The Andromeda Strain

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The best-selling novel by Michael Crichton was faithfully adapted for this taut 1971 thriller, about a team of scientists racing against time to destroy a deadly alien virus that threatens to wipe out life on Earth. As usual with any Crichton-based movie, the emphasis is on an exciting clash between nature and science, beginning when virologists discover the outer-space virus in a tiny town full of corpses. Projecting total contamination, the scientists isolate the deadly strain in a massive, high-tech underground lab facility, which is rigged for nuclear destruction if the virus is not successfully controlled. The movie spends a great deal of time covering the scientific procedures of the high-pressure investigation, and the rising tensions between scientists who have been forced to work in claustrophobic conditions. It's all very fascinating if you're interested in scientific method and technological advances, although the film is obviously dated in many of its details. It's more effective as a thriller in which tension is derived not only from the deadly threat of the virus, but from the escalating fear and anxiety among the small group of people who've been assigned to save the human race. The basic premise is still captivating; it's easy to see how this became the foundation of Crichton's science-thriller empire. --Jeff Shannon
Description
When a satellite falls to earth near a remote New Mexico village, the recovery team finds everyone in the area dead except an infant and an old derelict. The survivors are brought to a five-story underground lab, where scientists attempt to determine the nature of the deadly microbe before it starts a world-wide epidemic. From the novel by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park).

Average customer rating: Good Story, Wooden Characters Riveting Science Fiction Thriller Bug, bug, whose got the Bug ? Even better than I remembered it Dated, but still a good movie...

The Andromeda Strain Starring: Arthur Hill , David Wayne , James Olson , Kate Reid , and Paula Kelly Director: Robert Wise Manufacturer: Universal Studios ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Race Against Time | By Theme | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Disaster Films | By Theme | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video Christmas | By Theme | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video Christmas | Holidays & Festivals | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video Bieri, Ramon | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Christmas, Eric | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Hill, Arthur | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Kelly, Paula | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Murdock, Kermit | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Olson, James | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Parnell, Emory | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Reid, Kate | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Wayne, David | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Wise, Robert | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video All Universal Studios Titles | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video Science Fiction & Fantasy | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video Kids & Family | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video DVDs Under $10 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video ( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video Similar Items: Soylent Green The Omega Man Silent Running Colossus - The Forbin Project Logan's Run ASIN: B00008438U Release Date: 2003-04-01

Product Description

Copyright Universal Studios 2003

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The best-selling novel by Michael Crichton was faithfully adapted for this taut 1971 thriller, about a team of scientists racing against time to destroy a deadly alien virus that threatens to wipe out life on Earth. As usual with any Crichton-based movie, the emphasis is on an exciting clash between nature and science, beginning when virologists discover the outer-space virus in a tiny town full of corpses. Projecting total contamination, the scientists isolate the deadly strain in a massive, high-tech underground lab facility, which is rigged for nuclear destruction if the virus is not successfully controlled. The movie spends a great deal of time covering the scientific procedures of the high-pressure investigation, and the rising tensions between scientists who have been forced to work in claustrophobic conditions. It's all very fascinating if you're interested in scientific method and technological advances, although the film is obviously dated in many of its details. It's more effective as a thriller in which tension is derived not only from the deadly threat of the virus, but from the escalating fear and anxiety among the small group of people who've been assigned to save the human race. The basic premise is still captivating; it's easy to see how this became the foundation of Crichton's science-thriller empire. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good Story, Wooden Characters.......2007-06-05

