Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Sanjeev Waters A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

talisencrw I may have been up really late at night, but I didn't mind 'Alien Species' at all. Its craftsmanship for such a cheap B-movie production was pretty good (although the special effects looked like they were created on a Nintendo or Sega Genesis, and then grafted onto the film), the script was interesting enough in the realm of 'alien hostile takeover' movies, and its pace never lagged for a second. While watching it, the film's ending was very ambiguous, as if this had been planned as a pilot film for a TV-series, or at the very least, a feature-length sequel.I loved the work of veteran character actors Charles Napier and Hoke Howell (the latter died shortly after the film's completion, and the death is mentioned in the end credits). Their consummate professionalism gave a classy sheen that the film otherwise didn't deserve. It's definitely worth a watch, though, to fans of both B-movies and of science fiction.

grizzledgeezer The /film itself/ is a spoiler (ie, something that spoils things, such as the viewers' mental balance), but as I describe how the heroes are able to avoid being killed by the aliens, I've marked this review with a spoiler alert.The portmanteau title -- "Alien" + "Species" -- is supposed to confuse potential viewers as to the provenance of this gobbler. Of course, "Species" is pretty bad, so if you're trying to ride the coattails of another film, you should at least pick a good one."Alien Species" suggests what Ed Wood Jr might have churned out on a decent budget. The script is nothing but quadruply recycled clichés and shopworn "humor" thrown together as rapidly as the writer could type them, without the charm (???) of Ed Wood's amusing non-sequiturs.I especially liked the way Our Heroes find a remote control that shuts off the force field surrounding the alien ships -- at which point they can be destroyed by what is (relative to the ships) small-arms fire. (Bright aliens, these.) It resembles a tarted-up BIO-BUG remote control. There's no explanation of why the dozens of alien ships don't just gang up on the humans and (as Dr Crab would say) "reduce them to icky grey slime".The 1996 special effects are, surprisingly, not at all bad, even by current standards. The result is that they make the rest of the film look even worse than its already low, low level of quality.If you want to avoid brain damage or digestive convulsions (that's the polite way of putting it), avoid this film.

Scarecrow-88 Hideous science fiction regarding a city's attack by alien invaders with lousy acting, painfully groan-inducing dialogue("I'm gonna send them a greeting courtesy of the human race" or "Not to worry. With the information I have stored we can create a weapon to kick some serious scaly butt."), below par (..not very)special computer effects, and a group of characters you could care less about. Basically a Grade-Z rehash of Independence Day with a large circular mothership which enters the sky of Earth releasing smaller attack vessels which blast or kidnap human beings. The plot centers on deputies, carrying two convicts, who pick up a professor, his granddaughter, and assistant accidentally wrecking their van when an alien vessel nearly smashes into them. They find a cave, hoping for shelter until morning, discovering that within it's belly contains the aliens harvesting their captured humans, embodying them in cocoons. It becomes a fight for survival as the humans attempt to escape through the bowels of the cave, searching for a way out, while the aliens follow behind, with evil intent. Meanwhile Sheriff Nate Bridges(Charles Napier, given star treatment despite being in the film for maybe 7 minutes tops)attempts to salvage a devastating situation culminating as alien vessels attack his city without an end in sight. It will take ingenuity and courage in order to uncover a means to combat their alien enemies.Hoke Howell(..a Fred Olen Ray regular)has a rare serious, straight role as Dr Chambers, the revered scientist who has tried to contact others regarding the possible threat of an alien race. Marc Robinson, as the convict who must become hero as the lives of their group hang in the balance, is stuck with an endless supply of corny one-liners("We're not in Kansas anymore" or "There goes the neighborhood") as he downs men in rubber suits with a shot gun that barely ever needs re-loading. Murky, downright ugly photography(..the film takes place mostly at night, or in the damned cave)and laughably unconvincing aliens(..right out of Invaders from Mars;they had an excuse, director Peter Maris doesn't). The filmmakers were ambitious in scope..but the budget wasn't enough to compliment their ambitions. Not worth your time, unless you are a masochist who enjoys agony.The aliens are both little green men with massive foreheads and giant creatures with sharp teeth(..and lights that blink). When the monsters are killed, they vaporize. Even by 1996 standards, the special effects were weak. A major problem I had was that director Paris spends way too much time with the deputies and foul convict, exchanging profane insults with another..I wanted the aliens to blast these irritating characters. Included in their own sub-plot, two scientists, students under Professor Chambers, watch in horror, tapping away at keys, peering into their computer monitors as the alien ships tear away at buildings and vehicles below with lasers..their work room has a large window overlooking the city. The attacks aren't as grand or impressive as they ought to be.

Kenneth Eagle Spirit This is NOT that bad of a sci-fi flick. Certain aspects of it are OK. Charles Napier is a good actor, but comes across as a bit over the top in this role. Hoke Howell is OK in his role. The rest? So so at best. Although I do give Jodi Seronick extra points for at least being able to act when she screams or cries and for being a fox. Now, as for whats left ... Plot? Its there, kind of. Earth is invaded. Continuity? Well, there was that horrendous storm that they all had to contend with during the first part of the movie that I never really saw any good evidence of. Special effects? They run from being pretty good and reminiscent, I think, of the last season of the original "Battlestar Galactica" and the TV mini series "V", to being REALLY bad. Certain shots of the galaxy look more like an out of focus photo of popcorn and juju beans laying on the theatre floor. And there is that one explosion involving an alien fighter/saucer in which the use of Fourth of July fireworks, literally, is evident. Dialog and scripting? OK for the most part, terrible in spots. Example: Max, when asked how he found them, replies that he jumped in the car to look for them. Cool. The next time I'm looking for someone and I don't know where they are I'll know exactly what to do. Jimmy Hoffa will be so proud. Sound track? Again, so so. Plausability? OMG! Examples: Max, when asked where the bazooka in the back of his vehicle came from, says he found it on the side of the road and picked it up in case of an emergency. AND he downloads alien info onto his laptop from an alien contraption that must've been in some way compatible in less than a minute! Maybe Mircosoft has outlets in spots I'm unaware of. Anyway, with all it's bad points I still found enough bright spots in it, principally the special effects and the passable action sequences, for the thing to be mildly entertaining.