User reviews

During the late sixties, Michael Crichton wrote a novel about contamination with an alien microorganism. At that time, science was hailed as the pinnacle of human achievement and it was thought that anything is possible. Therefore it is normal for the book and the subsequent film from 1971 to focus on the science, on the formalism, on the way people think their way out of a situation.

Fast forward to 2008. People are dumber, science is a joke, people need to look good and the design must be perfect. Some horrible deaths and some fear of government conspiracy or terrorism is the only way tension can be achieved.

The problem is that I have anticipated this. My own theory says that if you expect it to happen, there won't be a negative response, yet I am terribly angry at this mini series BECAUSE it was exactly what I expected. Things have been added to the original story that make no sense and make no sense to add: government black ops, wormholes, message from the future, ecological controversy over ocean vent mining, etc, etc. As expected the effects were really good, the people looked good, the computer interface design was flawless. And it all fell completely empty.

If you are familiar to The Andromeda Strain book or 1971 movie, you might find it interesting to see how it can go horribly wrong. Otherwise, just watch the 1971 version. It is slow paced, faithful to the book and a lot more interesting.

Having recently re-watched the 1971-version of "The Andromeda Strain" taught me one thing: the original is still a near-perfect Sci-Fi landmark and never will a remake, whether in the form of a film or a mini-series, be any better.

But okay, I'm not here to elaborate on the superiority of the Robert Wise classic. The mini-series has reason to exist as well, although it never really surpasses the quality-level of "average". Literally everything about "The Andromeda Strain" 2008 is average;- whether it comes to the added storylines versus the original film, the acting performances, the action/horror sequences, or the special effects. The foundations of Michael Crichton's genius novel are luckily kept intact, give or take a few minor details. When a satellite crashes back onto earth, almost the entire population of the nearby little town Piedmont, Utah, literally drops dead. In the original film, Piedmont was located in New Mexico, but I guess that's one of the few minor details. A handful of eminent scientists are escorted from all corners of the US of A to a top-secret governmental underground facility in the desert to examine the unearthly substance attached to the satellite. What's different or additional compared to the '71 version is that there's a sub-plot with a research journalist, bigger political involvement (including a role for the US-President), nastier intentions by the military and a couple of utterly grotesque theories with wormholes.

People like Benjamin Bratt and Christa Miller are decent performers, but they fail to be very plausible as brilliant scientists. Still, they are not as implausible as - say - the numerous mutations of the virus, or the insane explanations of where it supposedly comes from. The mini-series was released in the same year as the original author, the mighty Michael Crichton, passed away. I sincerely hope this wasn't the last adaptation of his work that he had to see.

This starts off well, and if you're hoping for Crichton's complex/tense gem of a novel you'll soon be disappointed. They throw every sci fi cliché into this one. The evil govt. conspiracy (to get the master weapon); the plucky reporter; a nuke; a master monster; plenty of sci fi babble; and in the end a 10-9-8 countdown-will our hero be able to save himself and his team-followed by a "it's not over yet" fade out. Just when you think they've run out of clichés they pull another one out and throw it at you.

Ridley Scott you should be ashamed of yourself!This blots your copy book big time! LUDICROUS!!!! For teens only; they'll think it's cool!

There is a certain type of movie. It's usually a made-for-TV movie, and it's usually an "updated" remake of an older movie.

The cast and story elements are painfully politically correct.

The writers appear to labor under the mistaken assumption that the viewer really doesn't need to be told a coherent story as long as there are a few visual elements from the original and some handsome-looking people emoting at each other. And things blowing up.

If there was a punchline to the original, the film will either ignore, misinterpret, or completely blow it.

The remake of Lathe of Heaven (2002)was such a film.

The remake of The Andromeda Strain (2008) is also such a film. It takes the tight script and edge-of-seat stress and paranoia of the original and substitutes digital effects, things blowing up, and absolutely nonsensical plot. When the time comes for the big reveal (which I won't reveal here), instead of the insightful political message of the original, we get a sophomoric, pasted-on ending that doesn't relate to what's gone before and basically contains no message whatsoever, but does allow one last digital effect.

