Rating of
2/4
Could have been better
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/02/08
"Seth" is a scientist who has made every Trekkie's come true -- he has invented a a transporter device. However, like every invention made in a movie, something goes drastically wrong. When taking the next step in the experimentation of the device, he uses himself as the guinea pig -- and has his DNA fused with a fly which has snuck into one of the transporters with him.
And to complicate things, his journalist girlfriend, "Veronica" (Geena Davis), is carrying "Seth's" possibly deformed child. And she seeks help from her former boyfriend, "Stathis" (John Getz).
This has got to be the worst movie I've seen that has only one thing going for it -- good make-up effects.
The first problem is that it is very slow. I found myself checking email and message boards pretty frequently. The script is the problem here. There is no action, and very little horror.
Because of the weak script, the performances are not that great. Goldblum appears to be playing every character he's played before to me, and I think he's not the best actor in Hollywood. Personally, I think they should have picked somebody else. As for Davis, her performance is somewhat better. Other characters appear to be just there as either plot devices or just there.
Another problem is character development. The relationship between "Veronica" and "Seth" was extremely rushed. As for "Stathis", his character seemed to have been added at the last second in the writing of the script. Out of the entire main cast, "Stathis" is the worst written and has the least development.
The special effects are fair in this movie. It is pretty obvious that when "Seth" begins to become more fly-like and begins to be able to climb up walls and on ceilings, they made a full-scale room they could flip over with an engine to give the illusion that he is crawling on the walls and ceiling. As for the make-up effects, they look like they spent the most money of this. Despite the fact that the make-up Goldblum wears looks more like a burn victim than a fly.
At the end of the transformation of "Seth" it is obvious that it is some poor animatronic figure. The movements are not that natural.
As for the movie's fear factor, there is none. There is one scene which is intended to make you jump when "Seth" jumps through a window, but it's not a good scare as there was no build up.
The music is also fair. It's not the best soundtrack, but it does its purpose. However, it doesn't help build excitement or fear in you.
If you ask me, check this one out on HBO when there really isn't much on. Or, if you like, rent it when you can't find a better movie.
