THE HIVE is another in a long run of creature features that premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel. A low budget TV movie adopting the same kind of rubbishy effects that marred the likes of VIPERS and IN THE SPIDER'S WEB, THE HIVE is actually something different. It starts off as a typical monster-on-the-loose flick but then turns into a science fiction movie, complete with guys in hazard suits firing plasma guns at the enemy and obliterating them in great swathes. The fact is, these aren't just ants – they're alien ants that somehow can build computer systems (!) in their cave system and turn into floating, writhing tentacles kind of like the water alien in THE ABYSS.Despite these novel plot elements, the film is as mundane as many of its kind. The acting is of a low calibre, although kudos for casting more individual looking actors and actresses rather than just relying on blonde bimbos and wooden hunks as many of these movies do. I enjoyed the fact that this was filmed on location in Thailand, as that at least means the locations are nice to look at. Despite the alien angle of the story, it's business as usual – people fight ants, win, then the ants regroup, then there's another fight, etc. until the story ends on a predictable twist. There's even the huge 'queen' ant making an appearance at the climax. The CGI effects are pretty poor and the movie is virtually devoid of gore, with only two scenes of interest to the horror fan. The first is a nice moment at the beginning in which a villager is stripped to the bone by the marauding insects, and the second is when a guy gets his visor cracked and the ants swarm into his helmet and strip the flesh from his skull. More of these bits would have made a more enjoyable, spot-the-effect type film experience.In the end, though, despite being a nice try, this is nothing more than a low rent creature flick. I liked plot elements such as the guy with the ant in his ear canal, but nothing much is made of them. For the definitive treatment on killer ants, try the Charlton Heston flick THE NAKED JUNGLE or alternatively read Peter Tremayne's The Ants or the excellent short story Leiningen vs. the Ants.

When the residents of the Bao Tao Island are attacked by ants, the government hires the Thorax Company to work with the army to exterminate the ants. The scientist Len (Kal Weber) and his friend Bill (Tom Wopat) are attacked by a swarm and lose communication with Debs (Jessica Reavis) that is recording from the base. One ant enters into Bill's ear and reaches his brain, affecting his behavior. The scientist Claire (Elizabeth Healey) arrives in the island and team-up with Len, and soon they discover that the ants can communicate and they want the island for them."The Hive" is a laughable and awfully dumb sci-fi. The first scene with the ants attacking a mother and her baby is violent and gives a wrong idea about the movie. However the story is so stupid that it is hard to believe that a producer invest his money in such garbage. And the ants have affected the brain of the viewer that liked (he rated 8 stars) this flick and has written about "an epidemic in Brazil" (LOL). My vote is two.Title (Brazil): "O Ataque das Formigas" ("The Attack of the Ants")

Hive, The (2008)* (out of 4) Extremely bad "nature" flick about two-hundred million (give or take a couple) ants that are ravaging through South Asia. The critters are eating countless people until a controversial extermination group comes in but soon they begin to think they're dealing with something much larger. I'll never claim to be any type of expert but I'm pretty sure the title, THE HIVE, is incorrect as ants live in colonies so I'm not sure what's up with the title or anything else that happens in this movie. I'm really not sure where to start on this one but I guess we can start with the actual story. Sure, I guess we could make a movie about millions of ants eating people but this film takes it a step further. Early in the film one of the workers has an ant crawl into his ear and to his brain. Soon this ant is "controlling" the man to do what the ants want but it doesn't stop here because it turns out that aliens are the ones doing all of this stuff. The story is just downright stupid but just when you think it can't get any worse it actually does. I think another major issue is the CGI, which is really bad. The effects are so obviously fake that you can never take anything serious and not for a single second will you actually think or feel as if you're watching all of these ants. What's worse is that at the end of the film the ants are teaming together and creating various things including an arm that can come down and pick someone up. Yes, more dumbness. The performances in the film are pretty much what you'd expect from a film like this and there's no question that the screenplay does none of them any justice. I think the biggest problem is that the film is simply boring. As wild, stupid and crazy as this thing is you'd think that it would at least be entertaining in a bad way but it isn't.

Tom Wopat is always fun to watch from a nostalgia aspect, and his part is very cool. At fist, though, you will wonder if the gray haired old guy really is him- it is. This movie is as other reviews have stated- much much better than what it should be. It's not gory or vulgar so the kids can watch it, but it's very entertaining for all. It's very worth a watch- better than a lot of big budget films. It's fun, if nothing else, and makes you feel satisfied, never bored. The pacing never leaves you wanting more (an aspect of the little screen I suppose). I've always thought the reason for a movie was to have fun, no matter if it's old 40's with no CG or all green screen. If it doesn't make you feel your time with the movie was worth it then it's no good, no matter what you paid for admission. This one rates.