Outbreak vs. Contagion

[CyberpunkCentral]

[Al_The_Strange]

I like 'em both equally, but I find Outbreak more entertaining. It has personality.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Yeah, Outbreak is like a Hollywood-ized version of this concept. Dustin Hoffman's character is always one-step ahead of everyone (of course! He is the main character) and the ol hero vs. villain at the end. But it's still good ol fun, despite the disease in Outbreak terrifying me when I was younger.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Yeah, Outbreak is like a Hollywood-ized version of this concept. Dustin Hoffman's character is always one-step ahead of everyone (of course! He is the main character) and the ol hero vs. villain at the end. But it's still good ol fun, despite the disease in Outbreak terrifying me when I was younger.

I remember back in the day I'd watch the trailers/teasers and they'd always show that one bit where the big USA map fills up with red and Donald Sutherland's character says "24 hours...36 hours...48 hours." I always found that clip chilling.

[Cremildo]

I watched Outbreak on VHS when I was a teen and found it an utter piece of flatulence; Contagion is decent enough.

[kylor]

Haven't seen Outbreak yet, but I like Contagion for its realistic approach, not to mention it has an excellent cast.

[karsten]

Current events are casting a clear vote for Contagion.

[Michael24]

Never heard of Contagion but Outbreak is awesome.

[scifisuperfan]

Contagion is the most realistic one. I found Outbreak "enternaining" to say the least. Freeman, Hoffman and Russo were amazing and also some of the supporting cast that are now established known actors. Other than that, Outbreak is clearly a popcorn outbreak movie as Contagion is a frightening outbreak movie.

So Contagion is the clearly winner and Outbreak should be replaced by other movies like The Flu, The Cassandra Crossing or even some TV Series like the first seasons of The Last Ship, Containment. Even that season of 24 with a similar Vírus or Homeland if im not mistaken were more realistic than Outbreak.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Finally seen Contagion, and yeah it was good. But I don't know, I still prefer Outbreak kinda. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that Contagion IS more realistic. While Outbreak is your typical formulaic Hollywood blockbuster, but a good one at that nonetheless. Having said that, I was still more disturbed by the disease in Outbreak. But that might not be fair to say because I was a lot younger when I saw that film, so the impact was a lot more effective for me. Still, Outbreak is a tad bit more graphic, though. Not that much, but the disease in Outbreak does scare me a little more.

[Geoff D]

Contagion is a bloody good film, but as I'm an unashamed lover of all things blockbustery I still enjoy Outbreak more. Cracking score by JNH too.

[karsten]

As disappointing as I found Outbreak to be up to the first half, the second half just became ridiculous bordering on self-parodic (and I say that as someone who is usually a Wolfgang Peterson fan).

There's so much schmaltz in the soap-opera story between Hoffman and his ex that it's almost as if the pandemic is just a random backdrop to tell a syrupy story about couple's counseling.

The helicopter chase is like a cartoonish send-up of Hollywood excess. The villain is like one of those "bad admiral" types that keep popping up in Star Trek series and films. The movie cheats terribly by confining the contagion to a single town. And the instantly producible miracle cure... :::eyeroll:::

Honestly, I don't even think it's good as a movie. As a pandemic movie, it's ludicrous.

[karsten]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

I watched Outbreak on VHS when I was a teen and found it an utter piece of flatulence; Contagion is decent enough.

Having now watched Outbreak all the way through, I have to agree. It starts off well enough, but ends up as complete rubbish by the end.

[CyberpunkCentral]

I must say, DVD still looks very good. You got a lot a 4K elitists in this site, but DVD is still perfectly watchable. If someone told me I was watching the Blu-ray versions of these movies, but they are actually the DVDs, I would believe em.

Anyway, I'm not going to argue with those would prefer Contagion over Outbreak. I mean, I get it. Contagion is better executed, but Outbreak just has more personality. When Matt Damon's family got affected, I felt like he didn't give a shit, and Matt Damon is a good and respectable actor, so I don't know what happened there. While in Outbreak, the characters are like, "shit just got real", and you are already hooked. But that's just my opinion.

[AaronJ]

I had to go with Contagion, and that was an easy decision. Earlier, I was saying in another thread that I had recently seen it again, and wow, that was a disturbing experience given what's going on right now. Just watching the trailer earlier today was very unsettling.

[Gizz]

Outbreak I loved it since I first saw in back in 1995. I loved it that much that I pick up a Ex -Rental VHS from Blockbuster Video priced at £ 14.99.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Gizz

Outbreak I loved it since I first saw in back in 1995. I loved it that much that I pick up a Ex -Rental VHS from Blockbuster Video priced at £ 14.99.

OK, that's devotion.

[Britbuffguy]

My Letterboxd review for Contagion is not very good, but I honestly don't remember much of it.

Where as Outbreak is one of my favorite films of the 90s.

[Hasslein Curve]

I enjoy "Outbreak" but it is quite formulaic in terms of the love interest backstory, the do-it-all Cuba Gooding character and the villainous General.

I need to give "Contagion" a watch. I think i'd prefer the more realistic approach that some of you have commented on.

[Hasslein Curve]

Unrelated but on the subject, i absolutely love these two scenes from the newest POTA trilogy. Chillingly crafted and incredible on the big screen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA8vlrebVXU

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHATo0d3YA