2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible 'Virus-Meets-Terrorists' Movie with No Originality Whatsoever, July 4, 2006
This review is from: Global Effect (DVD)
`Global Effect' is a B-movie starring Mädchen Amick, Daniel Bernhardt, Joel West, and Arnold Vosloo, that combines two things that are getting more and more serious issues these days: they are terrorists and deadly virus. This film has made an ill-advised attempt to mix these two factors to create a dumb and thrill-less action that is nowhere near `The Andromeda Strain' or even `Outbreak.'
Read the following summery if you please, and you will know the story of `Global Effect's is a real mess. After a weak opening that clearly imitates that of `Outbreak,' the film introduces us to the research team studying certain lethal virus that would kill the entire population of the world if it is spread outside the facility in South Africa. But they do find a cure by a very silly accident, and they are so happy that next day they decorate their lab like someone's birthday party. All these things happen in the first 10 minutes.
Now a terrorist group led by a fanatic leader (Bernhardt) attacks the place, and as these groups led by fanatics always do, they kidnap Dr. Sera Levitt (Amick) who just found out the serum effective against the deadly disease. As the only person who knows how to produce vaccine is kidnapped by the terrorists, US government sends a special assault team to South Africa, where they shoot lots of bad guys in a low-budget `Commando' fashion. In the meantime the virus starts to spread all over the country, and Arnold Vosloo's Dr. Hume says before the generals that he is very sorry for letting this happen, by keeping this lethal virus at the institute where no guards or no soldiers protect from the bad people. .
The story is a joke, and so are the actions, which are all done in a lackluster way. You never get any thrills while watching these by-the-number actions, where no originality can be found. Mädchen Amick is still beautiful, but is awfully miscast, and even Arnold Vosloo (as a cameo), who was much better in two `Mummy' films, has nothing to do except standing in front of the camera and delivering some uninteresting dialogues. Watching this film was total waste of my time, and don't let that happen to you by doing the same.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
SAY GOODBYE TO CAPETOWN, January 9, 2005
This review is from: Global Effect (DVD)
GLOBAL EFFECT is one of those let's steal the virus and anecdote to hold the world hostage thrillers. As such, it's not bad, it's just rehashed from several other recent movies with similar themes. In this one, Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks) is the lovely doctor who is working on a cure for a horrifying new virus out of (where else?) South Africa. Enter Nile Spencer (Joel West), a new age terrorist who plans to use the virus to wipe out "undesireables" and bring the world to perfect harmony. Right! Next we have Daniel Bernhardt (Future War, G-2 Mortal Conquest) as the quiet but deadly hero who is sent to rescue the kidnapped Amchek and save the world. Spencer manages to get the virus out by injecting his girlfriend and sending her out amongst the crowds. Soon the virus spreads like wildfire and some government official (played earnestly by Carolyn Hennessey) has to make the decision: wait for the rescue of Amchek or follow her comrade's advice: nuke the continent of Africa.
The clock keeps ticking away and of course, the virus manages to get to the United States via a government diplomat.
The pacing is pretty good and the cast performs admirably. Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) is even around with a stone face and the vitality of an avocado, but he's not detriment--his character is not that important. West makes a particularly smarmy egotist. Fun for its conviction and courage to take a few risks, like wiping out Capetown! Bombs away!
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