Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8400 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-01-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Hindi
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on the evidence in Evolution, one thing is perfectly clear: special effects have evolved, but director Ivan Reitman has reverted to primitive pandering. Equally obvious is the fact that Evolution is a defacto rip-off of Reitman's 1984 classic Ghostbusters, but this time there's no Bill Murray to deliver the best punch lines (we have to settle for fellow ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd in a broad supporting role) and the comedy has devolved into a gross-fest including deep-rectal extraction of alien insects, fire-hose enemas into a giant alien sphincter, and a full-moon display of David Duchovny's naked posterior. Whereas Ghostbusters was a shrewd, irreverent mainstream comedy that combined gooey spectral ectoplasm with something resembling genuine wit, Evolution is a crude, juvenile romp in which all things slimy are elevated to comedic supremacy. Granted, that's not always a bad thing. As latter-day Ghostbusters equivalents, Duchovny, Orlando Jones and Seann William Scott make a fine comedic trio, and Julianne Moore is equally amusing as a clumsy scientist and Duchovny's obligatory love interest. Despite the meddling of clueless military buffoons, they join forces to eradicate a wild variety of rapidly evolving alien creatures that arrived on Earth via meteor impact, and the extraterrestrial beasties (courtesy of effects wizard Phil Tippet and crew) are outrageously designed and marvellously convincing. For anyone who prefers lowbrow humour, Evolution will prove as entertaining as Ghostbusters (or at least Galaxy Quest), while others may lament Reitman's shameless embrace of crudeness. One thing's for certain: after seeing this film, you'll gain a whole new appreciation for Head & Shoulders shampoo. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: Evolution's special effects and CGI are seamless and crystal clear in anamorphic widescreen with some of the "creatures" looking more realistic than the actors. This is a movie with quite a few set pieces, but none show off the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack better than the dragon attack in the mall, connect up a couple of speakers and you can hear the flap of leathery wings behind your couch. In terms of extras there's a making-of documentary from HBO called The Evolution of Evolution, hosted by Orlando Jones, in which he interviews his co-stars (most of whom seem to ignore him) and the director Ivan Reitman. You also get the behind-scenes track on the special effects and art direction. Other than that you get the theatrical trailer, the teaser trailer and the original trailer for Ghostbusters, which adds a touch classic 80s' memorabilia. --Kristen Bowditch

Video Description
DVD Special Features Making of Featurette
Production Notes
Filmographies
Trailers

Feature Run Time: 98 minutes
Subtitles: English, English (for hard of hearing), Hindi

Synopsis
Director Ivan Reitman (GHOSTBUSTERS, STRIPES, DAVE) turns from ghosts to aliens in this comedy starring David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Julianne Moore. When a meteor crashes into the Arizona desert, local community college professors Ira Kane (Duchovny) and Harry Block (Jones) are shocked to discover that it has introduced rapidly evolving aliens to Earth. Although the professors try to keep their discovery a secret, the U.S. military takes over the investigation, sealing off the fantastic creatures and the environment that the aliens have established. But when aliens start popping up on nearby golf courses and in the local mall, it's up to Kane and Block to save the world. With a little help from Allison Reed (Julianne Moore), a clumsy scientist with the Center for Disease Control, and Wayne Green (Seann William Scott), a dim-witted country club pool manager and fireman-wannabe, the two professors devise a plan using an unlikely weapon to kill the alien population before it wipes out the human race. Fittingly, former Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd appears as the governor of Arizona.

Customer Reviews

Funny..in the same vein as Ghostbusters
"Evolution," starring David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Seann William Scott and Julianne Moore, is a terrific fun summer romp. A meteorite crashes to Earth, bringing with it microscopic alien organisms that rapidly begin evolving and threaten humanity's very existence. Enter our heroes, two community college science professors Ira Kane (Duchovny) and Harry Block (Jones). They investigate the meteorite, take samples and Kane quickly realizes what is going on. But the Army has been monitoring Kane's work ever since he was drummed out of the USAMRID because of a tremendous mistake he made. They try to take over the situation, but don't really know what they're doing. CDC scientist Allison (Moore) at first works with the Army on the project, but soon realizes that it's Kane who is making the most sense.

The whole movie is done as a comedy and the jokes are fast, furious and really funny. The chemistry between the leads is fantastic. Special effects -- the alien creatures -- rocks. Don't miss this one

HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST (sorry, couldn't resist it)
I love this film, it has never failed to make me laugh and its' simplicity is the key to its' success. No deep thinking, no intricate plots and no reality. An absolute no brainer with no pretences, just good fun and light hearted humour. Those few of you that couldn't see the humour try the head and shoulders enema, it may clear your vision.

A 101 MINUTE COMEDY OF PURE LAUGHS
Growing up in the 1980's, I instantly became a sucker for almost anything director Ivan Reitman put his hands on. The man that did the impossible in making Arnold Schwarzenegger look funny (Twins, Kindergarten Cop) captured my heart and soul with Ghostbusters 1&2, two creative and visually magnificent pieces of cinematic eye-candy that hold a candle even to today's mega-budgeted blockbusters. Obviously, when I heard he was creating a modern day equivalent to the aforementioned duo only with aliens instead of ghosts, my heart skipped a more than a beat. This effect grew stronger upon learning that David Duchovny (aka Fox Mulder from The X Files) is appearing in a comical lead role, corresponding ironically with his serious, moody self from the 1990's hit series X-Files.

To tie this all up neatly, the movie itself was everything I hoped to receive - and then some. Apart from top notch comic appearances by Duchovny and Julianne Moore - actors we're used to seeing in much more serious roles, we also get an awkwardly funny Orlando Jones (where the hell did he disappear?) and an embarrassingly stupid Stifler... Er, Sean William Scott.

So how does the end of the world feel like? In an alternate future where an asteroid crashes into Earth and rapidly starts developing an intensive alien evolution, the result is cute aliens, dumbed-down dinosaurs, and a 101 minute commercial for Head & Shoulders. Have fun!