It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

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.

I read the book Ishnmael, upon which the film is based so was curious to see Instinct. The book had a very profound and thought provoking message about our place as humans in this world. Anthony Hopkins is very type cast- his role resembling Lecter in Silence of the Lambs and others he's been in. The 'baddie' prison staff were almost comically bad and the Assessor so very good and nice. I only watched the first half but what with the story build up and then the doe eyed looks pass between daughter and Assessor I could foresee the outcome. The film trivialized a serious message. A difficult task which fails.

Instinct (1999): Dir: Jon Turteltaub / Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding Jr., Maura Tierney, Donald Sutherland, John Ashton: It's Hannibal Lector in Africa comparing animal instincts to that of humans. Anthony Hopkins abandons his family to study gorillas in Africa. He abandons civilization and remains among gorillas for two years until he is taken prisoner for murder. Nothing is resolved in the nitwit conclusion and it would seem unfit that anyone would choose to live in the wild as oppose to be with their family. Family situation is loosely handled and the screenplay throws in unnecessary subplots including treatment of prisoners. It isn't surprising when Hopkins nearly kills an inmate due to mind screwing by guards. Directed by Jon Turteltaub who previously made two very different and more enjoyable films in While You Were Sleeping and Phenomenon. Hopkins is basically reciting his famed Lector role, which distracts any potential message. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a flatly written psychiatrist who tries to make a difference. Maura Tierney is wasted as Hopkins's daughter who is destined to remain scratching her head at it all. Donald Sutherland is featured as a judge and that is a big reduction after all his great leading roles. More African footage would have been preferred over its blatant courtroom appeal. Trust your instincts and avoid this film. Score: 2 / 10

I picked up this movie on DVD for a very reasonable price, I'd heard of it but didn't know anything about they plot or who starred in it. I was sold on the fact Anthony Hopkins is in it and curious about how Cuba Gooding Jr would play alongside an incredible actor like Hopkins.Hopkins for me in this movie once again proves how brilliant he can be in a challenging role, he is effortless, natural and subtle even when he doesn't speak, his eyes, his movements pour out emotion and feeling. He raises what could have been an average movie into something heartfelt and inspiring. I really wanted a big scene with Hopkins in-which he verbally took his performance over the top and blew it out of the water with intensity and drama but I was more than happy with the softer more subtle side of his performance.I soo wanted to love Cuba Gooding Jr performance in this movie, he has a very easy to watch and enjoyable quality about him which iv found in all they other movies iv watched starring him, however in this movie at times I felt as though at times he was a little bit out of his depth. To go up against an actor the calibre of Anthony Hopkins you really need to be able to stand your ground and bring more to the table as far as depth and intensity and I didn't feel that from Cuba. At times it felt as though he was trying to hard and was trying to match Hopkins in the performance stakes. Don't get me wrong he did a great job and was enjoyable and I commend him on his efforts but it felt as though there was something missing in his performance.The plot wasn't my cup of tea but it won me around and totally had me engaged me. The scenes with the Gorillas and Hopkins, were touching and beautifully directed.Overall, this movie is definitely worth watching, its easy-going, warm and touching but at times brutal and harrowing. Its an engaging mixed bag of emotions that rolled up make for an inspiring and entertaining movie which delivers ultimately an important message

I think the reason why there are so few who have given credit for this movie is that there are so few who have reached that level of self-awareness that this film requires to understand.This movie is very, very psychological. There are so many thoughtful, playful and subtle psychological hints, situations, story lines, and gestures that piece together the whole story that if you are not interested in behavior, or some form of deeper exchange in a movie-experience, then this is NOT a movie for you.However, for people who understand psychology, behavior, and norms, who are interested in social experiments, and who are interested in questioning human moralities, this film will simply be a masterpiece. This is one of the best movies I know. SEE IT! (Apologize for any grammatical errors, English is not my native language.)