On the Beach
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Movie Reviews of On the Beach
Movie Review: 4 stars for movie; 1 star for transfer
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD for several years. I feel it was at least as good as the original, albeit some special effects are poorly done.
But not as poorly done as the DVD transfer. I've never seemnas many gross digital artifacts as I have on this DVD. It appears that the entire 3.5 hour movie was transferred to a single-layer DVD-5 disk. Rapid motion or quick changes of scenery or brightness are accompanied by gross blocking and take a second or two to settle down.
Worse, although the picture is anamorphic, it was not digitized in the DVD optimized wide-screen standard. Thus, an already poor picture becomes even worse when zoomed on a 16:9 set.
The movie deserves better treatment than it received. There are no extras (such as the Showtime special on the making of the show), but then again, they could not have compressed the disk any more to allow it.
Verdict: a good retelling of a decades-old movie presented in less than the best of today's technology. I hope for a re-relase in the near future.
BTW - as of the date of this review, this version of "On the Beach" doesn't show up in an Amazon DVD search. I happened to find it on the "New and Future Releases" page but had to go back to my original order to find it again.
Movie Review: An intriguing remake of the 1959 film .....
Summary: 4 Stars
I'll have to admit upfront that I've never read the novel this movie is based upon, so can't determine how much the plot may veer from the written page. I *have,* however, seen the 1959 version of On the Beach at *least* a dozen times, and this remake does veer from *that* path. ;-P
This movie definitely held my attention ... and my fascination over how the characters (from the 1959 film) have been cast and updated for modern times. The plot variations almost have me curious enough about the written page to buy and read the novel. *Almost!* <lol>
This remake is undoubtedly more realistic in its portrayal of what might really happen when people realise that the end is inevitable. Where the 1959 film portrayed a more accepting and sedate mood throughout, this remake pulled no punches about probable violence and blame-laying. Hey, that's the difference forty years can make, huh?!
Overall quite interesting and engrossing with its variations from the original film. I was impressed enough to go ahead and recommend it. :-)
Movie Review: On the Beach - Very good made for TV movie
Summary: 4 Stars
This remake of On the Beach was surprisingly good and I rate it at four stars as an excellent made for TV movie. The part of the submarine commander played by Armand Assante was the most interesting and entertaining role in the film. Assante did a great job in an unusual role!
The story takes some slightly different turns than the original movie but still basically told the same depresssing but very engaging tale of an extremely moral US submarine commander who takes his duty to the country and his family very seriously. The movie tells the story of his encounters with various people in Australia who blamed the US for the war and its ultimate outcome. He always stood up for his country and shared with almost no one what to him was probably a dark secret.
As an aside which I can't help but comment on, the sets of the submarine were excellent and looked really credible. The special effects were also very well done. I liked this film.
Movie Review: On the Beach- 2001
Summary: 4 Stars
On the beach is a moving drama of what the world would be like if China and America annihilated each other with nuclear war and the slow poisoning of the earth as radioactive dust slowing drifts to each pole. There is no escape, no where to hide from it. But there is a glimmer of hope as some scientists calculate the deadly drift of dust may not travel as far as expected.
A story revolving around a lone US submarine captain and his crew and their search for a future, to start again, and an Australian family trying to come to grips with what might be their last few weeks on this earth.
A story that will change the way you look at life.
Movie Review: Excellent Remake - Riviting!!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I read Nevil Shute's book ages ago and have seen the Greogory Peck/Ava Gardner film many times - I think this re-make holds up better. I LOVED the fact that Mary Holmes was a fully-fleshed out character (much thanks and gratitude to the talents of Jacqueline McKenzie). Outstanding acting from Rachael Ward and Bryan Brown. Loved that they took the two characters beyond just the "town drunks" - quote from the first film. Would I recommend it - absolbloodylutely. Go Oz!!! (Melbourne, AU is beautiful, by the way - the farm overlooking the sea is breathtaking - don't suppose it could be rented, could it ;-)