The Andromeda Strain is one of the must-see movies I missed in high school when it was first released and one that has remained in the back of my mind as one to see eventually. So, when I saw it on special recently at a local book emporium, I snapped it up.
Well, believe it or not, this is my first experience with an adaptation of the work of Michael Crichton. He has been so hyped over the years, I've ignored him. Imagine my surprise to discover that the Andromeda Strain is based on one of his early novels.
He definitely fed public paranoia here with this one. This was the age of the Vietnam War, when fewer and fewer people believed what US leaders told them. Additionally, there was much general unease about secret projects of the Defense Department and NASA. Agent Orange was just becoming an issue and there was some fear of outside contamination after the recent moon landing. Many wondered what other lethal agents were being concocted in secret, and what could happen if those with oversight lost control of them? Justified paranoia had many thinking the worst and made the Andromeda Strain so credible to many. When viewed today, with the benefit of three decades plus worth of biological and technical crises behind us, many would say that such paranoia remains justified.
I found The Andromeda Strain to be a good story clothed in a language of science that is a mystery to most people. But the characters are largely one-dimensional and the acting itself often very wooden. The worst of these is the female scientist dragged from her lab to participate on the team assigned to save humanity from the mysterious and putatively extraterrestrial plague which had already nearly wiped out the inhabitants of a fictional New Mexico village. Her wise-cracking character reminds me of "Maude" with an education. Then there were the various military men whose dialogue is so lame and stilted as to induce wincing.
However, the story itself helps the viewer overlook the undistinguished cast and gives the viewer cause to reflect on the what-ifs of an actual biological emergency. Only an early form of the virus of political correctness that manifests itself on occasion detracts from an otherwise interesting movie. There are many parts of the film where you will be spellbound. Younger viewers may be blase about the technological marvels revealed in the film, but those over fifty may still find wonderment in what was on the cutting edge for its day.
I recommend the Andromeda Strain as a good specimen of early 1970s science fiction film-making. It isn't the best sci-fi movie I've ever seen, but its far from the worst.

Riveting Science Fiction Thriller.......2007-05-27

There are several types of science fiction movies. The rarest, and for some of us, one of the more interesting types, is one where the focus is on the science rather than the fiction and the hype. There a no big, exciting monsters, but the science is readily evident along with state-of-the-art technology for 1971.

The U.S. government launches a satellite into space to gather material from space. When the satellite returns, it has brought more than just inert matter from space; it has brought something that lives. Unfortunately for the town of Piedmont, the thing that lives is hostile to human life.

The U.S. military gathers scientists from around the country at a secret laboratory called Wildfire to analyze the satellite and to determine whether they can stop the organism from destroying all life on earth. In the meantime, the organism, now called the Andromeda strain, has moved from the town of Piedmont and has killed again.

Though the movie heightens tension by focusing on the threat the organism places on mankind, the real tension is in the laboratory. We learn the foibles of each of the characters and we are pulled into their tension as they attempt to find the organism and try to figure out how to stop it - if they can.

One of the issues that face the team of scientists in the underground laboratory is the nuclear bomb that will destroy the laboratory if an organism should escape. It is the responsibility of one of the scientists to deactivate the bomb. However, not all the deactivations stations are working, and if you are caught in a section where there is a non-working station when all the doors are sealed, the only way out is through the laser-filled core.

"The Andromeda Strain" boasted excellent technology. The graphics showing the underground laboratory were superb for the era. The graphics of the organism replicating were also phenomenal. The setup of the underground laboratory and the decontamination procedures were excellent. If you love the science in science fiction, you will find that this movie is the movie for you. If you prefer action and fiction in your science fiction movies, then you may want to pass this classic by.

Enjoy!

Bug, bug, whose got the Bug ?.......2007-05-23

As far as Science fiction goes ala movies, this is one of the better flicks in this catagory. Good acting and a attention grabbing plot and viewers will shout ! "THATS ENTERTAINMENT ". Buy it, you'll like it !!!!!!

Even better than I remembered it.......2007-05-15

I've had some bad luck recently tracking down older movies that I saw and loved as a kid, only to re-watch them and find out that they weren't very good (my most recent example is the movie "Night Of The Comet").

Well this movie I remember seeing as an ABC afternoon movie after getting out of school and loving it. Thankfully, It's just as good as I remember and even more so! The movie itself is fantastic in it's pacing, which even though is slow-paced, it's still very suspenseful throughout. The extra cool part of this DVD is being able to look at the original author, Michael Crichton's, first book/movie. He has since written some of the best stuff (Jurassic Park to name one) and has some very interesting stuff to say in the extras.

