Product Details

• Actors: Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tony Shalhoub, Tim Guinee
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JKS5

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's P.K.Dick: Fugitive in the Future to Unsettle Your Heart, January 1, 2002

By 

Tsuyoshi (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Facts first. "Impostor" is based on P.K. Dick's short story and its cast include familiar faces in this sci-fi genre; Gary Sinise appeared in "Mission to Mars": Vincent D'Onofrio in "Men in Black": Madeleine Stowe in "12 Monkeys" and Tony Shalhoub in "Galaxy Quest" and "Men in Black" again. Typecast? You may think. Forget it, and watch the names of director and writers.

Gary Fleder is famous for the gripping thriller "Kiss the Girls" but more impressive names are Ehren Kruger and David Twohy. Kruger is responsible for "Scream 3" "Reindeer Games" and that shocker "Arlington Road," and of course Twohy is a guy behind the camera of "Pitch Black." Now you know what I am going to say. "Impostor" is very an unsettling movie, to say the least.

And the original short story was written by P.K. Dick, master of creating an authentic view on the future world. The film version respects that merit, and in the first three minutes throws you into the world at a devastating war with aliens in the shortest way. After that, the film follows the protagonist, a scientist Spencer (Sinise), who, without his knowing, got involved in a plot whose nature should remain secret here. As a result, Spencer runs away in a "Fugitive" fashion to prove the truth, hiding from the government agent (D'Onofrio) who is obsessed with hunting down every suspect in an uncompromising way. Here the director Fleder keeps a good, fast pace from the surprising opening to the end, grabbing your attention throughout the movie. The producion designs that realize the bleak future world (including a hospital where Stowe's character works, or ID system that recongize you anywhere you go) are, if familiar, very impressive visually. Though the idea itself is not particularly new, the director guides you skillfully through the maze of the future world.

This film has already been released theatrically in Japan with the title "Clone" in the autumn of 2001, and is originally based on a short film Fleder is said to have made. Dimention Films first commissioned omnibus short sci-fi films from three directors, and one of them was Fleder's. The company was so happy about his segment that they made it a feature film, which turned out to be "Impostor." As this production history suggests, "Impostor" suffers a little from the prolonged middle-section. The episodes about stealing medicines, or unlikely friendship between a bounty hunter (Mekhi Phifer) and Spencer seems a bit contrived though still engaging in their ways. And you may think that underrated Shalhoub is wasted again in a relatively minor role.

However, as a whole I am satisfied with this adaptation of the sci-fi master P.K. Dick, and if you are interested in his name (or anyone involved in the film), have a look. It is worth that. But beware: this is not a film for everybody's taste.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprise Find, February 18, 2006

By 

Ron (Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Impostor (Director's Cut) (DVD)

I had never heard of this film until I rented it, then purchased it after watching. Originally it was to be a 40 minute film tied together with 2 others to make one giant film about the relationship between humans and aliens. The story was then expanded upon to make it a feature all by itself. The story taken from an excellent short story from Philip K Dick, involves a not to distant future earth at war with an alien race we never really see. Earth cities are protected by domes as the aliens seek a way to get to us. This leads to a paranoid society trying to do anything to protect itself. Sinise is excellent in his role as he takes us on one adventure after another as he tries to prove to the authorities that he is not an alien plant. The twist ending was also a plus for the movie. The pciture is not perfect, and the extras suck, but this one is a good watch.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DO YOURSELF A FAVOR..DONT READ ANY REVIEWS OTHER THAN THIS ONE!!!, May 18, 2007

By 

Robert M. Bonnett "bobbinthehouse" (towson, md.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Impostor (Director's Cut) (DVD)

There are too many folks out there that feel they have to ruin it for everybody by telling you about the surprises in a movie! i guess this makes them smarter than the rest of us . After all we would rather have the experienc ourselves! Just watch the movie and enjoy the unfolding story! Its science fiction so dont look for deep inner meanings....Its a fun movie with exceptional surround sound effects!! I loved it!!!