The Quiet Earth
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Movie Reviews of The Quiet Earth
Movie Review: A good one
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie is a variation of the last-man-on-earth scenario, though it ultimately has 3 characters.
Zack is a New Zealand scientist on a secret international project which goes bad. For the first third of the movie, Zack is the only character, and he is out and about trying to locate other people, as well as being like the kid-in-a-candy store by stealing a vehicle, breaking into a shopping mall, riding a locomotive, etc.
Over time, Zack becomes guilt-ridden about his role in the project which has apparently wiped out mankind. In one scene, he is fairly deranged and is on a balcony giving a speech to cardboard cutouts of people such as Nixon, Hitler, Queen Elizabeth, and the Pope.
"I have dedicated all my scientific knowledge and skill to projects which I knew could be put to evil purposes...for the common good, they said."
Eventually an event snaps him out of his depression and he becomes rejuvenated, and begins to try to determine the cause of the catastrophic "effect". Later, he meets a woman named Joanne and a Maori man named Api, and they sort of get into a "love tangle". Though they are now sort of at odds with each other, the are willing to try Zack's plan to reverse the "effect".
I'll leave the result to see for yourself. Also answered in the movie are why those three people are the only apparent survivors.
Though the "science" is pure fiction, it is parallel to nuclear war, and in fact the writer/producer was an anti-nuke activist in now nuclear-free New Zealand.
This movie was made in 1985 before computer CGI effects, so they had to be done the easy, cheap and simple way - as explained in the interesting commentary. There are quite a few unforgetable images (really!), such as an enormous sunrise, and the spectacular final scene, as well as the empty beach as Zack runs across it after coming out of his depression. The theme music is very effective as well.
The commentary by the writer/producer is quite interesting and gives some background on the actors, the general concept, special effects, how to make a city look empty, and the answer to what the ending means.
The DVD is a bit sparse. There is an interesting commentary and an 8-page booklet about the "last man" type movies through history and a bit about The Quiet Earth and actor Bruno Lawrence. Widescreen, but no subtitles or 5.1 sound, etc. Nice aluminum case.
Highly recommended sci-fi.
Movie Review: You will wonder if you're still on earth
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a completly evocative work, a movie that tests the limits of perception. It builds to a climax not so much of action but intuition. You either get it or you don't. It is so easy to miss the point; but please, watch it again.
How I got this movie was strange, in of itself. It was late 1987 and I was grazing my local video store. Slim pickings, to be sure. The guy behind the counter was restocking the Sci-Fi section and he handed me the box for "The Quiet Earth". It had come back two days early, so to me it was free. I guess it was a reward for not having "Dune" yet. I watched it in awe. Three times. My wife sat through viewings two and three.
There is something about this movie that grabbed me. As the events of the film move along, there is this atmospheric quality that builds. Like "Field of Dreams", if you buy in at a certain point, the reality works. I can't find a lot wrong with this movie; it just IS. There is no moment of Zen in this work, such as you might find in "Soylent Green" or even "Blade Runner" (contemporaneous works, more or less, or the shocking conclusion to "Planet of the Apes"). Nothing like that here: it's all reality 101 in the 'Twilight Zone'. If for no other reason than that, this movie has a Rod Serling effect that jumps off the screen; it is as though the master had a hand in this project.
As you can guess, the eventual viewing of "Dune" was a major letdown. I own a VHS version of "The Quiet Earth"; I am going DVD soon. If you are a Sci-Fi fan, don't ignore this work, if you've never seen it, lay your money down; if not, this movie might jusr convent you.
Bad Sci-fi movies are ten to a penny. This ranks right up there with the very best.
bdgrizcp@aol.com
Movie Review: The last man...on what earth?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a little gem of a film, from New Zealand, filmed entirely in and around Auckland and the northern part of the northern island, proving that you don't have to have massive visual effects to tell the story. A vaguely-described experiment so that military planes could tap directly into the earth's "energy grid", from space, done on a massive international scale, instead appears to eliminate every person on the earth-except people at the moment of death. A fascinating character study at first via Bruno Lawrence and later as he meets two other apparently-alive people. What he alone discovers is perhaps the structure of the universe has been somehow altered, creating "events" which will, he believes eliminate him and the two other people left-unless a relay station can be blown up and perhaps stop the chain reaction. We start asking is the experiment responsible, or, as asked in the film is it simply a natural event? Are these people even on "our" earth or have they somehow been transported to some alternate universe, devoid of people? We never really know, and maybe that's a good thing.
Fascinating, scary and thought-provoking all at the same time. Very little is used in the way of visual effects, but what is done is quite effective, especially in the haunting last shot which in itself offers more questions than answers and will stick with you forever.
Movie Review: One of the greats
Summary: 5 Stars
The Quiet Earth is one of the great sci-fi movies of all time. It doesn't have the best special effects or even the best acting of all time but it moves to the top of the list in my book because of it's thought-provoking and haunting themes.
This movie isn't just about the "last man on Earth", it is about lonliness and reflecting the nature of man. Untimately, Zac Hobson goes on a journey of self-exploration. I don't know about other reviewers but that theme really hit the mark with me when I watched this film. I think that alot of people feel that they are on the "Quiet Earth" everyday of their lives and long to make connections with other people and explore who they are. Zac goes from being lonely, tortured and ultimately suicidal to being "cleansed" of his demons (hence the naked ocean scene) and sacrificing his life for others.
The ending is great and definately provides a forum for further discussion. I think the writer and director purposefully left it ambiguous so that you could take what you will from the film.
Movie Review: Too Quiet for some?
Summary: 5 Stars
The invasion scene where the giant invasion ship spikes into the planet and the millions of ruthless troops run out is amazing on the big screen, hold on, thats "Chronicles of Riddick," yes, this film was made with a budget of about 20 quid, and could almost be a stage play for its "set-piece-iness", but this is a thoughtful and interesting film.
Following a late viewing on a sunday night some years ago, it caused significant discussion on monday morning in the office as to the fate of the main character in the end scene. Mind you, the lyrics to "Martikas Kitchen" also provoked similar discussion so don't let that guide you too much.
Seriously, this will probably be remade by George Clooney soon, but he will be doing well to make it as good as this. So if you like spaceships and explosions and stuff, dont buy this. And as another reviewer points out, Ms Routelidges' behind truly is a sight for sore eyes.