Mixed Bag

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2000)

Good, popcorn entertainment. Despite the plot having been done before (see Outbreak), the corny dialogue, and underuse of talented actors/actresses (Newtons character seems to veer from mind-numbingly naive to extremely streetwise to fit the plot) this film is okay if you want to see a half decent action film. Jon Woos symbolism is extremely good (all the elements make an appearance!), I particularly liked his Angel vs Satan bit in the storage compound (Cruise striding past the flames with a dove superimposed as the avenging angel and Scott with the flames reflected in his eyes as Satan).
However, the science of this film is appalling and gives a bad name to those in research. It is ironic that at the same time this film was shot in 1999, on the other side of Sydney harbour, an important virological conference was taking place, at which were many scientists who work on Influenza virus. What they obviously wanted to portray was an Ebola-like virus, but they could not because it has already been done,as I said before. We may not always want a scientifically-correct film in order to spoil a good romp or get in the way, but please do not patronise us!