Hollow Man

MPAA Rating: for strong violence, language, and some sexuality/nudity

Reviewed by: Brett Willis

STAFF WRITER
Moral Rating:
Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:

Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Thriller
Length:
1 hr. 45 min.
Year of Release:
2000
USA Release:

Relevant Issue
Featuring:

Elisabeth Shue, Kim Dickens, Kevin Bacon, Greg Grunberg, Josh Brolin

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Producer:

Douglas Wick, Alan Marshall

Distributor: Columbia Tristar

A major test of a persons inner makeup is: What would you do if no one could see
you do it? The title character in this film, based loosely on H.G. Wells' The Invisible
Man, fails that test and meets a fate similar to that of the character in the original
novel. The film title may be more a reference to his nature than to his invisibility.

Dr. Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon), a brilliant, but arrogant and self-centered
scientist, heads up a research team pursuing the secrets of invisibility. As the film
opens, we see (graphically, as a rat is eaten by an invisible lab animal) that theyve
already perfected an invisibility serum; what they still need is a stable antidote.
After Cainein a flash of geniushas apparently found one, he hides that fact from
the military researchers funding the project because he wants more time to do
research his own way. He also lies to his team, telling them that theyve been given
clearance to do human testing, and volunteers himself for the test. The rest is
standard formula Sci-Fi; and with modern Computer-Generated graphics plus
direction by Paul Verhoeven, it wont be pretty.

Content warnings

The profanity and sexual language are extreme. Theres a reference to God being
displeased with the teams research, which would probably be correct although
theyre joking when they say it. After Caine becomes invisible and the antidote fails,
he begins to act erratically (that is, more erratic than he did before). Hed previously
been fascinated by a woman in the apartment across from his, whod begin to
undress and then pull her blinds at the last moment. Once hes invisible and
witnesses this same spectacle, he argues with himself: Dont even think about it.
Whos gonna know? After sneaking into her apartment, he doesnt just watchhe
assaults her. Using his invisibility, he commits other sexual assaults as well as
several murders. And of course theres the crowning mark of a movie villain: cruelty
to animals. Caine explains: Its amazing what you can do when you dont have to
look at yourself in the mirror anymore. Theres partial female nudity in some of the
assaults. Caine and his CG double are sometimes shown frontal nude (including
when hes only partially visible, or is seen through infrared goggles). The last
section of the film is scary and filled with graphic violence. Although the subject
matter is completely different, it manages to borrow heavily from Aliens, with
Caines former girlfriend Linda McKay (Elisabeth Shue) taking the part of Ripley.
part of Ripley.

We cant tell how much of Caines behavior is something he always would have
done if hed thought he could get away with it, and how much is a side-effect of the
serum. But based on his actions and inappropriate comments earlier in the film, it
seems that he was always an accident waiting to happen. Bacon combines in this
role the renegade scientist character from Flatliners and the on-edge criminal as
seen in The River Wild and in some of his more recent films.

There are perhaps three pluses to this film. One is the amazing show of CG
animation: as the invisibility serum or its antidote are injected, we see the test
subjects disappear or reappear one blood vessel and one layer of tissue at a time;
there are also the various ways in which Caines invisibility can be compromised,
such as motion trackers, infrared goggles, leaving footprints, or being coated with
water (or blood). The second is the point that someone like Caine is not a good role
model, and the kind of research hes doing is dangerous (as if we needed to be told
that). The third is that the more films Bacon makes, the easier it is to play the
Three Steps Removed from Kevin Bacon game. My primary reason for seeing it
was the animation graphics as shown in the previews. Was that a good reason?
Looking back, Id say it wasnt good enough. I didnt really need to see an invisible
hand unbuttoning a womans blouse, and neither does anyone else.

The answer to Caines rhetorical question Whos gonna know? is of course that he
would know and God would know. What we do today affects what we are tomorrow.
And in the last judgment, God will be able to replay anything from our liveseven
our thoughts. Jesus (Matt. 5:28) said that when a man lusts after a woman, hes
already committed adultery in his heart. Caine should have kept his own blinds
shut; and those thinking of seeing this film need to ask what it might do to their own
hearts.

Viewers comments:
Hollow Man is about a perverted invisible genius who goes crazy when they cant
bring him back to visible again. Violence, sex, nudity, and profanity is very much a
part of this movie This movie is filled with so much trash that it is just annoying
after a while. There are several scenes of more-than-brief nudity, and several
scenes of sex are shown (while no nudity is shown at this point). Profanity is just too
much, and is just plain distracting from the plot. The plot is entirely predictable. The
special effects is the only fulfilling part of this movie, although there is nothing
extraordinary to see. Theyre cool to say the best of them, and little is shown

beyond the preview trailers. This is not a movie to see. I can personally say that the
special effects are nothing more than the previews. The profanity is very
distracting, the nudity disturbing, and the perverted nature of the movie is just plain
horrible. My Ratings: [1/2]
Doug Stuart, age 19

