The Invasion

The Invasion, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, is loosely based on the novel “The Body Snatchers”, and in turn is a remake of the movie with the same name.  As you would expect the movie has been updated for a more modern viewing public.  There’s a lot of high speed action and ‘OMG’ moments.  (As in ‘Oh My Gosh!’ I can’t believe they just did that.)  But as with most remakes of really great black and white thrillers, heart pounding suspense and story telling has been replaced with car chases and gun play.

The movie still holds true to the basic ‘Body Snatchers’ plot: aliens invade Earth by taking over our bodies, making humans non-feeling, emotionless creatures.  But as it turns out this is supposed to be a good thing.  With the war in Iraq as a backdrop, peace floods the planet.  There is no more war, violence or hate.  The movie is trying to make this statement: We live in harmony, but at what cost?  Humans cease to be ‘human’.

I’m giving this movie a solid C+ grade.  I did enjoy most of the action and drama, but I’m not a fan of movies that try to insert a ‘political agenda’.  Let’s leave that to CNN.  I’m not going to give away the ending, but most ‘Body Snatchers’ fans will be disappointed.

Take my advice: skip this in the theater.  This is defiantly a renter.  And if you haven’t seen the original – see it instead.