Such a frustrating disappointment

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Man's greatest enemy turns out to be the cockroach that carries a deadly virus which is devastating the American population. Enter Entomologist Dr Susan Tyler who has genetically modified a group of insects to become the cockroach's greatest enemy.Years later when the pandemic has been averted, something else is starting to kill off the human race. We are not top of the food chain. Though the designed insects were sterile and were engineered to only live six months, nature found a way, as it always does, to set a new balance.This is a very clever Sci-Fi monster movie that adds thrills and scares into the genetically altered mix. There are plenty of animals in the world that disguises themselves so they can hide when being hunted... or when hunting. So why not disguise themselves as humans? The writers, Donald A Wollheim who wrote the original short story, Matthew Robins and Guillermo del Toro, do a great job of using this fact and making this feel realistic.The realism is also in thanks to Rob Bottin who designed the creature and the character shop and other special effects maestros who brought them to life. Though released in 1997 the effects are just as strong today twenty years on. I believe this is the case due to them not relying on CGI.Del Toro does a brilliant job of bringing the story to the screen and adding his own style and artistry. He also brings the best out of his cast to make the characters believable, though, with the likes of Mira Sorvino, Giancarlo Giannini, Charles S Dutton, Josh Brolin, and F Murray Abraham, it couldn't have been too difficult. For this type of film, this is a stellar cast.Though it's not the best film Guillermo del Toro has created, it isn't his worst. If you have yet to see this movie then I would say give it a try, especially if you like monster movies, science fiction, or horror.

"Mimic" is one of those types of horror Sci-Fi movies that can be watched again and again, with a few years in between each viewing. And that is because of director Guillermo del Toro managing to put together a riveting story that crawls in under the skin and sticks with you.The story in "Mimic" is about a man-made mutated cockroach variant that were intended to destroy a mysterious disease that were plaguing mankind. But cockroaches are resilient bugs and nature has a way of evolving, leaving the insects out to destroy the only predator that threaten them, mankind.In itself a rather simple storyline, but there are layers to "Mimic" that add to the enjoyment of the movie, such the individual stories and backgrounds of the characters, and the fact that mankind brought about the abomination that they are now facing.This first "Mimic" movie does have some good talents on the cast list, including Mira Sorvino, Josh Brolin, Charles S. Dutton and even Norman Reedus. The actors and actresses did help make "Mimic" stand out as a good horror Sci-Fi and as a watchable movie.For a movie of this type then the special effects are crucial. And the effects team in "Mimic" did come together quite nicely and came up with some very interesting effects and creature designs. I have always been fascinated with the mimic ability of these insects since the first time I watched "Mimic" back in the late 1990's."Mimic" is an entertaining movie that does hold some good thrills. For a horror movie, then there is actually nothing scary about it. But that is not a bad thing, because the movie is entertaining as a thriller. And director Guillermo del Toro masterfully built up the suspense in the movie quite nicely, a suspense that permeated the entire movie from start to end.

Mimic (1997): Dir: Guilleramo Del Toro / Cast: Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Josh Brolin, Charles S. Dutton, F. Murray Abraham: Appropriately titled because it copies every Alien inspired film out there. Mira Sorvino plays a scientist who creates a breed of insects called Judas Breed through genetic engineering. It is suppose to destroy a troublesome roach population and die after six months but that doesn't seem to happen. When people begin to disappear Sorvino and company venture down to an old subway area where they are picked off one by one. Screenplay is completely recycled without a shred of originality. Director Guilleramo Del Toro has fun with it, which is fitting since he made Cronos. The special effects are the film's best asset although they never distract from the fact that we have seen variations of them in better films. Sorvino is way too talented for such flat material. At one point she is abducted by one of the creatures, but in theory, it was probably preventing her from fleeing the set. Among flat supporting players are Jeremy Northam, Josh Brolin and Charles S. Dutton and they are basically there to play lunch on the menu for these creatures to dine upon. F. Murray Abraham is an Oscar winner and seeing him reduced to this is painful. It is a pointless parade of disgust that should never be mimicked or even seen again for that matter. Score: 2 / 10

Cockroaches are causing a modern-day plague in New York City. Long, dark hospital halls are filled with rows of foreboding beds, containing doomed children. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when beautiful entomologist (bug expert) Mira Sorvino (as Susan Tyler) cross-breeds a predator to kill the roaches. This would be celebrated even if the roaches weren't killing everyone's kids. Everyone is happy with Ms. Sorvino's remedy. She hooks up with handsome Jeremy Northam (as Peter Mann) and thinks about having children of her own. But, wait… something has gone wrong! "Judas Breed" was supposed to be unable to reproduce – and they were scheduled to disappear completely around six months after killing the roaches. Apparently, they stuck around and grew into huge, hungry critters...Stylishly produced and directed, by Guillermo del Toro, "Mimic" is an engaging horror suspense story...The special effects and story fit together well and the monster effect is well-designed. The film startles with early developments, then becomes fairly predictable. You may not always know who's going, but you should be able to figure out who's coming back. Suffering from severe potty-mouth, Charles S. Dutton (as Leonard) is most obvious. Less so are Giancarlo Giannini (as Manny) and young Alexander Goodwin (as Chuy). While the insect effect is very good, some of the science could have been more realistic. The worst moment may be when Sorvino's presumably brilliant character states humans evolved from apes. Scientists smart enough to evolve insects would know humans and apes possessed common (DNA) ancestors. Apes do not "turn into humans" – except, maybe, in the movies...****** Mimic (8/22/97) Guillermo del Toro ~ Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Charles S. Dutton, Giancarlo Giannini