30 Second Bottom Line: A brilliant scientist finds a way to become invisible only to learn that the process to return to visibility is faulty. The longer he remains in an invisible state, the more distorted his personality becomes.

Story Line: Sebastian (Kevin Bacon) leads a team of scientists on a special project commissioned by a high-ranking executive at the Pentagon, Dr. Kramer (William Devane). The military would like to make a man invisible and then return him to visibility at will, with an injection. Linda (Elisabeth Shue), a peer scientist and eventual heroine of the film, is the former love interest of Sebastian. He is not aware that her new lover is team member Matthew (Josh Brolin).

The first half of the film shows us the medical technology involved in invisibility. The special effects are truly amazing. You see layer by layer (literally) the complete process, visibility to invisibility…and the return. This is CGI used as it is meant to be. It seems real but you know it is not. During the first hour, you meet other members on the special team, among them Janice (Mary Randle). You are also introduced to important technology, such as the fact that even though invisible a shape is outlined briefly when it's wet (a.k.a. the "being" in The Abyss). With special goggles, like 3D glasses, you can "see" the invisible form because of the body heat. A molded mask over Sabastian's face and neck allows him to go out in public looking like a burn victim, as long as he wears sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Tell Me More About It: Just when you are getting comfortable with the film after an excellent first hour, it takes off on a tangent, to become and remain, an Alien movie…literally. Sebastian, rather than becoming an evil force because of being invisible for too long, or doing something like robbing a bank, or becoming a super anti- hero who could be a new character in X-Men, is allowed to become a shallow vessel. Hollow Man degenerates into a chase scene just like the last few Alien films. Sebastian does use his invisibility in a way that is totally out of synch for one who is brilliant scientist. He does things that a high school drop out who was abused by his parents might do. It rings high on the "duh"…why did he do that scale?! What we have is a "find the bad guy and get him before he gets you" ending which seems to go on forever.

Normally a movie I like this well for the first hour would get three stars, which means I recommend that you see it. In this case, because the ending is so poor, rather than give it a marginal approval, I'll give it a marginal disapproval.

The dialogue is silly with people saying, while in a life or death situation, "The fun is over, tell me where you are." Here, when people are seriously wounded, they don't die or walk with a limp like they should. Some of the action at the end was really effective, and had this been preceded with a light weight set up like Gone in 60 Seconds, it would have been fine. A mediocre movie with a great ending is far better than a good movie with a poor pay off. Hollow Man had the makings of a classic film, which it gives away to lame dialogue and events that better belong in a film like Deep Blue Sea, and it drowns in it's own glory.

Elisabeth Shue: " Leaving Las Vegas"	Kevin Bacon: "My Dog Skip"
Josh Brolin: The Mod Squad"	William Devane: " Space Cowboys"
Mary Randle: Debut Film	Paul Verhoeven: "Basic Instinct"

Linda : Elisabeth Shue	Sebastian: Kevin Bacon
Matthew: Josh Brolin	Dr. Kramer: William Devane
Janice: Mary Randle:	Director: Paul Verhoeven