The Host *½

Andrew Niccol directed this Sci-Fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, William Hurt, Frances Fisher. Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and violence. Run time is two hours and five miinutes.

An unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories. One girl (Ronan) is determined to fight back against the alien in her mind.

This is a film with some potential if they had just edited it into a ninety minute version. As it is, it's too long and thus too slow to really keep your attention. Ronan's character is also so passive (I assume because she's got that mental battle thing going on) it was hard for me to keep interested in her. Kruger's character was far more interesting to watch. Hurt and Fisher are excellent actors but somewhat wasted in this film. I realize this was made for a younger female audience, and indeed they may really enjoy the romance aspects, but they needed to put in a little more bite for the rest of us in addition to that whole editing thing.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. There are some large outdoor vistas that will be more appreciated on a larger screen. Theatres/Times.