Epitomizes "so bad it's good"
Added 8/2/2009
The Bottom Line:
Objectively The Swarm is a terrible film--it's nonsensical, with terrible special effects, acting, and writing--but it achieves such an impressive level of terribleness that it could be said to transcend bad and go right back into good; you're sure to enjoy yourself while howling at the ridiculousness of every aspect of the film (my personal favorite part is when Michael Caine explains that his lifelong fear has been a swarm of killer bees) so I have to recommend the film even though it's not a good movie by any means.
2/4
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"We Want Your Pollen!"
Added 4/26/2009
Disaster films are kind of a discredited genre but there's something aesthetically satisfying about things blowing up real good. Another guilty pleasure to these flicks is guessing which members of the paycheck mode star-studded cast members are going to buy the farm. "The Swarm" isn't classic stuff but it kept me entertained even at 155 minutes. If I were to nutshell the movie I would describe it as "The Birds" with killer bees without Hitchcock's artistry. The pre-CGI visuals are quite good and director Irwin Allen ratchets the tension quite nicely. The acting here is perfunctory but movie's like this aren't meant for the award shows. No-think entertainment of the best kind.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A Classic of Schlock!
Added 3/2/2009
The Swarm, loosely based on a novel by Arthur Herzog, was a major critical and commercial failure when released in 1978! Producer/director Iwrin Allen was very disillusioned by the film's lack of success. The film only made $10 million dollars in box office revenue; that didn't cover the film's $21 million dollar budget! To this day, critics dislike the film. In its defense, one can see its influence on The X Files and cheesy movies made for the Sci Fi Channel. Aside from its flaws(plot holes, hammy acting, dubious scientific data, Michael Caine's over the top acting, etc.), the film has a so bad, it's good quality. The epic, sweeping, thumping music score by the late, great Jerry Goldsmith is hard to criticize. To paraphrase someone else, The Swarm is a yummy chunk of honey roasted cheesy entertainment and it's only recommended for brave souls!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Afro-Brazilian Bees. Not Hardworking Honeybees
Added 12/27/2008
Makes "When Time Ran Out" look like Schindler's list. My favorite scene: Katherine Ross is lying in a hospital bed. There is knocking at the door. She gets up, opens the door and is met by a bee the size of an elephant. I kid you not. If you don't think that makes this a must see then I don't know what else to say. Except this: Michael Caine seems to be testing the theory that the worse the dialogue the louder it should be screeched. Bring nachos "The Swarm" delivers all the cheese you can handle.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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The Swarm
Added 10/15/2008
This was really a picture of what if and I enjoyed ever bit of it.
I thought it was very well written and Richard Widmark and Micheal Caine gave such creditability to their parts. If you like sci-fi this was one that was somewhat imaginable. I gave it 3 stars.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Epitomizes "so bad it's good"
Added 8/2/2009
The Bottom Line:
Objectively The Swarm is a terrible film--it's nonsensical, with terrible special effects, acting, and writing--but it achieves such an impressive level of terribleness that it could be said to transcend bad and go right back into good; you're sure to enjoy yourself while howling at the ridiculousness of every aspect of the film (my personal favorite part is when Michael Caine explains that his lifelong fear has been a swarm of killer bees) so I have to recommend the film even though it's not a good movie by any means.
2/4
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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"We Want Your Pollen!"
Added 4/26/2009
Disaster films are kind of a discredited genre but there's something aesthetically satisfying about things blowing up real good. Another guilty pleasure to these flicks is guessing which members of the paycheck mode star-studded cast members are going to buy the farm. "The Swarm" isn't classic stuff but it kept me entertained even at 155 minutes. If I were to nutshell the movie I would describe it as "The Birds" with killer bees without Hitchcock's artistry. The pre-CGI visuals are quite good and director Irwin Allen ratchets the tension quite nicely. The acting here is perfunctory but movie's like this aren't meant for the award shows. No-think entertainment of the best kind.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
A Classic of Schlock!
Added 3/2/2009
The Swarm, loosely based on a novel by Arthur Herzog, was a major critical and commercial failure when released in 1978! Producer/director Iwrin Allen was very disillusioned by the film's lack of success. The film only made $10 million dollars in box office revenue; that didn't cover the film's $21 million dollar budget! To this day, critics dislike the film. In its defense, one can see its influence on The X Files and cheesy movies made for the Sci Fi Channel. Aside from its flaws(plot holes, hammy acting, dubious scientific data, Michael Caine's over the top acting, etc.), the film has a so bad, it's good quality. The epic, sweeping, thumping music score by the late, great Jerry Goldsmith is hard to criticize. To paraphrase someone else, The Swarm is a yummy chunk of honey roasted cheesy entertainment and it's only recommended for brave souls!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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