2/5 Inspired silliness.
  by Robert P. Beveridge (Cleveland, OH)
Swarmed (Paul Ziller, 2005)

What is it about movies that use CGI dots to represent swarms of flying things that I just can't stay away from? Okay, I admit, I was the target market for this movie; killer-bug movies were a huge part of my childhood growing up-- the rash of deadly-ant flicks of the late seventies, the killer-spider movies that followed soon after, the killer bee movies... I devoured them all in my preadolescent years. Genetically-altered wasps? Bring it on! That said, when top billing goes to a mediocre TV actor and a former supermodel, you can be relatively sure that you've got a cheesefest on your hands.

Plot: scientist (Michael Shanks of Stargate: SG-1) and environmentalist bug girl (Carol Alt of, erm, many Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues) have to fight a swarm of genetically altered, and very angry, yellowjackets. As with all killer-bug movies, there's something big going on in a nearby town, and the local higher-ups must make sure that nothing, but nothing, stops this thing from going on (in this case, it's a hamburger cook-off, which I gotta say was an inspired touch), even if not stopping it involves the deaths of everyone in the town. Add in a plucky exterminator (Narc's Richard Chevolleau), his apprentice (Take the Lead's Jonathan Malen), and the Guy Who Will not Be Stopped (Tim Thomerson) and hey, you have a movie.

Yes, it's dumb. It's a killer bee movie, of course it's dumb. Even when killer bee movies were in vogue (which, for trivia purposes, was from 1974 through 1978-- The Killer Bees to The Swarm), they were dumb. You were expecting great cinema from a passel of CGI dots and a supermodel? But it's fun dumb. Not fun dumb enough to transcend the awful acting, barely competent direction, and consistent overlighting that are the hallmark of the Sci-Fi Channel Original Movie, but you could certainly find worse ways to kill an hour and a half. **

4/5 enjoyable- not enough shanks
  by N. Stepro (new albany, IN United States)
Hey, I enjoyed it. a fun film, not taking itself seriously. I mean could you imagine the lawsuits in reality, not to mention the govt. coming down on the initial lab's a$$ about proper precautions, unauthorized personel, etc.

My only big beef was No.1 corpse's mouth being agape while on the table, and then closed for the close-up for the coroner to open his mouth.

Big creep out moment- the mayor getting it in the eye. Phobia wise I had to look away. I loved the assistant going after the bee with the double barrel! Fun, that!

Shanks was enjoyable. I don't know if this was a Sci-Fi production or not and he was required to be in this, but honestly he seemed fine in it. I mean , it isn't King Lear. Plus, I think the actor learned during his 'ascension' from Stargate:SG1 that work is work (I can't believe how many actors seem to forget that when they get into a successful series).

Lots of fun satisfying moments. its always fun when the bad guys, well not so much bad as as-holes, 'getting it' right after minimizing the danger. Wouldn't that be great in real life? Some jerk cuts ahead of you in line and , say, trips and breaks her leg on her way out. god, wouldn't that be great?

Another ick moment- Thomerson and the wasps in the air hose. Kent (Shanks) explaining things for us and then Alt (enton... entym... bug scientist) finishing it because she knows it already. And the 2 of them going after the swarm with the hero armed with 2 cans of Fix-a-flat, and little lady scientist with the big extinguisher. All in all a 4 star- I like it rating.


2/5 Yellow Jackets Not Bees
  by Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States)
A firm is testing a new bug killer and accidentally creates two extra-mean and extra-toxic wasps. One is killed right away but the other manages to escape and kill. The new bug killer is not doing too well. Then a sample of the stuff gets used in the field and a whole new batch of the beasties is created. These creatures are meaner than usual and their attack pheromones help draw other, less lethal, yellow jackets to join the swarm.

Meanwhile the town is planning a big national cooking competition to determine the greatest hamburger. Apparently yellow jackets are drawn to raw meat. A lot is riding on the festival and a number of characters will do anything to make sure it goes on without a hitch. So finally we have a scientist, a sexy entomologist, an exterminator and a cop as the only defense we have against the killer swarm. The action culminates at the festival and we have the movie's finale.

This one is bad. It bears some resemblance to The Deadly Swarm but just does a lot of weird stuff. The special effects are not in line with the plot. The bug killer should kill 75% yet the field test results in more live yellow jackets than the nest should be able to hold. This is the first-annual cook-off but the press interviews the previous year's winner. Smoke causes a hive to wake up while in reality smoke is used to sedate them. Finally, it is almost laughable to see these yellow jackets actively fly into flaming barbeque grills (the flames have no effect on them although it is later used as a weapon). Countless other silly bits abound. Check out the minuscule barbell the Mayor needs a spotter's help with. All in all a fun movie to heckle but one that makes little sense.

3/5 Good little movie
  by Andre Villemaire (Canada)
If you like these types of movies, you will not regret this one.
Its really pretty good, has a story and characters that you
will love/hate. The effects are decent and if you ever saw a swarm
fly buy, it will bring back some memories when you see the swarms
flying in the movie which makes the movie even better.
The only problem is with the lame ending...but heck you cant
win them all. Give it a shot....

3/5 BIZZY BEEZ
  by Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA)
Bees have never looked as vicious as they do in this made for SCIFI CHANNEL movie. Although the plot is derivative and the acting fairly mundane, SWARMED is a creepy tale of genetically charged bees with killer venom and stings. Michael Shanks from STARGATE 1 looks bored in his role as the scientist responsible for the mutations and former model Carol Alt tries hard to look ditzy, but only manages to look stupid..sorry, Carol. There are some creepy bee attacks, a Will Smith wannabe and the always watchable Tim Thomerson as the king of the Barbecue Sauce.
It's pretty farfetched and has an ending that defies logic, but it's fun anyway.