Review by Zachary Andrea
Special for CraftyChica.comDirector: Steven Soderbergh
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1:45
Cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jude Law.
Official synopsis: Contagion tracks the start of a virus that very swiftly becomes a worldwide epidemic, killing almost everyone that contracts it. As the virus spreads at rates unbelievably fast, top notch medical communities seek a solution to this lethal virus while striving to keep the world free from panicking. Specific lives of individuals are also documented as they try to handle the effect the epidemic has had on their lives.
Why I was excited to see this film: An Oscar-winning cast racing against the clock to save the world from... a nasty flu? They had me at "ah-choo!"
Who should not see this flick: If you are someone who freaks out when someone coughs in your elevator, you should probably stay home. Contagion will make you even more paranoid of germs. Even the toughest will think twice before touching doorknobs or blowing kisses on dice in Vegas.
Review: Watching this movie, at times, was painful. It was very mechanical - it lacked the emotional connection that is vital in all great movies. The individual performances themselves, mainly those of Matt Damon as a newly widowed dad, Laurence Fishburne as CDC top dog and Jude Law as a renegade blogger were fantastic, but their lives portrayed in the film were minuscule. Contagion would’ve truly been an excellent movie if we had more than mere glimpses into the trials and tribulations that the main characters had to overcome in order to triumph over the deadly epidemic.
Who should not see this flick: If you are someone who freaks out when someone coughs in your elevator, you should probably stay home. Contagion will make you even more paranoid of germs. Even the toughest will think twice before touching doorknobs or blowing kisses on dice in Vegas.
Review: Watching this movie, at times, was painful. It was very mechanical - it lacked the emotional connection that is vital in all great movies. The individual performances themselves, mainly those of Matt Damon as a newly widowed dad, Laurence Fishburne as CDC top dog and Jude Law as a renegade blogger were fantastic, but their lives portrayed in the film were minuscule. Contagion would’ve truly been an excellent movie if we had more than mere glimpses into the trials and tribulations that the main characters had to overcome in order to triumph over the deadly epidemic.
2 1/2 stars out of 5.
If you like movies about germs, try these: Outbreak, 28 Days Later, 12 Monkeys.
Zachary Andrea, 18, is an aspiring movie reviewer who enjoys creating smiles through passionate writing. He hopes as he gets older he will create an impact on the world through his unique style of wording. You can reach him at andrea_zachary@yahoo.com
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and I'll draw two names this weekend to win a gift pack of some NEW Crafty Chica products!
I really like this review! We are going to see this movie tonight!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review, I'll wait until the movie is available on NetFlix.
ReplyDeleteI would add, "The Stand" to the list of all time great'germ' movies - this looks to be as scary. I'm likely to see it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I will NOT be seeing the movie in theaters because my sister is my movie companion and she is a border-line germophobe. However, she does <3 your site and is the crafty one in the family so winning would be amazing so I can give the gift to her :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not fond of "germ" movies! But, I am fond of Crafty Chica! LOL
ReplyDeleteNot my type of movie (looks like a rehash of Outbreak), but I love Crafty Chica (maybe her books should be turned into movies?).
ReplyDelete28 Days Later is a GREAT movie! I am prone to zombie movies, though!
ReplyDeleteNice review!
ReplyDeleteThe Husband is really looking forward to this movie. Me, I'd rather wait until it shows up on TV, so I'll be taking a nap. :0
ReplyDeleteGreat review, think I'll wait for it on Netflix as well, if I watch it at all. Movies like this sometimes make me wanna stock pile supplies and live in the basement:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review! I've been trying to figure out if seeing this movie is going to freak me out LOL
ReplyDeleteJenn
I like the poster for this movie. Looks cool... It's been a while since they've put out a contagion movie.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say I am Legend is my favorite outbreak movie. Will Smith pulls the character off so well !
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say I am Legend is my favorite Out break movie along with 28 days later. These types of movies are always more Scary than the typical Horror movies because it is very much possible for this type of Panic to spread.
ReplyDeleteVery excited to see the movie now. I loved the review. It was funny yet informative.
ReplyDeleteKas
I can't believe you're only 18 years old and prepared such a professional review. Excellent work! I appreciate your review and will definitely make my decision of whether to see the movie based on this review. I do have to say that I love Ms. Paltrow!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about this movie because they filmed it here at a local hospital! We just had a new Sherman Hospital built and they used the old one to film. It was in our local newspaper about the nurses and doctors that got to be in it and our movie theater had a big Oscar type event last night! I didn't go to it but it is really neat that they did that right here where I live!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this review! Now I know not to see it! As someone else said, perhaps the Crafty Chica books should become movies... now, those I would definitely go see and probably buy!! I'm VERY eager to play with your new products, so winning would be awesome! Thanks for the change to win and the great review of the movie!!!
ReplyDeleteI think this movie is not in my must see bunch. Thanks for the review. I want to win the stuff and I love Creafty Chica. I wish you came to Missouri.
ReplyDeleteI admit I'm scared to see this movie, but your review makes me curious!
ReplyDeleteps. Your new line is AMAZING!!
I'll probably end up watching it because my husband has a thing for Matt Damon. He doesn't like it when I say that, but it's true.
ReplyDeleteHope I win the giveaway.
I will DEFINITELY not be seeing this film that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI do like how Zachary Andrea gave alternative moves to watch in its place..I'v never seen that with a review before and LOVED this tidbit added. He did a great job with format of the review too. He'll have a future in reviewing movies.
I did really enjoy 12 Monkeys with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. It wasn't exactly what it seemed on the surface.
28 Days Later, now Contagion..movies like this freak me out too much because they could actually happen. ::gets creepy crawlies on skin::
I'm all about winning some Crafty Chica products..that would make my visions if icky dancing germs be replaced with sparkly hearts.
Thanks!
Angelrose752(at)aol(dot)com
I'm still very interested in seeing this because of the all-star cast!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. You've confirmed my decision to not see the movie. Thanks for the opportunity to win your products. It would be much more fun to craft, chica, than see Contagion!
ReplyDeleteI work in a building with over 30 floors and I go to them all. It's very frighting how fast a simple cold travels in that building. I want to see it and then I don't for that very reason.
ReplyDeleteI probably won't see the movie. Good writing on the review though.
ReplyDeleteTerrific review and I cant wait to see it, the acting sounds and looks amazing! The cast is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Brittany Heskett
brittsart@cox.net
ps
cant wait to see your new line in my Michaels!
Thank you for this review, I was a volunteer, a jr. volunteer, remember the candy stripers?? I don't like germs, so I might not want to go see this.
ReplyDeletei think we have all seen this movie before.. and it gets us going because we are all closet germaphobes!
ReplyDeleteI saw the previews of this on tv. I know to well that this could happen & I really don't think I could sit through the whole thing!! :( Thanks for the review!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to the movies in ages but I am determined to find a babysitter and get out to the theater with my husband this fall. Thanks for the review; maybe we'll go see something else first. It's tough to make an ensemble cast work, I think.
ReplyDelete