@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

Just wondered in these exciting times whether this would be worth a rewatch?

Been years since I've seen it - my only recollection is of thinking that it was a bit of a cut and shut. First half seemed a pretty reasonable, realistic attempt to depict what an out of control virus situation might be like but then the second half turned into something of a car chase? Not sure if that's correct but that's my - admittedly fading - recollection of it...

Don't remember much either. How about a double feature with The Andromeda Strain

Steven Soderbergh's Contagion would probably be a better option if you're looking for something a bit more in depth and realistic.

@JustinJackFlash said:

Steven Soderbergh's Contagion would probably be a better option if you're looking for something a bit more in depth and realistic.

Weird. Never heard of that film at all!

Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow's a big viewing ask though!

Contagion definitely is the better and more realistic film. It’s a bit dry and bleak but worth a watch. I have it on dvd, I think I’ll watch it tonight with the family. :)

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

@JustinJackFlash said:

Steven Soderbergh's Contagion would probably be a better option if you're looking for something a bit more in depth and realistic.

Weird. Never heard of that film at all!

Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow's a big viewing ask though!

I understand the beef with Law and Paltrow. But Matt Damon is generally well liked these days isn't he?

I remember a film from the early 90s "The Plague" based on Albert Camu's novel. With William Hurt and an international cast. I think it was an Argentine film and kind of dull. But lots of folks dropping dead.

@catmydogs said:

Contagion definitely is the better and more realistic film. It’s a bit dry and bleak but worth a watch. I have it on dvd, I think I’ll watch it tonight with the family. :)

Watched both this and Contagion again in light of the recent pandemic too.

I agree Contagion was much more realistic but it was so....dull. Conversely, this was very OTT. I know it was meant to be a Hollywood blockbuster but I don't remember it being so outlandish. If only there was a happy medium between the two.

If I had to choose between them though...probably Outbreak purely on the entertainment factor. And the helicopter chase scene is comedy gold!

So Netflix finally got it's act together and added Outbreak, so I watched both this and Contagion!

I said car chase but yes it was actually a helicopter chase. The second half just turns into a Hollywood action film with The Fugitive style pretentions.

This film is ridiculous though - The guy in the biohazard lab absentmindedly (whilst being annoyed at a sports result) putting his hand in the centrifuge and landing up with a blood sprayed face! Then Kevin Spacey walks off ripping his suit because his air supply is still attached. And then Rene Russo managed to stab herself through her protective glove with a needle 😂

I'm just glad they cut the scene where Dustin Hoffman slipped on a banana skin and spilled a sample of the virus all over his face...

Was it Outbreak or Contagion that had that extended sequence showing the virus germs spreading through the air from person to person? Think part of it was in a cinema.

That's in outbreak - pretty good show of how Coronavirus may be spreading through the air.

The guy (who actually looks like he's about to die and clearly should be no where near a public space!) coughs it up all over the cinema - zooms in with a super slow mo showing the particles heading straight into the mouth of some popcorn guzzler!

In fact - I think he was the same guy who got sprayed in the face with blood from the centrifuge earlier. Clearly had no business working in that environment...

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

That's in outbreak - pretty good show of how Coronavirus may be spreading through the air.

Yeah, I was impressed by that scene back in the day. I don't think it had ever been shown in that kind of detail exactly how a disease could spread.

With regards to Cornoavirus, I don't think anybody knows how it really spreads. I hear a different explanation every five minutes.

@JustinJackFlash said:

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

That's in outbreak - pretty good show of how Coronavirus may be spreading through the air.

Yeah, I was impressed by that scene back in the day. I don't think it had ever been shown in that kind of detail exactly how a disease could spread.

There was another pretty good scene which showed how the virus was now airborne by following the vents from a car accident patient to the infected.

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

I said car chase but yes it was actually a helicopter chase. The second half just turns into a Hollywood action film with The Fugitive style pretentions.

There was a short car chase seen involving the local hillbillies who subsequently got blown up by the chasing helicopter after they started shooting at it!

So yeah, overall the film started off quite plausible then suddenly became ridiculous. Still prefer it over Contagion though!

@cpheonix said:

@JustinJackFlash said:

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

That's in outbreak - pretty good show of how Coronavirus may be spreading through the air.

Yeah, I was impressed by that scene back in the day. I don't think it had ever been shown in that kind of detail exactly how a disease could spread.

There was another pretty good scene which showed how the virus was now airborne by following the vents from a car accident patient to the infected.

Oh, can't remember that bit. It has to be about 20 years since I saw Outbreak though. I should probably give it a re-watch.