Virus

This Made for Television film features some familiar faces and a well used storyline.Glenn Ford, Robert Vaughn, George Kennedy and many others are featured in this tale of a plague that decimates mankind.Only a few stalwarts at a remote foreign station commanded by Kennedy have been immune.

As folks back home continue to succumb to the virus,an effort is made by the research outpost to reach civilization and attempt to quell the spread of the fatal illness. Edward Jame Olmos and Bo Svenson have featured roles as members of the international research station.

This film is not a great one, but it does raise interesting issues that face this modern age, It was enjoyable to watch the scenes with rivals Ford and Vaughn in the Oval Office. Enjoyable mostly for fans of the Disaster movie genre.

This movie was based on Robin Cook's Outbreak, but could not be named that because the motion picture Outbreak (starring Dustin Hoffman) was already out. This movie was a good depiction of Dr. Cook's novel, the basic plot of which is similar to that in many of his other books. You will enjoy it if you like medical drama.

Maybe there's nothing special about this film. There is little originality in the plot and its treatment, good as they are, and if you wish to be hypercritical you can easily find a few flaws and implausibilities. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, and am glad that the main character wasn't killed off at the end. Many seem to find ultimate tragedy obligatory to avoid predictability. The genre frequently has muscle-bound macho males (no names mentioned), sometimes toting improbable weapons, blasting everything in sight as they move mindlessly in and out of tight situations. This movie has a personable young female handling tight situations with little more than her extremely sharp wits, which I much prefer, and that's not due entirely to my own gender. There is a clear plot, which develops at a smart rate and holds the interest. There is also food for thought in this film, as there are real issues underlying the story, even though it is fictional.

While not an expert in these matters, I thought the direction and photography were above average for a TVM. I was delighted to find DVDs available on the Amazon Marketplace at extremely keen prices, and have ordered a copy of the Odyssey version (Region 2, 2002). There is also a Fremantle version (Region 1, 2006). They are listed under the title 'Formula For Death' which was the title as shown on TV yesterday. I look forward to watching this again. Incidentally, searching for the DVD title 'Virus' leads to an entirely different story featuring Jamie Lee Curtis.

Yep, pretty similar to Outbreak, but it does a fairly good job.

The usual American TVM stuff; naff cliches, overacting, lots of hairspray, the usual TVM faces, a happy ending and a soft picture finish.

Best bit is when Sheridan whacks fatty doctor round the chops with a spade - made me laugh out loud...

The plot isn't bad too, which rises this above the normal 2/3/4's that yer average TVM gets. But not that much!

5/10

Nothing else to watch Saturday June 17, 2006; I'll try this one about a spreading virus; they are usually good. That is not a spoiler, after all, the title is "VIRUS."

The screenplay was OK as it progressed until the last reel. Then ... and I will not give any spoiler at all; it just became sort of ... 'cartoon-a-rooney!

This is the first bad review that I have given. The ending was so obvious and expected, as it rolled to the conclusion; I was telling my dog what was coming next, but I think he already had guessed.

I wish LIFETIME would make movies in Hollywood, where the talent is. Oh well.

predic