This movie was really a waste of my money. Whats even worse was seeing all the
gratuituous nude scenes and hearing all the profanities and sexual references made
by most of the characters. I lost count of the times womens breasts were exposed
in a rather vulgar way. Please, dont waste your time and money on this flick.
Theres nothing positive in it, and you might regret wasting 2 hours of your life
watching this poor excuse for a movie. My Ratings: [1/3]
Veronica Narvaez, age 25

My mother always told me to try and find the good in everything This movie has
good special effects. Ok. I started counting profanity from the first few minutes of
the film OVER 50 counts of needless obscene words. Of which 15 or so took our
Lords name in vain. And if that wasnt enough, the blatent showing of nudity
pushed it over the top. Nudity is shown from the first few minutes of the film
throughout among which are a rape scene (not shown in its' entirety, but implied),
another rape dream sequence ugh, it appeared that the movie was short in
length, so the added unneeded sex scenes to add length to film, and not depth to
the story Why did I stay well, to see how it ended I shouldve left, the ending
was horrible, as was the entire movie. Stay away from this film, its poorly scripted /
shot / acted [0/]
Heath Crumbacker, age 29

This movie was hollow, man! I really enjoyed the last 30 minutes, but that was
about it. I could have walked in late and seen the better, more intense and dramatic
part then. I dont recommend this one because it was just trashy. It almost rates
up there with American Pie. And thats two hours of my life Ill never get back! My
Ratings: [1/2]
Doug S, age 19

Dont waste your money on this movie! The plot is much like the title, hollow. What
the movie lacks in plot, it attempts to make up for with sexual subplots, been there,

done that special effects and excess gore. The movie has no unique twists or
positive elements. The profanity in the film also makes it one of the worst films I
have seen in a long time. If you want to see a good invisible man movie, try
Memoirs of an Invisible Man. If you want a really good invisible man story, read
the classic novel The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. My Ratings: [1/2]
Michael Rhudy, age 22

This movie was really disappointing. There was a lot of bad language and several
scenes that contained nudity. The special effects were the only interesting thing
about this movie, and they were not enough to make me overlook the bad script
and poor acting. Dont go see it. My Ratings: [2/2]
Leslie, age 25

My wife and I went to see this and were shocked at the number of instances of
nudity, mostly of womens breasts and vulgar comments about intercourse. It was
so offensive, we had to leave the movie. The concept for the movie started out to
be intriguing, but turned into basically a smut film as it progressed. Strongly urge
Christians to not see the movie. My Ratings: [1/2]
Eric and Jennifer, age 34
Comments from young people

I am a 17 year old male and this movie, that Hollywood made for me and my
species of over-active, hormone-driven teenagers, was horrible. I am a movie-aholic
and there have only been a few movies in my entire life that I actually dont like.
There is a new film to add to that list. I hardly ever go to a movie depending on its
rating, because that really doesnt mean anything anymore (thank you Titanic)
and if there is something that I shouldnt watch I will hide my eyes. Through Hollow
Man, however, my eyes had to be hidden most of the film and when they werent,
my ears should have been. This film was offensive in every aspect from nudity
(excessive nudity, I might add) to language to a bad story line (which, if you
noticed, closely resembles Deep Blue Seayep, the shark movie think about it).
DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE IF YOU ARE A GOD FEARING CHRISTIAN! My Ratings:
[1/1]
Brandon Young, age 17

I must say, I was excited to see this movie. the action was pretty poor, for such
cool technology. It was worse than a B horror movie. Heck, it was worse than a C
horror movie I have 3 major complaints about Hollow Man. 1. Writing: About as
bad as it comes. Whoever wrote it went with the If I cant explain it, Ill use big, hitech, science words that no one will understand. Or swearing. plan. No character
was developed much, not even Kevin Bacon. Oh yeah, thanks a bunch for the droll
dialogue, too. 2. The ActingLets just say this. Worse than the writing. 3. Directing
Paul Verhoeven, who also directed those two great family films, [You know,
Showgirls and Starship Troopers. ] is at the helm again here. Can this guy make
a movie without naked women [And men]? I dont think he can. There was no
reason whatsoever for ANY of the nudity. I dont need to see a girls [breasts] while
she brushes her hair. The nudity only proves that Paul Verhoeven is a pervert, too.
And while I didnt notice 50 uses of the F word, it doesnt really matter. Please dont
waste your time with this piece of junk. My Ratings: [1/1]
Jason Eaken, age 16
Movie Critics

Gratuitous nudity, sexual content, frequent vulgar language and gory violence
Preview Family Movie and TV Review

Profanity extreme due to nearly 50 uses of the f word

ScreenIt!

a low-rent imitation of Alien, claustrophobic and oddly static in spite of all the
running around
Dr. Frank Swietek, One Guys Opinion

The concept of Paul Verhoeven directing a sick little flick about an invisible man
gone mentally and morally wacko was way more intriguiging and interesting than
the final product
Trent Haaga, Tapehead