User reviews

I used to be a humongous Ben 10 fan as a kid, constantly obsessing over the now classic cartoon from my childhood. However, it has no bearing whatsoever on my opinions about the live-action TV films because I'm not blinded by pure nostalgia, unlike some people. With that said, I guess it's now time to remove my "rose-tinted glasses" and get serious.

If I'm going to judge this movie on its own merits as a level-headed adult, and not as a mindless fanboy, then I'd have to say the plot is generic and bland, the position of camera-angles and lighting makes the whole thing feel flat, the music is forgettable, some of the cast members do a fairly decent job with their performances (for the most part, anyway), and the technobabble dialogue is standard for this type of schlocky sci-fi script. It's everything an average film needs to be even more mediocre than it already is, which is why most of the time it's such a tedious watch to get though.

Ryan Kelley's portrayal of the titular character himself can be best summed up as being like a less charismatic version of Tom Holland's MCU Spider-Man incarnation. Alex Winter's direction is severely uninspired, so much so that it makes me think about how this film would've turned out if a far-more talented filmmaker like let's say James Gunn or David F. Sandberg were to have directed the project instead, and maybe then it would of had a bit of personality injected into it.

This film also has the same main problem that the previous one had, in which there were no recognisable villains from the show incorporated into either of the films; like Vilgax, Dr. Animo, the Forever Knights... you get the idea. Another glaring issue they both share is that for movies entitled "Ben 10" he never seems to turn into more than like 3 or 4 of his alien heroes. The movie is called "Ben 10", isn't it? ... so why don't they ever show more than a handful of them?!

The only reason for any non-fan to watch this is the special effects sequences which, taken the fact it was produced for television into consideration, manage to hold up even to this day. After all these years, the way the CGI visuals interact with the environment of the real-life filming locations still looks pretty impressive. Almost makes me wonder why a made-for-television movie from over 10 years ago looks more believable than something like the big-screen Aquaman film from 2018, which had a mega budget of $200 million when compared to Alien Swarm's humble $40 million (how embarrassing is that for DC).

In short, Alien Swarm may very well be a marginally better improvement over A Race Against Time (a cringe-fest with awful CGI), but neither one of them is really all that great. So if I had to at least suggest one of them, I think I'd recommend you skip the first one and just go straight for this sequel.

In 2008, when I first saw the brief preview for Ben 10: Alien Swarm, I though, "oh no, they are not making a stupid and horrible movie of Ben 10: Alien Force, not the better series". In early 2009 is when I saw more previews for Ben 10: Alien Swarm, I thought that it didn't look that bad.

In summer 2009, I was waiting for a preview to show some aliens in it besides Nanomech (I already found out due to the movie set in the toy line), than on Youtube, I saw a trailer with Big Chill and Humungousaur in it.

I was really waiting for the movie, when it finally was on, I jumped into my seat with joy. When it was over, I was a little disappointed but I said to my father; "It wasn't good, but definitely better than Ben 10: Race against Time" I give Ben 10: Alien Swarm a 6 out of 10 because it's better than the original.

Never too late to make a Ben 10: Ultimate Alien movie.

it was good a little above average it was entertaining for a lazy day nowhere near as good as the 2005 cartoon but you know worth it fair amount of comedy and it has done the show justice its a good movie overall and if your a ben10 fan I would recommend it characters were well adapted

I didn't think a live action feature length adaptation of an animated show could get any worse than M. Night Shymalan's dismal 2010 "Last Airbender". That is until I saw the first twenty minutes of "Ben-10: Race against Time." I couldn't make myself watch the rest. So I didn't really have high hopes for "Alien Swarm" the first time I took a look at it; (which was only a few weeks ago). After the same twenty minutes had passed, I was hooked. Unlike "Race against Time," or "The Last Airbender", This movie is well written, well directed,and wonder of wonders, actually stars good actors. (O.K. Lee Majors was good as Grandpa Max in the first film, but he was the only one.)

