The Andromeda Strain (1971) Part 05

The best-selling novel by Michael Crichton was faithfully adapted for this taut 1971 thriller, about a team of scientists(Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid and Paula Kelly) 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 but 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.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Andromeda
• Strain
• Virus
• Michael
• Crichton

[KSJ1989]

Did u know that the visuals at 3:30 was the first use of CGI (computer generated imagery) ever!

[superspiderspy]

In the book, every floor was a different color, meant to affect the scientists' mindset. Level One is red because they want to stimulate anxiety when they enter the facility.

[CLASSICALFAN100]

The "Body Analyzer"must have had actual doctors sweating bullets, thinking, "HOW LONG BEFORE THIS IS A REALITY, AND DOCTORS BECOME OBSOLETE?"Ha!

[marksmartus2]

"RAG-WEED POLLEN!!" Ruth is great.

[ilovechickenmeat]

Why the hell is Mark Hall a woman!!?????

WHY?

[IETCHX]

Cool! How may I ask, did you learn that?

[tuttt99]

Different levels had different colors based on their psychological effects.

[tuttt99]

Ting-a-ling!!!!

[Leechbat]

Humm, why the red suits, they´re a pain for the eyes also, like you know red is mean for rush and for anxiety, so if I were a scientist I wouldn´t like red at all, specially in a situation like that, I´d rather prefer blue or even white colors?

[KipSP]

thats actually pretty cool