It's not even bad enough to be good in a campy way. It's just dreary and indecipherable. See the original instead.

When the capsule of the Scoop Mission returns to Earth and lands in the small town of Piedmont, Utah, it brings a mutant living being and all the population, except a crying baby and an old man with ulcer, dies with clotted blood. A team of five scientists - the leader Dr. Jeremy Stone (Benjamin Bratt), Dr. Angela Noyce (Christa Miller), Dr. Tsi Chou (Daniel Dae Kim), Dr. Charlene Barton (Viola Davis) and Major Bill Keane MD (Ricky Schroder) - are summoned and gathered together in the top secret Wildfire facility. Fighting against time, they try to understand the reason why the old man and the baby survived and research an antidote to Andromeda, the ultimate biological weapon.

I wrote the above summary – with the exceptions of the names of Dr. Stone's scientist's team – in my review of the original sci-fi classic of 1971. The great pacifist story is basically the same, only longer due to updates in special effects and useless subplots with government conspiracies. I usually hate remakes, but sometimes I find reasonable surprises; but I do not know the objective of this tiresome and totally unnecessary remake. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Enigma de Andrômeda" ("The Enigma of Andromeda")

I have not read Crichton's novel, and have no intention of ever doing so, so I cannot compare either version to it, only the two to each other. This aired as four one-hour episodes, with commercials, so without, the running time was probably around 180 minutes. That gives it more time to explore the concept, and though some of it is used on action(!) and pushing PC(not computer, the other kind) messages, it is utilized. This very much tries to "update" the story. Where the original had a masterfully established atmosphere of isolation, claustrophobia and sterility, in the design of the lab, this one has it be high-tech and futuristic(because they can), and has plenty of scenes taking place outside of it as well as contact between inside and out. The subtle, skillful and careful cinematography and editing of the film are discarded for stylizing the crap out of a lot of what we see, and at least a little of it is frankly silly. This has excellent special effects, and it does tend to be well-shot. Dialog and acting are good, if Miller is so similar to her recurring role on Scrubs that it is a constant distraction. The plot is reasonable, and develops nicely. This has a couple of interesting science fiction ideas gone over. I recommend this to fans of virus flicks. 7/10

I'll admit there's some flaws in this mini-series. The acting is good but not superb, some characters felt unnecessary, some of the script could use reworking and the some of the effects were a little sub par.

But if you're willing to overlook this then you're in for a treat! What a ride! I started to watch The Andromeda Strain without any expectations and was a little skeptical in the beginning but it shaped up and turned out to be really great. Total run time is about two hours and forty minutes and once it sucked me in it entertained me all the way through with exciting and fast paced action that kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next.

I'll give it 8.5/10 and it deserves it.

In giving their opinion of the mini-series some people seem to be upset by the fact that the Wildfire Team was made up of Black, Asian and Latin actors. If the mini-series had been cast with all White actors would that have made it a better film for them. In the original 70's film there was a Black nurse and a White woman scientist. I'm sure that upset a lot of people too. Did any of these people know that in the original film they wanted to be politically correct too. They had a big debate over if they should cast a woman as a member of the Wildfire Team. When they did cast a woman in the part it was felt in order to make her more believable they should cast the most unattractive White woman they could find. They thought in the 70's no one would believe that a beautiful White woman would want to be a scientist or even have the brains to compete with all the White men.

My children have grown up with movies showing Blacks, Asians and Latino's in roles that I didn't see as a child. They see Blacks as Commanders of Star Ships and Space Stations. They see them as doctors and scientists and in many other leadership roles and a few blockbuster movies where Black men and White women have played Presidents of The United States. Asian and Latin children are seeing the same. This is normal to them and it is the right thing for film makers to do. Would our young people even tune in to watch this mini-series if they weren't represented in the Wildfire Team? The original was made before they were born and they may have never seen it. Watching programs such as these is what makes them dream of a better life for themselves and for our world.

