The Andromeda Strain

I saw The Andromeda Strain in 1971 when it was released. I had read the book, which doesn't always mean anything, but The Andromeda Strain was a good adaptation of Michael Crichton's book. I remember that this was my first exposure to the effects that flashing lights can have on some people. The movie is directed by Robert Wise.

It's available on youtube is 13 parts. Part 1:

part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13

The New York Times has a negative review here. Roger Ebert says, "Sometimes movies come along with buried levels, and I think this is one." Variety says it "is a high-budget 'science-fact' melodrama, marked by superb production, an excellent score, an intriguing story premise and an exciting conclusion" but is too "talky". Moria says,

The Andromeda Strain is one of the few science-fiction films that takes a great deal of effort to make sure its’ science is correct down to the nth detail. This is also one hard science film that never talks down to its audience and works all the better for it. It is also one of the few science-fiction films that actually portrays the mundane process of real science. The characters in the film are deliberately made blank – indeed the real stars of the film are the monitors, twirling mechanical arms, lab rats and sanitary procedures.

1000 Misspent Hours says the book

was one of Crichton’s best novels, and the movie adapted from it by screenwriter Nelson Gidding and director Robert Wise is one of the more impressive science fiction films of its decade, even if it does seem just a little bit dated today.