Bats | | Cast : | Lou Diamond Phillips, Dina Meyer, Bob Gunton | | Director : | Louis Morneau | | Studio : | Columbia/Tristar Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | October 22, 1999 | | DVD Released Date : | March 23, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | January 18, 2005 | | Summary | Bad bat, bad! (But fun...) | Content
 | Scientist Sheila Casper (Dina Meyer) works in rural Texas with the local sheriff Emmett Kimsey (Lou Diamond Phillips, donning a drawl) to stop the spread of genetically mutated bats. Sheila is a bona fide bat-lover, so she does everything in her power to ensure the little bloodsuckers don't come to any harm - but the trigger-happy U.S. Army has very deadly plans for the winged menaces. A guilty pleasure... once.
Staci Layne Wilson
Author of Staci's Guide to Animal Movies
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| Rating | | | Date | December 07, 2004 | | Summary | Eh? | Content
| I caught this movie last night on HBO. Unfortunately, I soon came to realize through my side-splitting laughter: This is NOT a comedy. It is actually an attempt at a horror movie. As my laughter slowly subsided, I concluded that this movie would have to make my list of 'all time worst movies', ranking right up there with Tank Girl and Plan 9 From Outer Space.
From what i could gather from the rather drab and non-existant plot, a cave of monster bats have been awakened by a military operation with some sort of super cooling unit. Now, they are mad and hungry and killing people. One thing leads to another, with events that you can see coming a mile away. The ending fits nicely between predictable and utterly stupid. And now, on to those vicious, scary creatures....THE BATS! (Hint: sarcasm)
First of all, if you know anything about bats, you know they use sonar to see. And if you have ever seen the movie Predator, my favorite movie, you will notice the rip offs right away. The bats see in what looks exactly like the Predator's Infrared, not to mention they make the EXACT same clicking sound that was one of the trademarks of the Predator. These 'monster bats' were about 8 times the size of a normal bat, and had to be probably the most poorly animated, goofiest looking puppet work i have ever seen. The 'special effects' were non-existant. Must have been a low budget film, because when the flock of bats would fly by, it pretty much looked like a mudslide with a few flapping animations thrown in for good measure.
What would posess someone to make a movie like this is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, every now and then i enjoy watching a bad movie, just for the sheer appreciation of the work that went into making it so bad. But this movie...I don't think i can ever watch it again. For the first movie i've seen Lou Diamond PHilips be in for the past 5 or so years, you think he could've done something better.
The bottom line is: Whether you are a horror fan or an action fan, a suspense or thriller fan, whatever it is you like about movies....then you will NOT like this movie. It was clearly aimed toward the impulsive desires of every 12 year old kid out there, which is senseless blood and gore. The acting is terrible. The plot is non-existant. The special effects....well...actually....there were none, unless you count the computer effects that an unskilled computer tech could throw together in about 2 hours. Just AVOID this movie if you know whats good for you. Young kids may enjoy it, but if you have any sense and have the capability to determine the qualities of a decent movie, then avoid this at all costs. Go see The Birds or something similair instead.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 25, 2004 | | Summary | A Movie Wrapped in Stupidity.......But Still Fun??! | Content
| I love all types of Horror films, from the A productions like "Freddy vs. Jason" to cult favorites like "Bad Taste" to just plain stupid like "Ice Cream Man". So, last night I watched "Bats", and boy was it stupid. The storyline about genetically altered bats terrorizing a small texas town was stupid. The computer animated bats looked awful, but what was even worse was the rubberized, halloween decoration puppet bats with little gargoyle faces! Then you had Lou Diamond Phillips trying to keep a striaght face through all of this while chomping on a Boss Hogg size stogie. Leon plays the comic relief of the film by spouting off things like "I'm going to Antarctica...I did the research...not one bat in Antarctica". So yes this is one stupid movie, but I was still entertained. Inadvertant or not, the movie is funny, and if you don't find yourself chuckling as the citizens of the small town panic and destroy almost every building in sight, the you don't know funny. It doesn't have the charm of "Tremors", but it's not a snoozefest like "Skeeter" either. And let's face it, if you are even contemplating buying "Bats" you are not looking for "Shakespeare in Love", you most likely, want some dumb, mind numbing entertainment which "Bats" does provide. And I see used copies listed here for under $3, so for less than a rental you can actually own some grade-b, Hollywood cheese. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 26, 2004 | | Summary | BATBUSTERS | Content
| A young couple are having a small disagreement; they are parked in his car on the outskirts of town. He gets out to grab a brew, and when he comes back, they are attacked by something horrible and they are horribly mutilated. Suddenly the CDC is called in, and determine that the killers were bats, giant predatory bats. Enter Dina Meyer and Leon as bat researchers, who are asked to aid in the investigation. Joining in is the local sheriff (Lou Diamond Phillips), and the two doctors who reveal their connection with the bats...genetic experimentation of course. Now the rush is on to find and capture the two leaders, but of course they carry a virus which has affected the other bats, and now we have millions of bats on the loose.
BATS is one of those guilty pleasures, but credit the movie for its frenetic pacing, laudable special effects, even with the puppet bats in close ups. They still manage to frighten. The bats attack Gallup in an extended scene that packs a punch.
This felt like going to a drive in on a Friday night in the fifties or sixties. A good fright flick and no guilt in the morning. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 23, 2004 | | Summary | Cheesy, B-Grade Action and Fun | Content
| I'd have to say that more than 50% of the movies in my collection are considered cheesy horror, and they too on their release were heralded by much higher paid critics than you'll find here as trash. With the passing of time, they've become...you bet, "Cheesy Movie Classics". When I went to see this movie at the theater, I was expecting exactly what I got, a B-Grade horror film with a high budget. I wanted something that felt and tasted like the popcorn munchers from the 70's and 80's; movies like "Food of the Gods" and "Grizzly", and that's exactly what I got. You have a top of the line cast playing at fun in a fast-paced bats rule the earth horror film. I for one think Lou Diamond Phillips make a very capable, strong male lead, and that's saying a lot, because I was never particularly fond of him. But having lost track of him over the past several years, I've seen him popping up more and more, and I've noticed he's developed into a very capable actor. As for Dina Meyers, she plays her part with gusto, and not only is she beautiful and sexy, but comes off as a very strong and confident scientist trying to do a serious job of killing Bats. Lots of flesh hungry, disease ridden Bats! So if you're looking for a fun, cheesy, midnight movie-style, Drive-In type film, with a taste and feel of all those old monster movies (and believe me, one day this will be on the "Cheesy Movie Classic" list) this is it. All others, apply elsewhere. |
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