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������ What a waste of talent is the first phrase that comes to mind.� I truely believe that Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr. are both wonderful actors.� This movie did not intrigue me really from the trailers I saw but just the plain fact of who was starring in it drew me to the theater to hand over my 7 dollars and take a seat.� Next thought that comes to mind: What a waste of money. � The defining idea behind this review should be:

"I went into the theater not expecting much.� I came out disappointed."

��� That is exactly what I thought when I left.� Now, as I said before I think that Hopkins and Cuba are both wonderful.� I still think so. � This movie is not lacking in quality because of any mediocre performance by them. � In fact, the acting all around was pretty good.� What is wrong here is a combination of things.

��� This first thing that pops into my head is why did anyone decide to do this film?� I wonder who read the script and said, "This one's a winner."� When they have these two huge stars in the lead and they still can't pull it off, you know it must be bad.� Perhaps I am being overly critical because the main problem, as I saw it, with this film, was that all elements of the story had been done before and had been done better.� Therefore, I may be prejudicial.� Maybe I am basing my grade and opinion on this film in comparison to other films instead of how it stands on its own merit.� However, how else is one to judge films unless by comparing them to previous films?� If I had only watched 'B' movies my whole life, I might think that Superman V is a great movie.� But if I had seen any decent film then I would know that it sucks.

��� As I stated before, the main problem with this movie is that the story has been told before and it has been told better.� One aspect of this story is the struggle between prisoners and the administration.� If you want to see a prisoner's struggle then watch Shawshank Redemption.� That is a great movie.� If you want to feel sorry for mental patients then watch Awakenings. � It's a depressing flick, but atleast it stirs emotion in the audience.� I cry at the drop of a pin and I do not hesitate to cry in a crowded theater.� However, I was only moved to tears ONCE this whole film when there are atleast a dozen attempts at dramatic tissue scenes.� Actually, I didn't even cry...I just teared up.� That's pretty bad for me.

��� Another aspect of the story is feel sorry for the gorillas. � Well, if you want to see that same story told better then watch Gorillas in the Mist.� The cinematography and story are MUCH better in that.� In Instinct I can't even cry for humans in the movie, in Gorillas in the Mist I cried repeatedly for gorillas.� That is the difference between a good movie and this one.

��� Then there is the struggle between an outsider trying to help a criminal who has been ignored by everyone else.� Again, this has been told before and has been told MUCH better.� If you want to see that, I suggest renting Dead Man Walking.� Another great movie.

��� Then there is the idea that man/humanity is bad.� The root to the argument in this film is civilization of any kind is bad.� This story has definately been told before and the first example of a great film that has told it before is Planet of the Apes.� Watch that before watching this.

��� Then there is the conflict between stong, cold father and desparate daughter.� Again, another great film comes to mind; On Golden Pond. � Also much better than this film.

��� Now, having all of these ideas together could make a new and creative story worth watching.� However, the directing and the writing are severely lacking.� Plus, the combination of all of these elements leaves too little time to develop any one part of the story.� The acting is good all around but that can't save this movie.� It's really a disappointment.