The last disastrous attempt of a live a action Ben 10 movie was just awful. Least with this one, the aliens actually look like they sort of belong, and the acting is 10 times better, which is saying alot cause the last movie's acting was just plain dreadful. I'll say this, least they tried this time, and actually made something not completely horrible lol

Let me start by saying 1st off that the actors in this movie are way too old for their roles. They're supposed to be between the ages of 15 and 17 when they look like they're in their early to mid 20's. The acting isn't too bad. It's not great or even good, but it's okay.

When it comes to it being related to the show, it's too different. It's not Dragon Ball Evolution bad, but it's pretty bad. A character is introduced in this movie that was never in the show at all that's supposed to be Ben's "long-lost girlfriend" or something. The way the villain is defeated is...disturbing. It would've been much better if the villain was defeated almost..any other way. Okay, it's not that bad, but it's still pretty disturbing.

The movie's 2 main characters give you that vibe that Dragon Ball Evolution gave you with Goku or should I say "Goku" and his girlfriend, which will have you thinking "Just make out already!"

It introduces a new alien solely for ratings, which is unnecessary, though not completely bad. The CGI is sub-par even for the time, though it's actually really good for a TV movie on a kids' network.

I REALLY ENJOYABLE MOVIE. BUT SOME CHARACTERS NOT SUITABLE FOR THIS CHARACTER. EX:GWEN AND KEVIN CHARACTER. BUT GOOD TRY SUPER MOVIE😎

I was one of the few who enjoyed the cheesy first live-action movie of Ben 10, Race against Time. 2 years later, they produced another live-action movie, Alien Swarm. Alien Swarm is quite different from the first movie. This is more serious, has realistic special effects and better acting. I admit that in the first movie, the acting is horrible. Now, Alien Swarm is the more serious adaptation of the popular cartoon Ben 10.

The story: It is fairly simple so that kids will enjoy it and not care about anything else. Everything in the movie is quite good compared to the first one. The only thing disappointing is the lack of aliens. Even the first one which has a low budget can afford to have four aliens. This has a higher budget which is why the special effects look more realistic.

Overall: It is a fun ride. With a brisk pace and action, this is quite entertaining and enjoyable. Its' short runtime makes the movie faster pace. I am not a Ben 10 fan but I hope there will be another movie. This is so much better than the first one.

Alex Winter's "sequel", 'Ben 10 Alien Swarm' our heroes from the series 'Ben 10: Alien Force" Must face off against a terrifying villain that makes one wonder how this was made for kids. This film is very dark, not in tone, I just couldn't see anything, the lighting was very dark, and while the CG did improve from this films predecessor, that does not say much as some of the effects still make you tilt your head in confusion. The costume design is atrocious as most of the actors seem uncomfortable in their outfits since they decide to make them identical to the series, making Ben and Gwen's costumes look like rubber and plastic throughout the film. The acting is just as awful as it was in the previous film, the actor for Ben seems uncomfortable in the role as he does not know how to portray a cartoon character and the other actors are just not sure what to do with their characters and give very bland line delivery. The story is confusing and boring and you aren't really sure where this takes place in the canon of the show. However this film is very fun and kids of all ages will like it, since the young kids will just love seeing their heroes on screen, and older kids will still like the novelty of it. The worst thing about this film however is that it is not a sequel, the only thing that makes this film even seem like a sequel is that both actors who portray Ben 10 look alike, and both films having the same director. Characters like grandpa Max don't even look the same as they did in 'Race against time', and it would be very difficult to try and figure out how these films are even somewhat connected. But as a stand-alone it is fun dumb entertainment that you'll watch once, and never again. This film is a prime example of what happens when you think such an obscure cartoon could work in live-action.

Much better than the first movie but? The director is Alex Winter. Yes, from Bill and Ted, he is a distinguished and very successful director, and he has succeeded in creating a wonderful work, as well as the scenario and visual effects, but the problem lies in the weakness of the actors, although they look identical to the cartoon, but they are unaware of how a cartoon character is represented in a movie. Another problem is that Kevin's visual effects are bad, but we can forgive that. One more thing, why does every action scene have people jumping like goons? I thought in a moment that I was watching Power Rangers. Anyway, I like Ben 10 and I love this movie, so I will give him a 9, so his rating increases a little because 4.6 is a trivial rating.

At first after seeing the first Ben 10 movie(live action), I thought it was horrible and that Cartoon Network can't do a better job for a sequel...well, I was wrong!!!

