The Swarm (1978)

Touches You

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Great Film overall

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

But Oldman also sinks deeply and empathically into Churchill's lower ebbs, projecting a sagging, load-bearing frailty and eloquence-sapping indecision we less readily associate with this semi- mythical figure. As foreign secretary Viscount Halifax (Dillane, once more compelling as a grey, rigid man of power) politically manoeuvres against him, we see Churchill flag and flounder. Not only is it impressive evidence of Oldman's dynamism and flexibility as an actor, it's also a timely reminder that world leaders should pause,

This movie begins with a small squad of armed airmen clothed in chemical protective gear cautiously entering a small Air Force substation near the town of Marysville, Texas. Upon their initial investigation they find several dead bodies and an unauthorized civilian named "Brad Crane" (Michael Caine) on the premises. It soon turns out that Brad Crane is a world famous etymologist who believes that billions of mutant African killer bees are responsible for the deaths of these airmen. Not long afterward the search party subsequently finds a medical doctor by the name of "Captain Helena Anderson" (Katherine Ross) who was hiding in a sealed room and she reports that there are a handful of wounded airmen with her in need of serious medical treatment due to bee stings. This report validates what Brad Crane has told them and as more reports come in about deaths related to these swarms of African killer bees. In no time the military turns over all of the resources they have to him but even with the excellent team of scientists that Brad Crane manages to obtain the situation soon becomes even more perilous. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie I will just say that this was much better than a similar film by the name of "The Bees" which was made during the same year. For starters, the director (Irwin Allen) made good use of the CGI technology available at the time which certainly helped to some degree. Likewise, he also managed to assemble an all-star cast as well. Additionally, unlike the previously mentioned film of the same year, the ending wasn't nearly as ridiculous. In short, although this movie has its faults and certainly won't appeal to everyone, I found it somewhat entertaining and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

the good part - the cast. the bad fact - unrealistic script. the best thing - it could become a kind of comedy. slice of a period fears and trends, it is only an ordinary dark utopia, a form of Jaws but at very different level. without be a good film, it is an useful demonstration about the taste of public and the vision of artistic team. the virtue - good intentions and few scenes. a film who remains legendary for the desire of a part of actors to give roots to a not inspired project. like many other cases, a good idea with huge potential and a not remarkable result. that is all. unrealistic but interesting for discover Michael Caine, Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland or Richard Widmark in an easy film about a huge danger. the solution - not different by the entire film.

Henry Fonda, Michael Caine, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia De Havilland, Ben Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Slim Pickens, Kathryn Ross, Jose Ferrer, Lee Grant, Patty Duke, Bradford Dillman, Cameron Mitchell. Whew!Irwin Allen Managed to Sign These "Names" for this Movie and That's Where the "Accomplishments" End. This is Arguably the Most Disastrous Disaster Movie Ever Made.It was Dated from the Get-Go. Just Who Thought that the Romantic Triangle of Sixty Somethings Would be of Interest to Ticket Buyers Under the Age of Sixty Something? The SFX are Chinsy Even by the Standards of the Day with Obvious Models, Cardboard Sets, and the Like. The Dialog Never Even Reaches Sophomoric, More Like Moronic. The Story is Never Clear on Motivation of the Killer Bees or Anything Beyond Elementary Environmental Concerns...Chemical Spraying is Bad. Nuclear Power Plants are Accidents Waiting to Happen and So Forth.The Term "Africans" is Used Throughout to Describe the Threat. Some May Say that it is a Stretch to Call that "Racist", but Considering that there is Not One Black Actor from the Leads to the Extras to be Seen in this Extremely Long Movie Says Otherwise.Overall, an Awful Waste of Money and Talent, not to Mention the Time Moviegoers Spent Watching This Embarrassing Excess of a Truly Terrible Movie Maker...Irwin Allen. A No-Talent, Deep Pockets Hack that Never Had an Original Idea or an Artistic Bone in His Body of Work. A Clueless Dumbo that was Old Before His Time.