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Species (1995)

 
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Bogmeister
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:42 pm    Post subject: Species (1995) Reply with quote

_______________________________________



SPECIES was the first of a series of films which explored the invasion of Earth by an alien species in a different manner from which we are usually expecting — no alien spaceships or flying saucers in this one.

SETI turns out to be the culprit; in response to our messaging into outer space (begun in the early seventies), some alien intelligence has sent us return information, a method to combine alien DNA with ours.

So, we do it.

In a scientific installation in Utah, headed by Kingsley's character Xavier Fitch, 100 eggs were so experimented with; only 7 worked; 4 of these deteriorated; of the remaining 3, 2 were frozen and one was allowed to mature.

It matured quickly. In about 3 months, it grew into what looks like a blonde, 14-year old girl. Here's an early trace of humor: Fitch decided to make it female because he felt it would be less aggressive. The joke's on us, huh?




This method of alien contact is also similar to the film Contact (1997), though the 2 films are very different otherwise. And, it's not really new — we can go back to the lost British TV serial, A For Andromeda in 1961, which had the same premise. So, the filmmakers took that premise and grafted it onto a sci-fi thriller which visually resembles the horrific aspects of Alien (79) — almost all alien invasion thrillers since 1979 have been influenced by Alien; this one even employed H.R.Giger's designs, so it's almost like an unofficial sequel to the Alien films (check out the nightmare train scene — do you see familiar aliens?).

In this plot, the alien girl escapes and very soon, after a cocoon sequence, matures into actress Natasha Henstridge, a striking blond in her mid-twenties. She is compelled to find males to mate with so she can reproduce. Fitch puts together a team of 4 other specialists to track her down.



So, what we have here is a wild take on the 'coitus interruptus' mentality — the team needs to stop the half-alien woman from having sex with any human male. There is an inherent absurdity to such a scenario, also recalling another film about female sexual predators, the campy Invasion of the Bee Girls (73).

In fact, much of the film revolves around the notion of females being the aggressors in sexual activity regardless, as we see in glimpses of the local dating scene; this even extends to the team, as the lone female member (Marg Helgenberger, some years before her big role in TV's CSI) is attracted to hunter Madsen and eventually has her way.

In Syl's case (Syl is the female alien), men fail to survive her mating attempts — yes, it gets bloody.



Though not really explained, the half-alien female sometimes changes into her 'true' form, a Giger-designed monstrosity; she has superhuman strength and remarkable regenerative ability.

The story is well-paced, with some interesting plot twists and entertaining characters, thanks to decent acting. Also, if you admire the nude female form, notably Henstridge's, there's plenty of that.

This first one wasn't too bad, though it becomes perfunctory in the last act. The sequel, Species II {98}, was a grotesque, sleazy sci-fi sex romp; Henstridge returned due to, I believe, one of the frozen eggs I mentioned above. Then there was the direct-to-video Species III and a 4th one which tried to take it in a different direction.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:08 pm    Post subject: Great post, Bog! Reply with quote

Knowing how much work you put into posts like the one above, I'm glad that The New All Sci-Fi offers a safe and secure place for your work, Bogmeister.

And Randy has assured me that his legal will specifies that if his family members fail to maintain The New All Sci-Fi after his passing, these ingrates won't receive a dime of his vast fortune! All the money will go to a charitable organization dedicated to the preservation of the beloved Canadian moose!

Hey, who can blame him? These guys are adorable!

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Bongopete
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Joined: 17 Dec 2013
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Absurd movie all the way around.

Interesting starting premise until after the escape of the 14 year old Sil. She was sympathetic till she becomes the adult version.

No real explanation as to why the mate is killed during mating.

No explanation as to why (or how) Sil changes from human looking to alien looking. Nice cast for such a lame movie. Of course it also has the now obligatory hook at the end of the film.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can't read one of these well-written Bogmeister reviews without wanting to watch the movie afterwards, even though his description is ample warning that it just isn't really my kind of movie.

And in this case, I actually saw it years ago and didn't like it that much — but after reading his review I still want to watch it!

Maybe that's the secret: he pitches the film's strengths so well that I end up willing to endure the bad parts because I'm eager to enjoy the good parts.

Yes, sir — Bogmeister has the magic touch.
Very Happy
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Brent Gair
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Without arguing, explaining, or refuting any previously mentioned reservations, I have to say that I really like this movie.

For whatever reason, this movie works for me. Much like my beloved 1950's sci-fi, I don't feel any real need to find thorough and rational explanations for all of the events in the film. This is an engaging movie with elements of sci-fi, horror, action and suspense . . . not to mention a spectacularly hot chick.

Thumbs up from me.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

___________________________________

Isn't it odd the way one movie can affect two people in very different ways? Consider these two, for example.
Very Happy

Bongopete wrote:
Absurd movie all the way around.

Interesting starting premise until after the escape of the 14 year old Sil. She was sympathetic till she becomes the adult version.

Brent Gair wrote:
For whatever reason, this movie works for me. Much like my beloved 1950's sci-fi, I don't feel any real need to find thorough and rational explanations for all of the events in the film.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Pow
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The young Sil was played by the talented actress Michelle Williams.
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Krel
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Joined: 19 Feb 2023
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bongopete wrote:
Absurd movie all the way around.

Interesting starting premise until after the escape of the 14 year old Sil. She was sympathetic till she becomes the adult version.

No real explanation as to why the mate is killed during mating.

No explanation as to why (or how) Sil changes from human looking to alien looking. Nice cast for such a lame movie. Of course it also has the now obligatory hook at the end of the film.

I think she killed him because he realized who she was, and so he became a danger that had to be eliminated to preserve her secret.

She killed the first man because he was genetically unsuitable, and became aggressive and wouldn't let her leave.

She changed because she was hunted and going to have a child, and would need to protect her offspring. So she changed to become as dangerous as possible.

Also that way you got to see a cool looking monster.

Sil is a sad, tragic character, because she didn't stand a chance. She was basically a machine designed to colonize another world, Earth. She really had no choice, as it was engineered into her DNA. Her programing made her kill anyone that was a danger to her purpose, no matter how she felt about it.

David.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 3:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Damn, your great comments got me all hot and bothered to see this movie, but Netflix doesn't have it! Mad

I miss the days when Bulldogtrekker and I could agree to illegally download a movie from a some source listed on the site called Watchfree.to (now gone), like from the site called Vidzi.tv (now gone, too) and watch it together.

I miss good old Bulldogtrekker . . . who is also now gone. Sad




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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

______________________________________________

After re-reading the great posts above by several contributing members, I've come to the conclusion that the first two Species movies are definitely worth watching again.

All Sci-Fi member Krel's brilliant comment solved all the movie's problems which Bongopete described! Very Happy

I now feel I'm ready to watch Species I and II with a full understanding of their complex concepts.

And just for the record, Bogmeister's original post above is not one of the 500 reviews I rescued from Andrew Bogdan's "lost message board after he died in 2015, a board he create in 2010 (without my knowledge) called The Galactic Base of Science Fiction. (<— link)

This thread was started by Andrew Bogdan in 2013 while he was my co-site administrator here for five years — two years before Andrew passed away! Shocked

So, I hope All Sci-Fi member's will appreciate the fine contributions to this board which our late comrade made.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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