Species

1995 "For three million years, the human race has been at the top of the evolutionary ladder. Nothing lasts forever."
5.9| 1h48m| R| en| More Info
Released: 07 July 1995 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

In 1993, the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence Project receives a transmission detailing an alien DNA structure, along with instructions on how to splice it with human DNA. The result is Sil, a sensual but deadly creature who can change from a beautiful woman to an armour-plated killing machine in the blink of an eye.

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Reviews

Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.
DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.
Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Michael O'Keefe Roger Donaldson directs this sexy slice of science fiction for MGM. In the early 1990's a Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence Project gets an answer from millions of millions mile away. If not disturbing, but eye opening, information details to scientists how to take alien DNA and splice it with human DNA. A creature(Natasha Henstridge)is formed and given the name Sil. This armor-plated creature, quick as a whisper, turns into a sensual vision of womanhood with one thing on her mind...reproduce. Sil manages to escape her containment and Xavier Fitch(Ben Kingsley), her primary creator, demands she be found and destroyed before she has the chance to breed.Violence and strong sexuality are mixed with sci-fi sequences that sustains attention. Henstridge is making her acting debut and surrounded by an apt cast featuring: Michael Madsen, Marg Helgenberger, Forest Whitaker and Alfred Molina. And briefly, the young Sil is played by Michelle Williams.
Wuchak Released in 1995, "Species" chronicles events after SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) receives a transmission from outer space detailing alien DNA structure, along with instructions on how to splice it with human DNA. This gives birth to Sil, a girl (Michele Williams) who escapes and rapidly grows into a statuesque blond obsessed with mating (Natasha Henstridge). Government agent Xavier Fitch (Ben Kingsley) assembles a team to locate and destroy Sil before she finds a mate and breeds. The team includes a tough mercenary (Michael Madsen), an anthropologist (Alfred Molina), a molecular biologist (Marg Helgenberger) and an empath (Forest Whitaker).I saw "Species" years ago and, for some reason, developed an eye-rolling attitude toward it; maybe it was due to Roger Ebert's negative review, I don't know. In any case, I'm glad I gave it a fresh viewing because this is a top-of-the-line sci-fi/adventure/horror flick. People look down on it because of the nudity and mild sex scenes, which prompts them to disdain it as exploitive and trashy. While Natasha Henstridge is a good-lookin' woman, she doesn't do anything for me (I prefer shorter, rounder women) so I was able to totally overlook this element and focus on the film's other attributes.For one, the score by Christopher Young is excellent. Secondly, the A-list cast is a highlight and their characters are increasingly fleshed-out in the story. Lastly, while people understandably write-off the movie as a Grade B plot with Grade A production, there's more here than meets the eye. For instance, Sil is the innocent pawn of the extraterrestrials who sent the DNA (more on this below). Another example is the excellent character of Dan (Whitaker) whom whiners complain about as "always pointing out the obvious" when the movie shows over and over that he DOES know things the others don't and they ignore him to their own peril. Dan is necessary so that the team knows what direction the creature takes on repeated occasions; without Dan we'd see them pursue one boring dead-end after another.While snobby film critics love to hate "Species" it's a thoroughly entertaining sci-fi adventure with an interesting moral and a great cast of characters. If you like films like "Alien," "Aliens," "Terminator," "Terminator 2" and "Predator" you'll probably appreciate it. It may not be as good as "Aliens," "Terminator" and "Terminator 2," but it's on par with "Alien" (and marginally better IMHO) and superior to "Predator." Then again, it depends on what you want in a sci-fi blockbuster. As far as I'm concerned, "Species" delivers the goods.The film runs 108 minutes and was shot in the areas of Los Angeles and Brigham City, Utah.GRADE: A- ***SPOILER ALERT*** (Don't read further unless you've seen the movie) The theory is postulated by the mercenary and biologist that the alien DNA was sent as a biological weapon, a "weed killer" from outer space to wipe out the galactic weed of earth or, more accurately, the human race that inhabits it. It's a fascinating concept and the film compellingly realizes it.
SnoopyStyle In 1993, SETI program receives a transmission documenting how to splice alien DNA with human DNA. Xavier Fitch (Ben Kingsley) leads a secret government project to do just that. They created Sil (Michelle Williams). Her growth is extremely rapid. When Fitch tries to destroy her, she escapes. She metamorphoses into a grow woman (Natasha Henstridge). She learns quickly in a world she doesn't know. Fitch gathers a diverse team to find and kill the potentially dangerous creature. Dr. Stephen Arden (Alfred Molina) is an anthropologist. Dr. Laura Baker (Marg Helgenberger) is a molecular biologist. Dan Smithson (Forest Whitaker) is an empath and Preston Lennox (Michael Madsen) is the mercenary.There is enough backstory to justify it. I really like the idea that she's interstellar weed to kill off humanity. It's Alien in a pretty package. Alien is one of my favorite movie and I certainly don't mind the pretty package. Natasha Henstridge is a little more than simply pretty. She shows both wide-eyed innocence and a bit of murderous spark. The empath is ridiculous but I still like the hunt and the thrills.
AaronCapenBanner A surprisingly strong cast of solid actors(past & future Academy Award winners Ben Kingsly & Forest Whitaker among them!), and a good director(Roger Donaldson) all involved in a trashy Sci-Fi story about an alien replicated from captured DNA in a secret government experiment, being pursued by a crack team of scientists and soldiers after she escapes, and wrecks havoc across the city as it becomes determined to reproduce its species on Earth, or die trying...Nothing new or original in this story at all, certainly not thought-provoking Science Fiction, but is slickly put together, though why such fuss was made about such low-rent material is unknown...