The main stars in director Paul Verhoeven's latest effort, 'Hollow Man' are the mind-blowing special effects. Unfortunately, that's not enough to save the film.

'Hollow Man'

Kevin Bacon plays the role of brilliant lead researcher working for the Pentagon on a project aimed at making people invisible. After a couple of mishaps, his uber team of researchers (Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue) crack the invisibility enigma. Unfortunately, Bacon tries the formula on himself and turns from being a visible, obnoxious brute to an invisible twisted megalomaniac. Armed with the armour of invisibility, he runs amok and it's up to his former colleagues to stop him.

The special effects are simply outstanding. Even though it's easy for the average moviegoer to have become blase about special effects (giant dinosaurs, huge lizards, storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, aliens, starships.....) the ones in 'Hollow Man' are stupendous. The special effects, especially in the first quarter, are truly jaw dropping efforts. The problem comes after Bacon becomes invisible. As it is, there are only so many ways to enjoy someone's invisibility. The novelty wears thin rapidly and the rest of the film is devoted to the (oh so passe!) art of catching the bad man. Unfortunately, there is zero tension in these scenes and you kind of wish, the Hollow Man would get his comeuppance sooner rather than later.

Overall, rather a poor effort from Verhoeven who has proffered far better entertainers like 'Robocop', 'Total Recall' and 'Starship Troopers'. It is technically sound but that's about it. There is not much of a storyline or screenplay to talk of, which means the characters too are poorly etched. Apart from the special effects, everyone else is given short shrift. Shue and Bacon (when he is visible) compensate very marginally for the lack of fully fleshed out characters .

Rating: Technically outstanding- well, in the first quarter at any rate. Rather a disappointing effort from Verhoeven, the king of action flicks.

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