within the realm of science fiction and two particular theme consistently elicit interest and be initially explore in the literature of a pre cinematic era and and have since be periodically revisit by filmmaker and writer alike and with vary degree of success . the first theme and that of time travel and have hold an unwavering fascination for fan of film and as well a the write word and most recently on the screen with yet another version of the h. g. well classic and ` the time machine . the second theme and which also manage to hold audience in thrall and be that of invisibility and which spark the imagination with it seemingly endless and myriad possibility . and this theme and too and have again become the basis for a film adapt from another h. g. well classic and ` the invisible man and the realization of which and here and be ` hollow man and direct by paul verhoeven and and star kevin bacon and elisabeth shue . sebastian caine ( bacon ) and his colleague have for some time be conduct experiment for the u. s. government and explore the possibility and practicality of invisibility and which they have and at last and achieve in a number of the primate upon which they have test their method . they have and in fact and progress to the point that effect the invisibility be assure while their only problem now be bring the subject back to the original ` visual state of be . it a problem and however and that caine and after diligent effort and too many hour in the lab and have solve or so he think . and when the application of his theory on a live subject be successful and he decide to present the result to the board of director and in an effort to thereby maintain the funding necessary for the continuation of the project . at the last minute and though and caine demur and fear that control of the project will be wrest from him before they can proceed to the next level the testing of a human subject . and he take it upon himself to become that subject and secure the assistance of his research team by tell them that they have be give approval by the board to do so . but something go wrong and and caine becomes trap in his cloak of invisibility while and a he and his team struggle to find the solution to his considerable dilemma before it too late and it all begin to take a toll on caine mind . and suddenly and his fear of lose funding and control become inconsequential and a he find himself face the imminent danger of lose much more than that . now there a very real chance that he may lose everything include himself . verhoeven have craft what be initially an exciting and even think provoke film while he establish a good pace and use the f or x at his disposal to great effect and though he do tend to allow the striking visuals to overwhelm the character development . anyone familiar with ` the invisible man and or actually anyone who can logically follow the progression of the story and will know early on that caine be not destine for happy time . still and verhoeven have a style of storytelling that be definitely go to capture the attention and engage his audience . but he seem bent on rush toward the climax and and along the way he abandon any and all of the nuance that have make his film thus far successful and opt to enter into a final sequence that be nothing more than a mindless blood and gore fest that betray his audience and everything he work for earlier in the film . rather than seek an intelligent resolution to caine suffering and and use some inventiveness and imagination to take the film to it inevitable conclusion and verhoeven take the low road and and though it may succeed on a purely visceral level and any mean one could derive from the story dissolve like so many ash in the wind and along with anything that would have make this a memorable film . and it a shame and because verhoeven have it at a high level than much of what be offer in this genre and and he allow it to sink unnecessarily to one much low . kevin bacon do a good job of create a character that be believable and if only on the surface and which seemingly serve verhoeven purpose perfectly . there little depth to bacon portrayal and but it have more to do with his director agenda than his own acting ability . verhoeven simply do not allow bacon the time to develop caine to any extent while the character be mainly a vessel around which verhoeven can build his story and and toward that end and it work . the film would have be good serve and however and have verhoeven and bacon collaborate more closely on at least develop a bond between caine and the audience that would have prompt some emotional involvement on the viewer part and something that would have draw them in a bit and rather than leave them at the gate and a it be and a mere observer of an f or x laden extravaganza . elisabeth shue comports herself well in the role of linda mckay and caine willing accomplice in the ill fat experiment and but it basically a thankless part that offer little challenge and especially to an actor of shue caliber . the same can be say of kim dickens ( so magnificent in the 2001 film and ` thing behind the sun ) . her character and sarah kennedy and do little more than support the action and f or x. both actor be capable of so much more and and deserve good than what they be give to work with here . the support cast include josh brolin ( matthew ) and greg grunberg ( carter ) and joey slotnick ( frank ) and mary randle ( janice ) and william devane ( dr. kramer ) . entertain to a point and and even successful on a certain ( low ) level and ` hollow man be one of those film that leave you contemplate what could have be . like an annual firework display and it will give you some momentary thrill and but after awhile it will begin to blend in with all the others you have see and without anything special to set it apart . and it too bad and because give the talent and ability of those involve here and it could have be so much more . i rate this one 4/10 . .