Species II

A team of astronauts, returning from a trip to Mars, are attacked by an organism that oozes out of a soil sample taken from the red planet's surface; after blacking out for seven minutes, they awaken, unable to recall what has happened to them.

Once back on Earth, the astronauts are subjected to several tests; whilst checking the blood sample from Captain Ross (Justin Lazard), the team leader, a scientist is mysteriously killed. When the dead man's body is examined, DNA is found which is similar to that of Eve, a human/alien hybrid (Natasha Henstridge) that has been created in a top-secret laboratory (from the same batch of embryos that resulted in Sil from the original Species movie).

It seems that one (or more) of the crew of the recent Mars mission is host to an alien, and unless they are captured, they will endeavour to procreate ASAP with as many partners as possible.

Species II has a very silly story, with some particularly daft plot turns (Eve learns to drive from watching The Dukes of Hazzard!), but with lashings of quality gore (including several gruesome alien births and a shotgun blast to the head), better alien effects than the first film, and even more nudity, this sequel is still very enjoyable and worth watching if you liked the original.

Michael Madsen returns as tough-guy Press, along with Marg Helgenberger as science bod Laura Baker, and also turning up for the fun is the ever reliable James Cromwell as the senator father of space hero Captain Ross.

If you're in the mood for some undemanding mindless sci-fi horror, then check out Species II—it's not as bad as a lot of people seem to think!

The people who are stating that this movie is the worst sequel they've ever seen obviously never saw "Hercules II" or "Jaws 3-D" or "Hellraiser II". Now, I am not about to tell you that this is a great film, but if you set your expectations low, you are likely to have fun. Despite the icky (and variable in quality, though impressive in the last 10 minutes) special effects and the large amounts of blood and t&a, the film never becomes truly disturbing, because you're never meant to take it 100% seriously. Michael Madsen understood that, to be sure, and thanks to his trademarked coolness, he walks away with the picture. As for Natasha Henstridge, she has more or less a supporting part, but one that is rather imaginatively linked to the central story line.

Overall, a movie with no artistic pretensions and, undoubtedly, many flaws (someone else already mentioned this; why didn't her head explode when she escaped from the lab?), but watch it in the right frame of mind and it's quite enjoyable. Do you know any other movie that features sex between slimy aliens?!? (**1/2)

This movie definitely wasn't as good as the first one.

I thought the original was actually quite entertaining and had quite a good story.

This didn't have an as good story and some parts seemed silly.

I didn't like the fact that it was the male astronaut doing all the killing instead of Sil.

And that is was in Washington D.C instead of L.A.

But the action scenes still entertained me and the monsters were pretty cool.

I don't know how they got Michael Madsen and the now famous Marg Helenberger to do this sequel ( and I don't know they got Madsen to do the first one either) but there acting was good.

Overall I think was a reasonably entertaining movie but don't out of your way to see it.

After the original 'Species' gained word of mouth - Henstridge's nudity - and ranked in the cash, it was a given that MGM would do a sequel. Three years later here was '2' except this time no attempt to treat the material semi seriously. Reading reviews you'll see two camps. Those who still enjoy it's trashy elements and those who rightfully see it as a big step down.

Astronauts touch down on Mars and take soil samples that contain the alien DNA. Back on Earth, hunky head Patrick Ross (Justin Lazard) goes about making hybrids. Sil has been recreated in a more docile clone in Eve (Natasha Henstridge) with a physic bond to the male alien who gets excited when it senses him having sex. Things once again get out of control and in returns Baker (Marg Helgenberger), Lennox (Michael Madsen) and sole uninfected astronaut Gamble (Mykelti Williamson) to stop an outbreak.

Established actors James Cromwell, George Dzundza & Peter Boyle turn up in one note, cliche roles. Henstridge doesn't really become a big part of the movie until the last third. Helgenberger but especially Madsen are slumming it for a paycheck. The man himself said doing this was a mistake. Williamson's character was written to be a replacement for a non returning Forest Whitaker. It ramps up the nudity and violence and goes bigger with the HR Giger effects, but that doesn't make it better.

'Species 2' failed with audiences. Maybe it was released at the wrong time or people saw thru it and weren't stupid. From a technical point of view is certainly well made and the gratuitous elements stop it from ever being boring, but the story & characters are asleep at the wheel. They tried to not be a tired retread, but that's exactly what it is.

If you liked the first species film you will like this, it's not as good but it's more or less the same just a bit cheaper. The sci-fi story is cool and I like the series and will watch the third one to see if it's any good.