Reading several other reviews on IMDb I came to the conclusion that many regular film goers saw the same thing in The Invasion that I did...it was okay period. It was a good flick, entertaining, worthwhile and by the time you get out to the car you're thinking about what's on TV later that night...it doesn't stick with you. It has no especially powerful moments or performances, but while you're watching it you're not disappointed. Critics trash talked the film like it was the worst thing of the year and it's not by a long shot. In fact it's a fun night at the movies without having to think about why something is going on. If you think too hard about The Invasion then yes you'll walk out hating it. The film is wrought with plot holes and even a bit of a non-conforming time line made even more confusing by an unnecessary jumble of chronological plot points. Flash backs and flash forwards and things that don't help the story and stick out like crazy. They also seem to rush through several things to make sure they get to the main story and tie it up in a neat little 2 hour window (or a little less.) Everything with The Invasion seems to happen so quickly and you're trying to keep up but then once you get to the heart of the film it keeps you riveted to your seat.
Nicole Kidman is a terrific actress, and very versatile and she has done her share of playing the 'scream queen' type role having performed in other thriller/horrors such as the superb "The Others" and "Dead Calm" and she definitely has this ability. She is beautiful and almost too exotic looking to play a down to earth type person but you do become enthralled in her adventure against these zombie type beings. Daniel Craig is terrific as her best friend/boyfriend Ben Driscoll. He almost seemed like he purposely holding back a better performance to not overshadow Kidman but the script for both of them was pretty weak. The two of them together make a great team given a better story. Young newcomer Jackson Bond really holds his own with Craig and Kidman as Kidman's son Oliver. He has a lot of screen time and really does a terrific job and I'm sure he'll be an up and coming star. Jeremy Northam is Kidman's ex-husband who is one of the first to be infected being a CDC (Center for Disease Control) agent. I would say that his performance is a little bland but that seems like an ironic statement given that he is supposed to be an emotionless zombie like alien but it didn't really impress me and he was forgettable compared to the other cast members.
The film has great potential (obviously being a remake of a classic.) I have not seen the original film nor it's 2nd remake but I would like to in hopes that it might fill in some of the gaps sadly left by this installment. It seemed like they rushed to get to what they thought they could really sink their teeth into. The eerie world where everyone is being converted and the normal are forced to act without emotion should be a lot more powerful but it loses something...I just don't know what. The disease spreads very quickly and the heroes (Craig and Kidman) just seem to catch on to and accept what's going on far too fast. Basically it could have been dragged out over a trilogy (not that I would recommended that for this film.) Still sci-fi fans might get a kick out of this latest remake and even a movie goer won't be disappointed but it won't likely make any of your top ten lists this year or ever. 7/10
Nicole Kidman is a terrific actress, and very versatile and she has done her share of playing the 'scream queen' type role having performed in other thriller/horrors such as the superb "The Others" and "Dead Calm" and she definitely has this ability. She is beautiful and almost too exotic looking to play a down to earth type person but you do become enthralled in her adventure against these zombie type beings. Daniel Craig is terrific as her best friend/boyfriend Ben Driscoll. He almost seemed like he purposely holding back a better performance to not overshadow Kidman but the script for both of them was pretty weak. The two of them together make a great team given a better story. Young newcomer Jackson Bond really holds his own with Craig and Kidman as Kidman's son Oliver. He has a lot of screen time and really does a terrific job and I'm sure he'll be an up and coming star. Jeremy Northam is Kidman's ex-husband who is one of the first to be infected being a CDC (Center for Disease Control) agent. I would say that his performance is a little bland but that seems like an ironic statement given that he is supposed to be an emotionless zombie like alien but it didn't really impress me and he was forgettable compared to the other cast members.
The film has great potential (obviously being a remake of a classic.) I have not seen the original film nor it's 2nd remake but I would like to in hopes that it might fill in some of the gaps sadly left by this installment. It seemed like they rushed to get to what they thought they could really sink their teeth into. The eerie world where everyone is being converted and the normal are forced to act without emotion should be a lot more powerful but it loses something...I just don't know what. The disease spreads very quickly and the heroes (Craig and Kidman) just seem to catch on to and accept what's going on far too fast. Basically it could have been dragged out over a trilogy (not that I would recommended that for this film.) Still sci-fi fans might get a kick out of this latest remake and even a movie goer won't be disappointed but it won't likely make any of your top ten lists this year or ever. 7/10