Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

VIRUS is a film I first saw in the early 1980s and didn't think too much of it at the time . Much of my discontent was down to the fact that the ensemble cast just seemed a little too ensemble - there's no real character that the story tries to focus on . Indeed this makes the story feel somewhat mechanical from a narrative point of view . When someone turns up to explain plot turns they disappear quickly never to be seen again . Recently I found out that I had seen the American 108 minute version rather than 156 minute original cut but I can't help thinking perhaps the 156minute cut would make things any more coherent Perhaps the problem lies in that post apocalypse fiction isn't best suited to the cinema screen . One can't help thinking its perfect medium is either literature or mini-series . NO BLADE OF GRASS would have benefited greatly from being a 4 hour mini-series rather than a disjointed 90 minute film and breaking up VIRUS in to an episodic series would have helped its story telling too From the outset we're treated to some obvious and ridiculous exposition involving the MM88 virus where characters go in to details about things they must surely know or don't need to know . At any second you expect a character to reply " But we're commie agents trying to steal a biological warfare weapon not characters in a film so please STFU " In fact when they get on a plane with the stolen virus they spend so much time talking they don't notice the mountain in front of them thereby setting up an inciting incident at its most painfully obvious . The film that becomes clichéd as people in power - in this case the staff at The White House - watch on television as the world succumbs to " The Italian flu " which is in reality the MM88 . If that's not bad enough an insane General primes America's nuclear deterrent to take out the Soviet Union just in case they decide to launch a nuclear attack " But if the world has been wiped out by the Italian flu why would anyone bother priming nuclear weapons ? " Yes but that's to do with a later contrived plot turn where survivors in the Antartic are safe from the virus since it can't reproduce in sub zero temperatures . That and the fact it's a Japanese film and we all know how the Japanese feel about nuclear missiles especially when they're being pointed by Americans Actually this is the confusing bit . If the survivors are confined to the south pole surely they'll become extinct anyway ? After all it'd be impossible to become self sufficient , you'd be unable to grow crops etc . Perhaps that's why Antartica has no indigenous population ? There's nothing to indicate that the Italian flu will die out so mankind is doomed anyway even without an imminent nuclear strike This condemns the film which is a great pity because in parts it's compelling enough for people interested in speculative fiction . The idea of a myngonist relationship is a thing of the distant pass in this new society is touched upon but like so many other ideas in VIRUS is quickly skated over and then forgotten about

Virus runs for 2hrs 35 minutes. Some of it came across as being a little cheesy and this in part was due to the soundtrack music (which grew on me and I am now searching for the LP), but overall the film gives a chilling feeling and the best "end of the world" scenario film I have ever come across. Everything that should be in this type of film is present and pulled off successfully (thanks in part to it's all star cast and good acting). Only film that I know of which has the actors give very realistic responses and moods to an impending potential doom. Besides it was by the director of Battle Royale so you know it cannot be all that bad.

"Virus" is a prestigious and massive international co-production that is guaranteed to leave some sort of positive impression on you, whether because of its unique gimmick of destroying planet Earth twice in one movie, the grim and overall very nihilistic tone of the film or simply because it gathers an unlikely all-star cast of versatile nationalities. The version I own and watched is the infamous and generally disliked American 'short' cut of 105 minutes. Everyone else claims the full & original version of 155 minutes is the only real deal, but personally I won't make any further efforts to track that one down because the shorter version already astonished me enough and I'm not big supporter of long (horror/Sci-Fi) movies anyway. The premise is deliciously paranoiac and easily one of the greatest 'the-end-of-existence-is-upon-us' stories I've ever beheld. What makes the film even greater, however, is that the slow extinction of our entire human race is atmospherically depicted from everywhere around the world. The first half of "Virus" largely exists of disturbing and genuinely harrowing images of people from all over the globe helplessly awaiting their inescapable fates. The film passes through all the major cities (London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo…) and realistically illustrates how the number of inhabitants alarmingly decreases until there are absolutely no survivors left. An airplane carrying on board the top secret and military-developed germ warfare virus MM-88 crashes and the immeasurably lethal weapon slowly spreads itself. The entire world population dies from as a result of the Italian Flu (don't know why they blame the Italians, though) and not a single government in the world is capable of saving their citizens. A few months later only the militaries and researchers stationed in Antarctica are left, because the cold temperature seemingly protects them from the virus. Inevitably the survivors face new ordeals, as there are only eight women left and approximately 850 men. But all daily issues of copulation and interracial stress suddenly become insignificant when the Antarctica base camp becomes the target of previously programmed nuclear missiles that are close to getting launched. Director Kinji Fukasako ("Battle Royale") masterfully maintains an atmosphere of both tension and absorbing melodrama. The ending leaves you speechless; the international cast perfectly and almost naturally supports each other and most of the post-apocalyptic images are breathtaking. Some really awesome names were involved in this production, often just to nonchalantly through the screen and disappear again, like Sonny Chiba, Bo Svenson, Edward James Olmos, Glenn Ford, Robert Vaughn, Henry Silva and the indescribably beautiful as always Olivia Hussey. "Virus" is a truly affecting film and quite an unforgettable demonstration of earthly unity, what with the Cold War going on at the time and all. Highly recommended, I don't care in which version.

The little known, seldom heard of film known here as 'Virus' hit the UK shores on DVD in my local supermarket bargain bin for the grand total of three quid.I took a chance and bought it…..Actually this is surprisingly a very good story with an impressive cast list that must have been desperate for the cash although Chuck Connors as a British Royal Navy Captain does take a bit of getting used to! The story line is a well thought out scenario carefully planned and I am wondering what extra interest lurked in the reportedly missing 40 or so minutes of the full Japanese edit.It was a pity therefore that this effectively straight to video effort was let down by some really bad editing, poor picture quality, duff soundtrack, too many stock images of icebergs and cities and an occasional bit of duff dialogue.It does however keep running along nicely and unlike many examples of this genre, avoids getting bogged down in unnecessary scenes or throwaway dialogue with the possible exception of the rather bizarre ending.With a bit of rewriting, some careful cast choices and a decent budget as well as modern effects, this excellent story could be remade to a standard of excellence that would put many of the big budget CGI laden super thrillers that seem to clog up cinemas these days to shame.Now, is there a movie mogul prepared to take the gamble and put his cash on the line to give this story the proper treatment it deserves?