Andromeda Strain... if you haven't figured out already this is a SCI-FI tech based mini-series/TV movie. So if you really hate scientific jargon this movie may bother you, because there are some scenes containing a fair bit of jargon. The cgi was fairly well done and the acting was better than some movies that are currently out. I haven't seen the original Andromeda strain so I wouldn't know the similarities, but this series ends with a lot unanswered, some characters are just forgotten throughout the movie rendering the little characterization that was built useless...Personally, I enjoyed the series overall, it was easy to follow and the cliff hanger from episode 1 was brutal...I had to see the rest! I actually wish it was more than two episodes long...

It seems many of the reviewers for this movie have never seen a made-for-TV mini-series before. This movie may not have the huge explosions (there are minor explosions), the exceptional computer generated graphics (a little bit dodgy) and the first-rate acting (not bad - and you can play "which Sitcom is the actor from?"), but it has a interesting story that will keep you entertained. There are a few superfluous scenes that were obviously included to make the movie the required 3 hours, while also some bit-part characters seemed a little unnecessary, but generally it does not take away from the pace of the movie. If you like made-for-TV movies, and are not put off by a lower budget film and less than perfect acting, then this is a highly entertaining mini-series adaptation that is worth your time.

Both the original and the remake are with seeing. The original is slower, less action, but mores science, and the remake is fast-faced as is normal in today's thrillers. They're both good. The twists in the remake regarding the source of the virus were convoluted and at times a bit implausible. In the original it is just some random space virus from a comet -- more plausible. Having just seen the remake it makes me want to see the original again, after many years.

I think describing this film as the 'mini series event of the year' is over-hyping it a bit. Although it wasn't bad it wasn't that good but earns a solid 6 at least. I think fans of the original will be a bit put out as it largely tries to get away from it and be something entirely new on its own which doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can tell that the producers are trying to... almost modernise the whole aspect of the plot in an attempt to draw in a younger audience. Does this work? Maybe not but it's worth a look. Don't just ignore it. It's received pretty mixed reviews all round so its a love or hate thing. Only you can really decide. I wouldn't buy it on DVD but certainly watch it on television and see for yourself.

Just finished watching part one, and all i can say is that i cant wait to devour episode two. The acting is superb and they have spared no expenses, the settings and stages are top notch and the cgi is up there as well. Since I've only seen the first episode i cant really comment on the overall story since its only just starting to unfold and the overall feeling is that there's lots of things that has yet to happen. All i can say is: This has so far been very enjoyable, had this been released as a movie it still would have held me in its grasp, keep in mind that it would have been 3+ hours. If you are looking for some time to kill and really want to treat yourself, go with this one. Just don't do as i have done, wait until you can watch all the episodes back to back instead. Coz now i have to wait for the next one to air and i REALLY want to know what happens next... and there you have it. I rate it 8.8/10.

I have read original The Andromeda Strain novel when I was high school. For an juvenile male who tried to decide his future novel had a very serious effect on me. The characters , events and technologies even sci-fi elements were serious , all well explained and as reasonable as possible. By writing and publishing The Andromeda Strain at 1969 Michael Chricton had started techno thriller age in writing with realistic characters , non-dramatic , non stereotype and zero cliché plots and realistic , well explained techonologies and existing scientific knowledge&theories.

The Andromeda Strain movie made in 1971 was all time serious and again self explaining like the novel itself. Although there were some deviations from original novel it was not too jarring and disturbing to insult intelligence of audience...It was a complete adaptation to silver screen

Now we have The Andromeda Strain mini series. In fact I consider it as a production inspired from novel not an adaptation because there are several big differences between this mini series and novel itself. It is a watered down version of original novel. The writers considered updating the story to appeal seriously dumbed down TV audience (through technical jargon and dialogue is much closer to novel than 1971 movie) Ridley/Tony Scott production shows itself here and there and Mikhael Solomon is not a bad director. As for characters only Jeremy Stone as head medical expert of WILDFIRE stills exist in mini series and General Mancheck plays a more important part than novel itself. As for the mini what worked and what did not ?

