| The Invasion [Blu-ray] | ![The Invasion [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EJILWZh-L._SL160_.jpg)
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| Directors: James Mcteigue, Oliver Hirschbiegel
Actors: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond, Jeffrey Wright
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $35.99
Buy New: $12.12
You Save: $23.87 (66%)
Buy New from $12.12
Avg. Customer Rating:   (90 reviews)
Sales Rank: 12043
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Running Time: 99 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARBR117618
UPC: 085391176183
EAN: 0085391176183
ASIN: B0010HOZS0
Release Date: January 29, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description
The Invasion tells the story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemics origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.
Amazon.com
The Invasion deserves a second chance on DVD. This ambitious sci-fi thriller represents a flawed yet worthy attempt to bring contemporary vitality to Jack Finney's classic science fiction novel, previously filmed as Don Siegel's 1956 classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Philip Kaufman's suspenseful 1978 remake, and Abel Ferrara's highly underrated Body Snatchers from 1994. And while those earlier films are superior in many respects, The Invasion is not without strengths of its own, particularly for those who prefer action and suspense. Unfortunately these strengths were compromised by the unpredictable misfortunes of production: Original director Oliver Hirschbiegel (hired on the strength of Downfall) was eventually replaced by James McTiegue (V for Vendetta), and the Wachowski Brothers (of Matrix trilogy fame) added high-octane action sequences to the original screenplay by David Kajganich. Perhaps the movie had a curse on it (star Nicole Kidman was almost seriously injured in a stunt-car mishap during last-minute reshoots), but it's really just a matter of disparate ingredients that don't always fit together, resulting in a slick-looking film that can't decide if it's a sci-fi mystery, action thriller, or political allegory. It tries too hard to be all things at once. Despite this, Kidman rises to the occasion with a solid performance as Carol, a Washington, D.C. psychiatrist who's convinced (with the help of costars Daniel Craig and Jeffrey Wright) that a flu-like virus is spreading throughout the population, its alien spores turning victims into soulless "pod people"... only in this case without the pods. The idea is that you'll be fine if you don't fall asleep, and especially if you don't let anyone sneeze or vomit on you. (There's a lot of vomiting; don't say you weren't warned.) With a crashing space shuttle to deliver the alien threat, cute tyke Jackson Bond as Carol's threatened son, and a nod to Kaufman's film with a small role for Veronica Cartwright, The Invasion will surely fare better on DVD than it did in theaters. If nothing else, it proves the timeless relevance of Finney's original premise, which continues to inspire a multitude of variations. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 85 more reviews...
 sj-az October 30, 2008
DVD didn't work. Seller didn't respond to emails. Amazon intervened and made things right for me.
 The Pod-less People... October 24, 2008
No pods in this latest take on INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS called simply, THE INVASION. This time out an extraterrestrial virus has hitched a ride on a returning space-shuttle. Oh no! The shuttle crashes, releasing the viral terror from beyond space! Soon, most of the populace is walking around like mindless cultists from Saturn! Nicole Kidman is one of only a few people who realize that things just aren't right. With the help of Daniel Craig, Ms. Kidman attempts to rid the world of the spreading zombification plague. THE INVASION has plenty of suspense, even though it seems like the heroes figure things out a bit too early and easily. Nicole Kidman is wonderful as usual. The only real gripe I have is the speedy, rather contrived resolution. It felt tacked-on and cheap. However, I watched this movie immediately after watching M. Night Shyamalan's latest mega-dud, THE HAPPENING. Compared to that pile of donkey-doo, THE INVASION is a flawless masterpiece! But, I digress...
The Invasion-Good remake updated for the times October 19, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Invasion was a very enjoyable four star remake of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This particular Blue-Ray DVD appeared to be an exceptional video transfer on my large screen HDTV. The Invasion did not feature too many special effects but did open with some nice CGI animations of the space shuttle burning up during re-entry. Other very excellent computer animations of space-borne microbes and some exciting stunt and action shots did appear during the course of the film, but it was definitely not a special effects movie and aimed its greatest efforts at telling a fine story.
It told a good solid sci-fi tale open to many interpretations. I have watched all three productions, however, much as I liked the original felt this was somehow the best. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig were both excellent. Nicole was beautiful and appears to grow more so with each passing year. Daniel (James Bond) Craig was very likeable and charming in his role and also helped make this film a hit with me.
Video Vomit October 19, 2008
The scariest moment in this film
is when our zero utters the statement
"I am a post-modern feminist".
It was at that point that my finger went to
the stop button on the DVD remote.
I held out for a while,
hoping that there would be a reason for me
to continue to watch the film to its conclusion,
but finding none, I pulled the trigger.
Don't tell me how it ends.
I don't care.
The plot is a good one.
Space aliens, in this case,
microbial invaders, possessing human bodies
with their will and intelligence.
It has been done on film more than once
and well.
The only reason for this film to exist
is as propaganda for space alien viruses
to convince them that it is alright to possess
human beings because they are just space trash
stuck to the planet earth due to gravity.
I particularly enjoyed the image of
normal family life being a result
of possession by alien invaders.
Flush this one down the toilet
and check out either version of
"Invasion Of The Body Snatchers".
Invasion? What invasion? October 5, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
What if we were invaded and no one noticed?
The idea of aliens taking over our bodies and then continue civilization as we know it but only without wars and heated arguments probably comes from the 50's Cold War. The Body Snatchers is the 'bottom up' alternative to the top-down Manchurian Candidate, the strategic goal being the same: 'they' take over our minds and 'we' end up with this regimented, full-consensus, beehive-like arrangement. I can see how the prospect would be terrifying to the freedom-loving citizenry in the 50's or the 60's. Better dead than Red. Right?
By the third millennium, the fears have subsided and those 'we' used to admiringly call 'rugged individualists' we call 'extremists' or 'lunatics' now. The Marlboro Man died of lung cancer, lacking adequate health coverage. We are not bees in a hive just yet but the wisdom of moving in that direction is at least debatable and it's viewed as a mainstream topic.
The impression of this remake, while watching it, could be "what's so bad about it"? We live in times where anyone caught with 'water' while boarding a plane is a potentially dangerous enemy. Airports metal-detecting checkpoints post warnings on not telling jokes about things that go 'boom' or risk prosecution and water-boarding. The radio broadcasts commercials on "click it or ticket" and the subways have posters urging patriotic activities such as "see something, say something" - if you are planning to take the New York subway be prepared to have your bags checked.
And... here they come... these dangerous aliens are taking over our bodies and are turning us all into... obedient, cooperative, responsible citizens who recycle, show up for work on time and never cross the street while the "Don't Walk" sign is flashing. We see the police chasing people because their faces express emotions - think of the airport cameras programmed to flag such individuals as possible dangerous elements or think of the New York City subway code of conduct. We hear that the war in Iraq just ended, the Middle East is finally at peace, everyone flushes only once and all follow the rules... what's not to like? See the irony?
On the surface, it's a semi-bad remake of an old classic and that was my exact impression after the first viewing. Then, I watched it again and I saw a little bit more in this movie. The general idea is that maybe we are trending 'there' anyway and, give it another 50 years and, if 'the invasion' came then, it would probably go unnoticed and it might be unneeded. You either stay awake and vigilant at all times, you make no compromises other than doing what it takes to blend and go unnoticed or you are assimilated and all your worries go away.
And, then, there's Nicole.
I took one star because of the slight Hollywoodization but maybe that's the price to pay if you want your movie to be viewed by people other than your friends and the inhabitants of So-Ho.
If you are to watch this movie, I suggest that you plan about watching it twice.
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