Eve 8 - Ausser Kontrolle

Averting threats are a common way to keep peace in check, but when it comes to a robot with a built-in bomb, there's going to be trouble. For Col. Jim McQuade(Gregory Hines), he's the man. The robot Eve VIII(Renee Soutendjik) has the memories of her creator(also played by her). However, she has the worst temper out of any woman you would cross. When she was with those rowdy guys. There was a bit of humor when she bit one of them on the "love gun". Rule number one, never reveal yourself to a lady robot. You just might get it! I know he won't be having sex for a while, OUCH! It was more painful to watch when she broke the other guy's arm. She was like that when she was going on the brink. She was much more dangerous when she started ticking. The only Achilles' heel on her were her eyes. And Jim had the laser sighted gun to use against her. The subway scene is one I'll never forget. Confronting EVE VIII, seeing the laser sight before her, and the subway train heading towards McQuade. The trains were computer-controlled and Jim's quick thinking always seems to be on his side. This movie has the action, yet it was very subtle. Very watchable though. 2.5 out of 5 stars

The stage curtains open ...

Back in 1991, this movie was "cool". Now, 30 years later, it is (at best) a guilty pleasure. Despite the fact that is hasn't aged that well, it does hold a measure of sentimental value to me, and even by today's standards, I still enjoy watching this from time to time. "Eve Of Destruction" follows a formula that was popular at the time, when an android named EVE, armed and dangerous, becomes unstable and at large.

EVE is an experiment in military A.I., a female android that was created to look just like her creator, a scientist named Eve Simmons (both roles played by Renée Soutendijk). When EVE is sent into the public population for a test run, her systems become compromised during a bank robbery attempt, and soon she is at large, a danger to anyone who has the misfortune of crossing paths with her. Colonel McQuade (Greogry Hines), an expert in anti-terrorism, is sent in to neutralize the threat. But when she goes nuclear, the clock starts ticking. Together, he and the good doctor track down EVE, leading up to an explosive ending.

I'm of the generation that got to actually see this when it was brand new in the theaters. My wife and I went to watch it, and we both enjoyed it. It was mindless fun with decent action scenes and a few memorable moments. Hines does his best badass imitation finding a new measure of fame in the cinema after the successful films, "White Nights" and "Running Scared". Renée Soutendijk was new to me, though she has been in numerous films before this, and several more after. But, she played her role adequately.

I would recommend this to the action goer who doesn't take their movie viewing too seriously, who can appreciate a little cheese once in a while. This is definitely a guilty pleasure, but still an entertaining 100 minutes and worth the effort. I give it a solid 7 stars out of 10 without hesitation.

A peculiar story of a woman scientist trying to track down (with the help of a tough army colonel) a female robot with nuclear powers, who not only looks like her but also shares her thoughts and memories. The gimmick is that the robot has no inhibitions, and acts out the woman's darkest sexual and violent fantasies, until "it" gets completely out of control. The story provides plenty of opportunities for male-bashing (it seems that almost every man that the robot meets is a chauvinistic pig), and the film doesn't miss any of them. But if you're patient, you'll be rewarded; the climactic sequence in the New York subway is excitingly staged and delivers the goods. And Renee Soutendijk is utterly convincing in both her roles. (**1/2)

Eve of destruction is a bad movie, no doubt about it. It's a terminator rip-off with a weird story. Renee Soutendijk, who plays in a double role blew her changes for making it in the US for good with this movie. That is a shame because she is quite a good actress. And because of this misfortune I would like to recommend this movie to all you cult lovers out there. I mean think about it; a strong woman (feministic), some nice and utterly useless violence, a rip off, a lousy tag line and a bad story. So go ask for Eve of Destruction at your local cult video store.

I actually rented this by mistake when I was a kid. I intended to rent Kathleen Turner in V.I. Warshawski and I got mixed up when I saw the blonde yielding the gun on the box. I thought Renee Soutendijk was Kathleen Turner and that Eve of Destruction was what I was after. A happy mistake as the deranged nature of the movie appealed to my 11-year-old sensibilities.

Eve 8 is a surveillance robot designed by Dr. Simmons in her own likeness (apparently sharing a badly-timed cold sore poorly covered in Maybelline at one point) with much of her memories copied over. While on a routine test mission Eve is trapped in a bank robbery and is shot. She promptly wastes the robbers but suffers a malfunction, steals their guns, and runs away. The authorities hire terrorist hunter Colonel McQuade to get her back. While following the trail of corpses they discover that Eve 8 is acting out Dr. Simmons' subconscious desires with increasing aggression, triggering a nuclear timebomb failsafe hidden inside her wiring.

Yes, it's absolute drivel, but it's completely mad and has energy to spare, so it's never a bore. But it's also a wasted concept, for the most part. McQuade, despite being the lead, never really gets any development, instead Eve/Simmons get all the character drama. If they explored Eve more she could have been a sympathetic villain and a meaningful, tragic figure. Renee Soutendijk is fine in the dual role, handling an Uzi with style and conviction and a seemingly infinite ammo clip, but they could have cast someone a bit taller. At 5'3'' Eve is hardly the imposing villain she ought to be.

The supporting cast is pretty good, including Kurt Fuller in a rare non-obnoxious role, and a few more recognizable character actors. The late Gregory Hines is fine as the lead and works quite well as an action hero despite being primarily known for dancing and comedy. Phillippe Sarde also delivers a score that is "just fine" without ever really being memorable. In fact, in many places it feels like an 80s sitcom theme.

It's servicably shot by Bond cinematographer Alan Hume but there's not much atmosphere or visual flair to it, which I will chalk up to music video director Duncan Gibbins failing to find the right aesthetic. He only ever directed two movies, with Eve of Destruction being the second. Had it been shot in higher key and in anamorphic Panavision it would have been slightly less disposable entertainment.

I don't say this very often, but I really do think that Eve of Destruction could do with a remake. The idea is great but the execution here never gets beyond "above average", though it is a fun ride. I freakin' LOVE that title too.