-The beginning is exactly like original novel itself. In fact in my opinion better executed , -Entrance of WILDFIRE team to Pidemont was also very tense too ( like novel) -Unfortunetely when government conspiracy and stupid reporter Jack Nash story takes on downfall starts (these events were invented by scriptwriter and completely unrelated in the story of novel. I think they were just added to extend the story) -Updating other WILDFIRE team members (an Asian , a black and another character as gay ) is interesting -As story progresses other elements from OTHER Michael Chricton novels emerge (objects passed wormholes and went back through time , spread of Andromeda looked like a nanobot outbreak ) -Unnecessary romance subplot should have been dropped -Unlike the novel a solution and cure was found too easily...

So there are hits and misses in this new adaptation. If I were you I focus on positive points of this new Andromeda Strain version. It is not perfect and much weaker than original production but it is still easily watchable even for one time especially if you are tired of all awful third rate programming in TV. This movie gives some interesting challenges...

Save yourself a few tedious hours, skip this crap and see the 1971 original. This is another example of a movie that has nothing going for it but the good feelings a viewer might have about the original. (How appropriate that I first saw a commercial for it while waiting for the lousy "Indiana Jones 4" to begin.)

So, so, so much padding! (And even so, A&E managed to stuff in almost 80 minutes of commercials in the two night run.) Ridiculous plot lines that go nowhere (the Geraldo-style reporter, "vent-mining"), unnecessary time-waster shots of animals eating each other (all just to establish the infection vector of a rat dropped onto a group of National Guardsmen) family squabbles that go nowhere... all of these had the unmistakable feel of an effort to reach a predetermined running time. The problem is, when length is more important a goal than quality, nothing can be left on the cutting-room floor. Trimmed to two hours, this just might have been a watchable movie.

Even if decently edited to tighten up the pacing, there's then the problem of reeediculous plot devices that were added to this adaptation. For example:

• Telepathic germs (you gotta be freaking kidding)

• Messages from the future (I wish I was freaking kidding) --- Note to you guys in the future: instead of the cryptic "739528", maybe "hey, look on the space station!" would get your point across a little better

• Orbiting wormholes (still not kidding)

• Blackbird attacks that kill soldiers in helmets and full combat gear (shades of Alfred Hitchcock)

• Endless blather about "vent mining", and even a terrorist attack on a vent mining platform. ----- (Oops! did we forget to explain what that had to do with the story?)

• "Pass the thumb"

• Andromeda racing across the countryside turning everything yellow.

• Dime-store CGI (we're talking "Sci-Fi Channel Original" quality) used even in scenes where the real thing would have been easier and more effective: flame throwers, dried blood sifting from a cut, the inexplicable falling debris in the core.

• Is the action dragging? Time for some Guardsmen to buy the farm!

• Hollywood leftist paranoia: the evil team of General Mancheck and Colonel Farris, military hit men, NSA stashing a final vial of the pathogen, and (my personal favorite) the company Enburton (Enron + Halliburton?) running the vent mining operation.

Michael Crichton wrote the original novel of "The Andromeda Strain", and the 1971 movie remembered so fondly by many was a quite faithful adaptation. You've heard of Michael Crichton because he has written lots of exciting and interesting science fiction, much of which has been turned into movies (of varying quality.)

This adaptation was written by Robert Schenkkan. You likely haven't heard of him, because he's been asked to write almost nothing else for the screen. Judging from this production, there would seem to be a reason for that. He has written a number of well-received plays, but apparently that talent does not translate well to television; what I recall of his 2004 "Spartacus" miniseries was on the level of "Andromeda". (Trekkie alert: as a C-list actor, Schenkkan is best remembered for eating an alien cockroach and then getting his head blown up, when he played Commander Remmick in the ST:TNG first-season episode "Conspiracy".)

