I picked up this movie on DVD for a very reasonable price, I'd heard of it but didn't know anything about they plot or who starred in it. I was sold on the fact Anthony Hopkins is in it and curious about how Cuba Gooding Jr would play alongside an incredible actor like Hopkins.Hopkins for me in this movie once again proves how brilliant he can be in a challenging role, he is effortless, natural and subtle even when he doesn't speak, his eyes, his movements pour out emotion and feeling. He raises what could have been an average movie into something heartfelt and inspiring. I really wanted a big scene with Hopkins in-which he verbally took his performance over the top and blew it out of the water with intensity and drama but I was more than happy with the softer more subtle side of his performance.I soo wanted to love Cuba Gooding Jr performance in this movie, he has a very easy to watch and enjoyable quality about him which iv found in all they other movies iv watched starring him, however in this movie at times I felt as though at times he was a little bit out of his depth. To go up against an actor the calibre of Anthony Hopkins you really need to be able to stand your ground and bring more to the table as far as depth and intensity and I didn't feel that from Cuba. At times it felt as though he was trying to hard and was trying to match Hopkins in the performance stakes. Don't get me wrong he did a great job and was enjoyable and I commend him on his efforts but it felt as though there was something missing in his performance.The plot wasn't my cup of tea but it won me around and totally had me engaged me. The scenes with the Gorillas and Hopkins, were touching and beautifully directed.Overall, this movie is definitely worth watching, its easy-going, warm and touching but at times brutal and harrowing. Its an engaging mixed bag of emotions that rolled up make for an inspiring and entertaining movie which delivers ultimately an important message

(Credit IMDb) Nearly two years after having gone amiss in Africa, renowned anthropologist Dr. Ethan Powell is caught committing a crime and subsequently imprisoned in a Florida mental institution, where aspiring psychiatrist Dr. Theo Calder takes over his important case. Dr. Powell, who has been with a group of gorillas during all that time, is not talking at all and seems to be living in a dream world. Very slowly, Dr. Calder manages to reach Ethan Powell and starts finding out why Ethan killed two of the poachers. Yet Theo's case is not just about why the murders have happened, but also about how Dr. Powell became the being he is in the first place. With Ethan's silence broken, Theo is introduced into a world beyond common human comprehension: The true nature of being. He learns that mankind's control of everything is a mere illusion and that the true values of existence can't be found so easily. Ethan changes Theo's view of things forever.Instinct is a powerful film, which succeeds more often then not. I've seen critics bash this film, and IMDb reviewers themselves, and for what? It's got a strong story, a great background story regarding Hopkins, and whenever those two interacted I was on the edge of my seat. I was also really touched by some of the flashback scenes with Hopkins and the Gorilla's, it was very well done. What starts off as a power struggle between Cuba and Hopkins turns into a unique and beautiful friendship, and I loved the way it went down. This is one of Cuba's most underrated movies, and I don't get the disdain for it.Performances. Anthony Hopkins is excellent here, as usual. His intensity knows no bounds, and I always felt alert and glued to my seat whenever his presence was on my T.V screen. His chemistry with Cuba was great as well. Cuba Gooding is very effective here, giving one of his finest performances in his hey-day of success. I've always been a big fan of his, and wish his work was fine these days such as this one. Donald Sutherland is wasted in a bit role here, he was OK. Maura Tierney is good in her limited screen time.Bottom line. I don't get why people dislike this movie, it's got everything I want in a Dramatization. Hopefully you'll be like me, and see this movie for what I feel it is, a really good film. Very much recommended.8/10

This movie is absolutely incredible. It's one of those that will stay with you for days, that will make you think about your place in the world. It will change you. I think this will have to be one of my top ten favorite movies. It might even make a shorter list. I remember when I read the book, Ishmael, I felt the same way, so I wasn't surprised to read in the opening credits that the movie was influenced by that book. Anthony Hopkins is a brilliant actor, and he delivered a brilliant performance. However, he was supported by an array of brilliance. I rarely watch movies a second time, but this one will remain a classic to me, and, as I re-read Ishmael, so will I re-watch Instinct.

I have been watching movies ever since I was a child and given this fact, I am so picky about movies and not like many whose experiences don't pass ten movies and dare to watch a silly movie and say it is the best. Instinct is just one of the very very few mesmerizing movies. It really got me sitting breathless waiting for the lessons coming out from Hopkin's mouth and played on Gooding Jr's eyes just wonderfully. I mean those who know Cuba Gooding Jr's ability of getting you right where the role should (no body forgets his brilliance in Men of Honor). I guess "Instinct" giving you the chance to watch two gigantic actors (Hopkins and Gooding Jr.) and the lines in the movies are just as important.I wasn't exaggerating at all but a story that is about a professor who was willing to forget about his only daughter, forsake every thing that has to do with life's most joyous materialistic things and no ambition can drag him down anymore! Such personality must make you wonder how and why a man can leave all that! The answer is simply that nothing really exists or matters as long as humanity which was supposed to be out of the jungle and in the civilized world, was actually not there but among a bunch of gorillas!!!! Instinct is one of the slow paced movies but this is necessary when the movie has a moral. I find it strange that some people don't really find the intensity in slow paced movies such as Instinct, Deer Hunter, The Big Kahuna,etc...Though John Turteltaub doesn't have a record of great movies but his directing in this movie is just brilliant and those who are into philosophical and psychological scenes, will know what I am talking about when they get to see the movie. The duct tape scene is probably the master scene, however, the one at the end when Hopkins is facing the window making you wonder what's in his head is also a scene of no less importance, it shows great directing paying attention to many details like the light outside the window, Hopkins colleagues, the way Hopkins is standing. I guess that was just genius. I definitely give Instinct 10 out of 10.