On the Beach
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Movie Reviews of On the Beach
Movie Review: Heartbreaking and chilling, poignant and very well done
Summary: 5 Stars
I've tried to watch this film the whole way through many times, however, having lived through the "Cold War" the reality of a nuclear holocaust is not a moving narrative device, I spent my childhood convinced it would happen between us and the old Soviet Union. They updated the story by substituting China for the USSR as the catalyst for global destruction. Initially, and maybe it was intentional on the director's part, I found the Rachel Ward character, Moira, almost unbearable in her crazed, scene chewing excesses. If I ever make it to the end I will find out how long that manic charade continues, or perhaps dissipates in the reality of the movie's horrific plot.
The casting is fabulous, as are the small details, the editing is exceptional considering the sheer emotional canvas it intended to convey, the location scenes are breath taking and somehow Assante, in the role that Gregory peck had in the original film, manages to not only survive the Moira theatrics he becomes not just her anchor in the nightmare, but ours in the audience. He does a fine job of it too, surrounded by a strong secondary cast on his submarine and among the family that "adopts" him; I really don't think that there is anything this actor can't do, in any role, with any storyline. He plays it very shrewdly too, letting the Moira character explode in (over acting) her part all the while taking her measure as even more damaged by the unknown horror he has already experienced.
Ward, who plays Moira, actually did finally win me over; as I said, I have tried several times to see this film all the way through. The tenderness and mischief she exhibits in scenes with her niece, sister, and brother in-law are what the Assante character sees, and through his "take" on her in these situations we too come to view her with more sympathy than we might otherwise have. If I was a Ward fan I would have to say that this was HER film, a showcase for whatever acting feat she wanted to show. Her off-screen husband (?) Bryan Brown I think spent the whole film just admiring her theatrics, he seems to have been unwilling to engage in this film in order to not intrude on the viewer's relationship with the two emotionally appealing couples (Moira and Dwight; Peter and Mary).
Well made and sensitively done, the only "fault" I can find with it is that it is still a very real possibility for all of us. Perhaps we should have all the world leaders watch this film, and think. Hard.
Movie Review: An Excellent Cautionary Tale for the 21st Century
Summary: 5 Stars
I first came across this award-nominated miniseries while looking for the DVD of the original film (a wonderful work in its own right). Being the kind of person who enjoys watching updated versions of classic stories, I decided to buy this DVD and check it out for myself.
I was completely blown away by this epic miniseries. Based upon the novel by Nevil Shute and the screenplay for the original movie by John Paxton, and directed by Highlander helmer Russell Mulcahy, On the Beach portrays a realistic and terrifying updating of the 1959 movie: the Chinese, having blockaded the country of Taiwan, kick things up a level when they get into a nuclear exchange with the United States. The resulting destruction is devastating to the entire Northern Hemisphere, and pretty soon there are only small pockets of people left alive on the planet, most of them in the country of Australia.
Armand Assante does a wonderful job portraying US Navy Cmdr. Dwight Towers of the USS Charleston, the only American submarine to survive the devastation of the nuclear exchange that wiped out the Northern Hemisphere. He is able to bring to the part an emotional depth the likes of which very few actors in Hollywood can express.
Rachel Ward is very good as Moira Davidson, the spirited local woman whom Dwight meets and falls in love with despite his grief over the loss of his wife and children. Her portrayal of Moira is open and honest, which I like very much.
Bryan Brown is excellent as scientist Julian Osborne, the scientist and ex-fiancee of Moira who is retrieved from a secluded island and ordered by the Australian Navy to go with Dwight, Aussie Lt. Peter Holmes and the Charleston crew to investigate a mysterious signal emanating from Alaska. From Osborne's rivalry with Cmdr. Towers for Moira's affections to the sickening devastation that Osborne feels when his suspicions about the signal and the radioactive fallout are proven right, Bryan Brown plays this character to the hilt.
The thing I like best about this version of On the Beach is the fact that the screenplay, while based on the 1959 original movie, is not a word-for-word, scene-for-scene rehashing of it. While both the movie and the miniseries stay somewhat true to Nevil Shute's novel the miniseries updates the story for the 21st century, which makes it a stark reminder that even in this era of perestroika, we must remain eternally vigilant.
Movie Review: Very well done
Summary: 5 Stars
As a former crew member aboard a nuclear sub i find this version of " On The Beach" chilling,romantic,and very sad all in one, If god forbid we ever have a nuclear war,,this is it, remember China recently from time to time has said they will take back Taiwan at any cost and it could very well happen just like this movie which makes it so frightening to watch it. Think about it one sub carries 20 to 24 missiles(or boomers),each missile has 7 to 10 warheads that can be programed to travel to any target, the hell with the fact that the major nations of the world have together 50,000 nuclear bombs, this one sub alone can wipe out half the planet. Most of all i enjoyed Armand Assante's Capt.Towers He's the kind of commander I'd like to think any crew would fight to serve under, on one hand he's by the book, demands the best from his crew, but cares for his men, and can have a funky good time also. I liked the one scene when Julian discovers Capt.Towers didn't launch his missiles and when told he risked being court marshaled replied " there wouldn't be anyone left alive that would do such a thing" (or close to it) That was cool, despite the fact that he would at another time and place would had launched his missiles without a second thought. I have the first On The Beach and while I enjoy that one, this one in my opinion is much better. All of the cast is to be given a big 10-4 Rachel Ward is in my mind a very wonderful actress.Movie Review: Well worth watching
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this movie because it had Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown in it. I thought they worked together very well in The Thorn Birds and I've bought all the movies since then that both of them were in. I haven't been disappointed yet.
I won't go into detail as to what the movie is about since most of the reviews on here have already done that. I saw the original movie and I've read the book.
I feel if they would have given the movie a different title they would have pretty much all 5 star ratings. With giving it the same title as the original to many people are comparing the 2 and there really isn't any comparison.
This movie has captivated me and I continue to watch it regularly. The only thing I would have liked to be different was the language. The vulgarity wasn't necessary. It could have been done with out it and that would have made it an even better movie then it already was. I never have understood why so many film makers think they have to use such vulgar language.
Other then that I don't have any other negative things to say about the movie.
It's extremely touching and will make you think about what would you do if it was the end of the world.
Movie Review: In Love With This Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Caught this on Showtime a few months ago and recorded it. Wanting my own pristine DVD, I ordered this. It is great on Hi Def, though it wasn't made for that, showing many more details than the recording off SHO. My only small complaint is that since it was originally a mini-series, they show the credits in the middle, but that's a very small price to pay for an extraordinary film. Though it was made on a tight budget the acting, direction and soundtrack are brilliant and to me, far superior to the original 1960? version. For me it's definitely a *feel-good*, exhilarating movie even though the subject matter is tragic and still very timely today. The more I watch this, the more I have to watch this. For an all-Australian production, with the exception of Armand Assante as the only American, most of the actors playing Americans do very well with the accent. The ones that don't do American accents so well make this film even more endearing.