NEW Area 51 (DVD)

51, or Area 51, or whatever you want to call it, is another Sci-Fi Channel co-production (like the cringe-worthy Scream of the Banshee) with this year's After Dark lineup. With that all in mind, you probably already know what you're getting here. Directed by Jason Connery (son of Sean) and featuring genre stalwarts like Bruce Boxleitner, Jason London, Rachel Miner, and John Shea all slumming it here as the fabled military base succumbs to an attack by the aliens they've been keeping prisoner for years, 51 delivers the goods for those looking for low-quality shocks and splatters. It really is better than the sum of its parts however, even with the overly weak acting and occasional unintentional hilarity that arises during some of the action sequences. All in all, 51 isn't the worst flick of this type you'll come across, and that has to count for something I guess in the end.

Be warned...51 is NOT a "true" After Dark original like others in the series. 51 is a SyFy channel tv movie and it shows. Unlike earlier ADO superior efforts, 51 is an amateurish attempt to cash in on the iconic legend of Area 51.
Under Jason Connery's (son of 007 Sean) pedestrian direction, the plot is fairly simple: a group of reporters is inexplicably granted permission to tour the legendary Hangar 18 and upon their arrival, one of the captive aliens stages an uprising resulting in the release of other dangerous aliens.
There are no CGI monsters, rather a return to the men in rubber suits circa the 1950's. Connery even allows the camera to dwell shamelessly on these creatures to further stress the low budget.
B movie stalwarts Bruce Boxleitner, Jason London, Rachel Miner and John Shea try gamely but given their material, there's not much hope. And let's not forget the friendly Yoda clone---how original!
51 is sort of entertaining in a quirkish way but certainly not a classic!

Area 51 has fascinated millions for quite some time. Its ties to secrecy and extraterrestrial life continue to this day. In Jason Connery's 51 public pressure has led to the military agreeing to open the gates leading into Area 51 and allowing its secrets to be laid bare. They have nothing to hide. Well, they do and they're keeping those bits to themselves but the rest of the base is open to a news veteran Sam Whitaker (John Shea) who brings along with his camerawoman Mindy (Lena Clark). Also invited are Claire Fallon, a journalist and her cameraman Kevin (Damon Lipari). The group are shown around the base by Colonel Martin (Bruce Boxleitner) who has his soldiers on red alert. This is supposed to be a warm and insightful welcome but things become a little complicated when a captive alien manages to break free and proceeds to liberate fellow aliens before slaughtering everyone in his path. The other aliens help out too. Bless them.

Area 51 has a handful of aliens on site though hidden deep within the facility. The one that causes trouble has the ability to turn into anything it touches and mimic them. This is The Thing and Terminator 2 territory of course. Our deceptive alien begins accessing the security network and liberates two more aliens - a mother and her baby - that slaughter anything in sight. It soon becomes necessary for Col Martin to admit that he hasn't been completely honest with his guests. He pretty much waits until the aliens are bursting through the doors before conceding this information. Those in Area 51 face a desperate struggle to keep the aliens contained and prevent them escaping into the wide world. The good news is there is a friendly alien on site who must have been to Jedi school as he has abilities akin to the Force and proves almost as useful an ally as Yoda would in this situation.

51 doesn't take long to get going which is something of a relief but when it does there isn't anything particularly redeemable or exciting about it. While our guests are shown some groovy technology at the outset, we frequently cut to the soldiers on the surface led by Sgt Hannah (Rachel Miner) who has earned her high rank but has to contend with male chauvinist colleagues. The macho men all inevitably bite the dust pretty quickly when the aliens are loose but Sgt Hannah takes some finishing off as she enters Ripley mode. There is plenty of blood and gore but by the end 51 has offered a pretty lame experience bereft of anything noteworthy and the aliens aren't especially hard to kill either. It just takes everyone a while to figure out how you nail them.

51 is a another poor attempt at an alien killing spree. I've seen enough of these films to know it can be done right and that a good story, interesting characters and a classic alien villain are the perfect tonic for a great film. Sadly 51 fails to deliver any of these ingredients and by the end you will be relieved at the short run time for this one.