Speaking of extras, the DVD has some really great extra content for the movie and for Michael Crichton fans. I just wish there was more of it cause it goes by real fast.

Highly recommended.

Dated, but still a good movie..........2007-02-02

Good suspenseful scifi drama, even if it is a tad dated by today's standards. Excellent story, good visual effects, still keeps my attention after all these years. -kd5-

Average customer rating: Good Story, Wooden Characters Riveting Science Fiction Thriller Bug, bug, whose got the Bug ? Even better than I remembered it Dated, but still a good movie...

The Andromeda Strain Starring: Arthur Hill , David Wayne , James Olson , Kate Reid , and Paula Kelly Director: Robert Wise Manufacturer: Image Entertainment ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Race Against Time | By Theme | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Disaster Films | By Theme | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video Christmas | By Theme | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video Christmas | Holidays & Festivals | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video Bieri, Ramon | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Christmas, Eric | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Hill, Arthur | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Kelly, Paula | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Murdock, Kermit | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Olson, James | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Parnell, Emory | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Reid, Kate | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Wayne, David | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Wise, Robert | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video General | Kids & Family | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video General | Horror | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video ( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video Similar Items: Soylent Green The Omega Man Silent Running Colossus - The Forbin Project Logan's Run ASIN: 6305077487 Release Date: 1998-01-28

Amazon.com

The best-selling novel by Michael Crichton was faithfully adapted for this taut 1971 thriller, about a team of scientists racing against time to destroy a deadly alien virus that threatens to wipe out life on Earth. As usual with any Crichton-based movie, the emphasis is on an exciting clash between nature and science, beginning when virologists discover the outer-space virus in a tiny town full of corpses. Projecting total contamination, the scientists isolate the deadly strain in a massive, high-tech underground lab facility, which is rigged for nuclear destruction if the virus is not successfully controlled. The movie spends a great deal of time covering the scientific procedures of the high-pressure investigation, and the rising tensions between scientists who have been forced to work in claustrophobic conditions. It's all very fascinating if you're interested in scientific method and technological advances, although the film is obviously dated in many of its details. It's more effective as a thriller in which tension is derived not only from the deadly threat of the virus, but from the escalating fear and anxiety among the small group of people who've been assigned to save the human race. The basic premise is still captivating; it's easy to see how this became the foundation of Crichton's science-thriller empire. --Jeff Shannon

Description

When a satellite falls to earth near a remote New Mexico village, the recovery team finds everyone in the area dead except an infant and an old derelict. The survivors are brought to a five-story underground lab, where scientists attempt to determine the nature of the deadly microbe before it starts a world-wide epidemic. From the novel by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park).

Customer Reviews:

Good Story, Wooden Characters.......2007-06-05

The Andromeda Strain is one of the must-see movies I missed in high school when it was first released and one that has remained in the back of my mind as one to see eventually. So, when I saw it on special recently at a local book emporium, I snapped it up.
Well, believe it or not, this is my first experience with an adaptation of the work of Michael Crichton. He has been so hyped over the years, I've ignored him. Imagine my surprise to discover that the Andromeda Strain is based on one of his early novels.
He definitely fed public paranoia here with this one. This was the age of the Vietnam War, when fewer and fewer people believed what US leaders told them. Additionally, there was much general unease about secret projects of the Defense Department and NASA. Agent Orange was just becoming an issue and there was some fear of outside contamination after the recent moon landing. Many wondered what other lethal agents were being concocted in secret, and what could happen if those with oversight lost control of them? Justified paranoia had many thinking the worst and made the Andromeda Strain so credible to many. When viewed today, with the benefit of three decades plus worth of biological and technical crises behind us, many would say that such paranoia remains justified.
I found The Andromeda Strain to be a good story clothed in a language of science that is a mystery to most people. But the characters are largely one-dimensional and the acting itself often very wooden. The worst of these is the female scientist dragged from her lab to participate on the team assigned to save humanity from the mysterious and putatively extraterrestrial plague which had already nearly wiped out the inhabitants of a fictional New Mexico village. Her wise-cracking character reminds me of "Maude" with an education. Then there were the various military men whose dialogue is so lame and stilted as to induce wincing.
However, the story itself helps the viewer overlook the undistinguished cast and gives the viewer cause to reflect on the what-ifs of an actual biological emergency. Only an early form of the virus of political correctness that manifests itself on occasion detracts from an otherwise interesting movie. There are many parts of the film where you will be spellbound. Younger viewers may be blase about the technological marvels revealed in the film, but those over fifty may still find wonderment in what was on the cutting edge for its day.
I recommend the Andromeda Strain as a good specimen of early 1970s science fiction film-making. It isn't the best sci-fi movie I've ever seen, but its far from the worst.