If this is the best A&E can do, I hope that in the future they'll just stay out of the science fiction genre. At the very least they should produce original stories, instead of mucking up remakes of perfectly good predecessors.

I'll never get those four hours back, but you still have a chance to miss this movie. Consider yourself warned.

I have not seen the original film nor have I read the book although I enjoy Michael Crighton but they advertised this enough to make me record it on TV and I'm glad I did because despite it's three plus hour length it is quite well done. Sadly it does still have some of the made for TV ingredients that happens to befall it but overall the strong writing and good story wins through. For being a TV film although a cable TV film there was plenty of violent and disturbing scenes necessary to make the movie work. I think with a different cast and bigger budget this could have been a very successful Hollywood film as it once was in the seventies. Still, for people who aren't familiar with the original movie or story as I was not then you will especially enjoy this as a new experience. Director Mikael Salomon is no stranger to film and Television. He has done some really brilliant work both as director and cinematographer and his talent shows. In fact I think part of what makes this film better than most TV movies is Salomon's talent. The cinematography in many cases for the movie is stunning and disturbing. The scientists making their way through a town street of dead, decaying bodies and it's shocking.

I don't dislike Benjamin Bratt, in fact I have really enjoyed some of his performances. Anyone that remembers the classic Stallone film Demolition Man will remember Bratt's small but very cheesy, straight faced performance as Alfredo Garcia and many of Bratt's lines delivered in this film reminded me of that cheesy performance. But overall he does a good job as leading man and he's pretty convincing as the leader of a group of biological scientists. Anyone missing Will and Grace will very much enjoy seeing Eric McCormack back in action as addict/reporter Jack Nash. I say this because the performance is Will, but hooked on drugs. Sure there is a little more action and they start establishing his addiction but never really go anywhere with it. Still he's good and fun to watch as an anti hero. I loved seeing Daniel Dae Kim (who Lost fans will immediately recognize) in a different role from Lost where he actually speaks English. Kim gives a subtle but very good performance as the very intelligent and straight laced scientist Dr. Tsi Chou who also is given an interesting back story without it ever really going anywhere. Viola Davis is very good as the family woman and scientist Dr. Charlene Barton. She doesn't get a chance to shine but she could have and shows some strong potential in the role. Christa Miller is mostly put in place to be a misplaced love interest for Bratt's character. She might be a good actor but she's given virtually nothing other than Bratt's lips. Rick Schroder gives perhaps one of the best performances but still under used as tough as nails Major Bill Keane. He really is great in the role and gives Bratt a good nemesis. Terrific character actor Andre Braugher does a good job playing a bit of a confusing character as far as walking the line between good and evil.

There is a lot of characters in the film and they really do try to give them depth and back stories and you can't blame them for that. It's only a slight downside because there is so much story and they don't get time to develop any of those sub stories because so much time has to be spent going after the main story which is the virus. Even still the story moves at a great pace and you never feel like it's dragging despite the fact that it could have been reduced. So much of the film takes place below the earth in their scientific compound but the thrill is still full force as they balance that out with scenes from the surface and the infected area and the Government trying to deal with it. Combine political thriller with science fiction disease and it makes for a very entertaining film that isn't perfect but certainly counts as one of the better more entertaining TV Movies I have seen in quite some time. 8/10

After reading previous reviews, I expected to hate this with a passion. But I actually quite enjoyed it. I do in general despise TV films, especially American ones. But this came as a pleasant surprise. I have to say that I haven't seen the original. I can empathise with the other reviewers who have seen one of their favourites Hollywoodfied, I refuse to watch the new Wickerman for the same reason. But for anybody who hasn't seen the original....This isn't that bad. Sure it feels like a TV show, and some of the acting isn't brilliant, but I've seen a lot worse. I thought the president was very good. This is worthwhile if you're bored, but don't run out and buy a copy!