Ben 10 Alien Swarm out-does the first film in every way, such as: Action,Special Effects, CGI, and Acting. And the characters fit so well with their cartoon counterparts, It actually felt like I was watching Ben 10!!!

Another thing that surprised me is that this did not make it into theaters!!

How the heck can Hollywood bring crap like Dragonball Evolution to the big screen and not Ben 10 Alien Swarm?

I say forget what you saw in the first Ben 10 movie, and start fresh with the new one, and if you like Ben 10, your going to like Ben 10 alien swarm!!!

There is little that is good in Ben 10. It gets to be a fun action cartoon after a few things happen, and the characters age up. However this live-action movie is the worst things Ben 10 has to offer with none of the good. Being a live-action version of a kids show it doesn't even try and everything is just slapped together. Honestly, its barely a movie.

Personal Enjoyment Score(IMDb): 1/10 Movie Score (Letterboxd): 1/10

After the entertaining but horrendously executed "Ben 10: Race Against Time", Ben 10: Alien Swarm is a huge improvement. Not only does it boast higher production values and better directing, but it effectively captures both the look and the spirit of the original animated series in live action form. The movie also manages to up the ante on the action, making for a truly epic story but with a couple of flaws.

Set after the events of the "Ben 10: Alien Force" animated series, the movie starts with the main characters Ben, Gwen and Kevin about to bust some illegal dealers who are trying to sell alien nanotechnology. One of those dealers is revealed to be Elena Validus, a childhood friend of Ben and daughter of a disgraced ex-"PLUMBER" Victor Validus. (For those who have not watched the animated series, "PLUMBERS" are an anti-alien defense agency). Now her father has mysteriously gone missing and Elena needs Ben's help. Suddenly the alien technology springs to life and takes the form of a vast mechanical swarm. Following a brief scuffle with the swarm and a short malfunction of Ben's omnitrix, our heroes must uncover a secret alien plot to turn human beings into mindless drones. One lead lies in an old secret involving Victor Validus and Ben's own Grandpa Max.

The underlying mystery subplot blends nicely into the ongoing narrative as Ben, Gwen and Kevin race to stop this evil biomechanical swarm from turning the entire human population into mindless zombies. No doubt a little on the cheesy side, the story fits in well with the feel of the animated TV series while giving the illusion of a Hollywood summer blockbuster.

Although the film sacrifices emotional depth in favor of explosive action, Director Alex Winters spares no expense in those action scenes. The car and motorcycle chase scenes deserve special mention as they look really good, even better than some big budget popcorn flicks. Ben's trademark alien transformations are kept to only 3 scenes thanks to a malfunctioning omnitrix but the fact that those scenes take place at night or under low lighting make the otherwise cheap looking CGI seem a lot better than it actually is.

The character of Ben does undergo a good deal of development throughout the course of the movie while keeping the themes of responsibility and growing up established in the animated series. The cast play their parts very well with only the actress for Gwen looking a little uncomfortable with her role at times.

"Ben 10 Alien Swarm" is not free of a few nitpicks however. The entire first half of the film plays out like a "Goosebumps" movie. Essentially it is "Ben 10 and gang VS mindless mind-controlled zombies". Thankfully the second half picks up the pace. Also, new viewers looking to jump into the Ben 10 storyline and fandom would be left confused by the lack of character introductions and explanation of technical terms as the film zooms from one setting to the next that only a keen follower of the animated series canon would be able to recognize and appreciate fully. An inclusion of a booklet or featurette that introduces the characters and explains "the story so far" would have been a much appreciated addition to this DVD release.

Though a little inaccessible to newcomers, Ben 10 Alien Swarm is an enjoyable action adventure and a faithful adaptation that is sure to satisfy existing fans who were disappointed by the previous live action movie. It is not the best among live action adaptations of animated series, but definitely far from being among the worst.

A very effective "B" movie, way better in every possible way than the previous live action "Ben 10." The directing, acting, production design and visual effects are considerably improved this time around, very nice indeed for a low-budget cable film. Clearly, the filmmakers actually tried to make a decent film (take note, Sy-Fy). Sure, the script is pretty much by-the-numbers and contains no surprises, but you can't really expect top-notch screen writing in a picture like this.

