Knix and pyallen have organized some of us epinioneers into a group "write" about one of our favorite sci-fi/horror films, and we thank them for the effort and time.Be sure to go and appreciate, as well, all the Fellows who participated.
A smiling nod of recognition to both knix and pyallen for this fun opportunity to put both my thumbs-up to a well-done film, with a strong cast and astounding special effects. Jeff Goldblum shines as the brilliant and adorably socially awkward scientist/inventor Seth Brundle, who has achieved a scientific miracle and tentatively reaches out to tell the world via the media. Along the way he unexpectedly finds love (Geena Davis) and tragedy (an experiment gone wrong, horribly, horribly wrong). His invention works, all right, too well - and he watches himself slowly transforming into a new life form, one that combines, at the genetic level, his human form and that of....oh, wait, you've already read the title.....
I think computer hacker-types (said with deepest affection....xoxox....I share my life with such a one!)and fans of The Lone Gunmen-style of operations will appreciate the setting for Brundle. He lives in and conducts his research from a warehouse loft with accidental esthetic considerations spent upon it. At the movie's outset, he has nothing else in his life BUT his research/development of a teleportation device,and this is evident in the way computer components and Salvation Army furniture clutter his living space. After a reporter for a science journal steals his heart and shows him what he has been missing, his life opens up and takes on more set-dressing, as does the movie. Sadly, from there, his hopeful experiments with advanced transportation become a terrible experience in nightmare gene-splicing, and the horror unfolds from there.
As a devout Vincent Price fan, of course I saw the original movie of the same name; and I still hear, faintly, the tinny little voice (Xiag calls it Munchkin-voice) of the Price/fly creature crying "Cecille, help me!" from a spider's web in the garden. Those "special effects" were definately not so special, I'm afraid. But those of Cronenberg's version are blinding in their excellence, keeping this subject from becoming hokey or, worse, embarrassing. (Admit it, haven't you ever sat through a horror movie cringing with embarrassment for the actors, wondering if residual checks from margarine commercials just weren't enough to live on?) All through Goldblum's transformation from man to whatEVER that was, I was able to BELIEVE it. The make-up effects and his excellent characterization had me firmly accepting that if such a thing were to actually occur, then THIS is exactly what it would look, sound and feel like. He even looked as though he smelled bad (suggested in one of the moments while he could still communicate). My disgust tolerance was tried only once during the movie. I had no problem with some of the more graphic demonstrations of what flies do to survive....when I want to dissolve someone's foot from their leg, I won't do it with digestive fluid (my hobby is botanical toxins, remember?). That did not bother me. BrundleFly demonstrating how he must now eat did. And he just happened to demonstrate on powdered sugar donuts, thus banishing them from my treat list forever.
If you've ever watched a butterfly go from caterpillar to cocoon, and then to winged creature, you have an idea what a metamorphosis should look like. Cronenberg manages to communicate his nightmare concept of such a transformation as was never dreamed of by Mother Nature, and Goldblum performs it for us in masterful fashion.
The energy between Goldblum and Davis is also believable, and you feel the hurting for real when it becomes clear that there might be some afflictions even true love cannot surmount. (They could -try- to make it work, but what happens when it is THEIR turn to host the reunion, and Davis' family simply does not WANT to have a picnic at the city dump?)
Joking aside, this film made me feel very, very strong emotions - awe, disgust, pathos and sorrow among them. You don't always get that seasoning on your popcorn at a special effects-fest like this one. I credit Cronenberg's treatment of the story and the cast's skillful interpretation of same. I'm glad I saw it, and indeed, view my copy again and again.
I didn't need the powdered donut calories, anyway.

Be sure to include everyone who participated in your "read-off"!
pyallen knix SqueebinatorX artbyjude tatooedjedi rfr
NealGoodAll queenlyssa redwolfoz grouch hearseman megasoul
fdknight Mike_Bracken Memento-Mori psychovant mangiotto
NilahS stone77777
(I add names as I locate participants---please feel no slight if I've missed anyone! It's NOT intentional, and I promise to edit continually!)



Recommended: Yes