelson Gidding.
That being said,this is a well-made little thriller that shows that you don't need a lot of action to create a suspenseful film.The scenes showing two men going from house to house trying to find people still alive are truly chilling.
The film is very well directed by Mr Wise and in 1971 was the first film to talk about biological weapons.
Animal lovers will be relieved to read that the animals that were shown to die in this film actually only passed out after having their oxygen removed. Still not pleasant,but better than the alternative. A very good film.
Rating:
Summary: Crichton Classic
Review: Michael Crichton's book was great and the movie was very well done back in the 70s. Now considering when it was made you will still find it drawing you into the drama. It is about an alien biological growth that may wipe out the planet if it is not contained. It is first discovered in a space capsule that landed in a small town where everyone but a baby and an old man died. They take it to an underground lab to study what is killing people. If you like movies like Outbreak, you will find it well worth seeing. This will be out on DVD 4/1/03, no fooling.
Rating:
Summary: A well constructed and suspenseful movie.
Review: The Andromeda Strain is a very well constructed and suspenseful film directed by Robert Wise and shows that you don't need eccessive action to create an entertaining film(other directors and producers should take note). It is about an extremely deadly virus being discovered and the people sent to investigate and prevent it's spread. The scenes in the dead village with all the corpses is truly chilling and the investigation is well thought out. An ecellent film by master-director Robert Wise from a novel by Michael Crichton.
One footnote-since Michael Crichton didn't write the screenplay(Nelson Gidding did)for the movie and it is a Robert Wise production,shouldn't director Robert Wise's name be on the cover of the DVD?
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Summary: andromeda
Review: one of the best sci-fi of all times. timeless!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed.
Review: Still love the story line but the movie is dated and the acting stiff. I waited a long time to see this movie again but was disappointed in the picture and sound quality of the transfer. This DVD now is in my sister's collection.
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