If this turns out to be a ratings success, I wouldn't mind seeing live action versions of some of Cartoon Networks other series, such as "The Secret Saturdays."

They only showed 3 aliens Ben became. This was very dissapointing. They were coming up with excuses like it "malfunctioned" around the chips as to avoid more work designing the alien scenes. It would have been nice to get many aliens and less filler scenes. Not terrible, but somewhat dissapointing.

Cartoon Network definitely learned from their first Ben 10 live action movie. The special effects, acting, and action are better. What I didn't like about the movie is how Grandpa Max and other characters have such a hard time believing Elena. I would have rather liked them to have chose a character from Ben's past that has previously appeared in the series and not a character that appeared in Ben's past, but not in the series. Even with that, Elena is a good character and it's awesome when she fights. My favorite scene is when Ben 10 transforms into Nanomech and fights the queen. If there is a live action Ben 10 film for the coming up series, I hope that it is as good as this or better. When this comes out on DVD, I want to own it.

So let's continue the review of films based on cartoons now it's up to Ben 10 Alien Swarm the second live action of Ben Ten released in 2009 then this is taken from the second series of Ben 10 Alien Force This film is set after when we settled the Supremes and it fitsthis new villain Who has mini robot aliens who wants to conquer the earth and our people have to stop him So what do I think of this film which I also liked but this one has the same problem as the previous film which is that the villain is not done well he seems like the classic naughty andenough And it's not even as interesting as the bad guys in the cartoons But I'll tell you something nice, unlike the first one even if it's not really nice nice a little The CGI has improved and then the actors did very well interpreting those characters everyone says it's not good excitement but I have tomake me remember that this is a television film so they couldn't put good actors and then this film is much more faithful to the cartoon but everyone was criticizing it anyway because it's a live action but it's impossible that everything was done in live action they have to just be hated notI understand why But this one, like the other one, is very good and I also recommend this one if you are a fan of cartoons to conclude the rating 7.

After the entertaining but horrendously executed "Ben 10: Race Against Time", Ben 10: Alien Swarm is a huge improvement. Not only does it boast higher production values and better directing, but it effectively captures both the look and the spirit of the original animated series in live action form. The movie also manages to up the ante on the action, making for a truly epic story but with a couple of flaws.

Set after the events of the "Ben 10: Alien Force" animated series, the movie starts with the main characters Ben, Gwen and Kevin about to bust some illegal dealers who are trying to sell alien nanotechnology. One of those dealers is revealed to be Elena Validus, a childhood friend of Ben and daughter of a disgraced ex-"PLUMBER" Victor Validus. (For those who have not watched the animated series, "PLUMBERS" are an anti-alien defense agency). Now her father has mysteriously gone missing and Elena needs Ben's help. Suddenly the alien technology springs to life and takes the form of a vast mechanical swarm. Following a brief scuffle with the swarm and a short malfunction of Ben's omnitrix, our heroes must uncover a secret alien plot to turn human beings into mindless drones. One lead lies in an old secret involving Victor Validus and Ben's own Grandpa Max.

The live-action is fun filled to follow although there are many errors in the scenes, it still proves to be effective.

One thing I also liked is the aliens' animation into real 4D creatures. However I was disappointed by the fact that he only went hero few times with less aliens.

It is better than the original tho .

Well not that great but not the worst either but you can watch it if you bored

Alien Swarm is not as good as the cartoons series Ben 10, Alien Force and Ultimate Alien, but in every way it outdoes the disappointing-but-better-than-its-reputation Race Against Time. While the pace could have steadied a bit and it is lacking a bit in emotional depth particularly in the first half(though Ben does develop very well), the direction is far more assured and the actors fit the parts much better and feel more comfortable.

The production values are also an improvement, the photography, lighting and locations are very reasonable for a TV movie, and the effects are pretty great, especially with Big Chill and in the finale. The soundtrack is rousing, the script has its humorous and thought-provoking moments, the story unfolds very nicely with a strong underlying mystery and the action is well-choreographed particularly in the chase sequences.

Overall, a surprisingly good film and outdoes Race Against Time in every way. 8/10 Bethany Cox