Riveting Science Fiction Thriller.......2007-05-27

There are several types of science fiction movies. The rarest, and for some of us, one of the more interesting types, is one where the focus is on the science rather than the fiction and the hype. There a no big, exciting monsters, but the science is readily evident along with state-of-the-art technology for 1971.

The U.S. government launches a satellite into space to gather material from space. When the satellite returns, it has brought more than just inert matter from space; it has brought something that lives. Unfortunately for the town of Piedmont, the thing that lives is hostile to human life.

The U.S. military gathers scientists from around the country at a secret laboratory called Wildfire to analyze the satellite and to determine whether they can stop the organism from destroying all life on earth. In the meantime, the organism, now called the Andromeda strain, has moved from the town of Piedmont and has killed again.

Though the movie heightens tension by focusing on the threat the organism places on mankind, the real tension is in the laboratory. We learn the foibles of each of the characters and we are pulled into their tension as they attempt to find the organism and try to figure out how to stop it - if they can.

One of the issues that face the team of scientists in the underground laboratory is the nuclear bomb that will destroy the laboratory if an organism should escape. It is the responsibility of one of the scientists to deactivate the bomb. However, not all the deactivations stations are working, and if you are caught in a section where there is a non-working station when all the doors are sealed, the only way out is through the laser-filled core.

"The Andromeda Strain" boasted excellent technology. The graphics showing the underground laboratory were superb for the era. The graphics of the organism replicating were also phenomenal. The setup of the underground laboratory and the decontamination procedures were excellent. If you love the science in science fiction, you will find that this movie is the movie for you. If you prefer action and fiction in your science fiction movies, then you may want to pass this classic by.

Enjoy!

Bug, bug, whose got the Bug ?.......2007-05-23

As far as Science fiction goes ala movies, this is one of the better flicks in this catagory. Good acting and a attention grabbing plot and viewers will shout ! "THATS ENTERTAINMENT ". Buy it, you'll like it !!!!!!

Even better than I remembered it.......2007-05-15

I've had some bad luck recently tracking down older movies that I saw and loved as a kid, only to re-watch them and find out that they weren't very good (my most recent example is the movie "Night Of The Comet").

Well this movie I remember seeing as an ABC afternoon movie after getting out of school and loving it. Thankfully, It's just as good as I remember and even more so! The movie itself is fantastic in it's pacing, which even though is slow-paced, it's still very suspenseful throughout. The extra cool part of this DVD is being able to look at the original author, Michael Crichton's, first book/movie. He has since written some of the best stuff (Jurassic Park to name one) and has some very interesting stuff to say in the extras.

Speaking of extras, the DVD has some really great extra content for the movie and for Michael Crichton fans. I just wish there was more of it cause it goes by real fast.

Highly recommended.

Dated, but still a good movie..........2007-02-02

Good suspenseful scifi drama, even if it is a tad dated by today's standards. Excellent story, good visual effects, still keeps my attention after all these years. -kd5-

Average customer rating:

The Andromeda Strain [Region 2] Starring: Arthur Hill , David Wayne , James Olson , Kate Reid , and Paula Kelly Director: Robert Wise ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video Bieri, Ramon | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Christmas, Eric | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Hill, Arthur | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Kelly, Paula | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Murdock, Kermit | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Olson, James | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Parnell, Emory | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Reid, Kate | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Wayne, David | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video Wise, Robert | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns ( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video ASIN: B0000DC16B

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