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Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » Fly

Fly

1 rating: 5.0

A movie directed by David Cronenberg

This version of THE FLY is an update of the original horror classic about a brilliant scientist who develops a machine that molecularly transports objects in seconds, but inadvertently combines his DNA with that of a fly. Jeff Goldblum gives an outstanding … see full wiki

Tags: Movies, Horror, Suspense

Cast: George Chuvalo

Director: David Cronenberg

Release Date: 1986

MPAA Rating: R

1 review about Fly

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The Fly ~ Help me, help meeeeee

Oct 24, 2000

by SusiDee34
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

Pros: The Idea of course......and Goldblum, magnificent

Cons: none offhand

Another dual review on the same durn movie. Oddly enough, I liked them both because the 1958 release was so damn funny and the 1986 release was so damn weird. If you have reveled with Jeff Goldblum in the 1986 version of The Fly and have never seen the 1958 release, you owe it to yourself to have a treat.

The Fly, 1958
We are dealing with a matter-transmitter here but in that ingenious way the 50's visualized how things would look in the future'. As only can be done in these older versions, we are given some really strange insights. The devices they utilize seem quite funny now and their ideas of how the future' will appear are equally incredulous since we are the distant future' they dreamed of.

This version stars David Hedison as the scientist with the vision of time travel. In all, his ideas are sound ones, but he becomes so obsessed with his experiment he forfeits all interaction with others. Finally, tiring of zapping lesser beings from Pod A to Pod B, he joins the foray of molecular transmission. Unfortunately, Mr. Everday Musca Domestica joins him on his journey and the outcome is quite disastrous as fly and man mold and change parts.

The closing scene makes the entire movie worthwhile.

The Fly ~ revisited ~ 1986
Stepping into the time changer this go around is Jeff Goldblum in a much better remake of the 58 classic. Technology gives us more options now for the truly unique. We've got the same basic matter-transmitter' but it has been updated to a spiffer 1986 version of the machine. More smoke and mirrors and whistles and bells. The story remains the same - fly/man merging scene.

Ah, but the special effects - so much more in depth. It's the late 80's now and we have more savvy about creatures and metamorphosizing and time travel and other really bizarre things. We also have cooler make up. Something about those really huge hairs sprouting out all over Goldblum's body - delightful! Of course, the acting in this one is much more sincere and not as put on as before. The best thing though was watching him change into that durn fly. He adapted the mannerisms quite well.

Some buzzzzzzzzz
In 1958 we had Hedison and Vincent Price and of course the lovely Patricia Owens as the jilted lover. Directed by Kurt Newmann with some wonderful scenes by cinematographer, Karl Struss. In 1986 we have Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, and John Getz Getz is the jilted lover this time around). This release was directed by David Cronenberg with cinematography by Mark Irwin and make up by Shonagh Jabour (won an Oscar for that make up too!).

What made the later release so much more powerful was the fact that suddenly we care about the people in the story. In the 58 release, we simply have a mad scientist but in 86 we have Goldblum as someone that really has a heart. In addition, we have Geena Davis as the love interest that Goldblum really cares about and then tries to turn away once he realizes his problem. Davis, however, wants to help him all she can, showing a sensitive nature as well.

We also run the chance of baby flies' when Davis discovers she is pregnant....could we, would we????? The make up was disgustingly wonderful and Goldblum's natural jerkiness and gangly body type are perfect for this evolving creature. Of course, we have computers in the newer version as well, something I love.

There were other older releases, The Return of the Fly and Curse of the Fly that I saw back then but I'm skipping them this time around. Two flies are aplenty! Can't wait to see if they continue the 30 year cycle of the metamorphosis and release it again in 2016. I'll be 70 and still chasing that fly with my fly swatter!

Recommended:
Yes

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