The Quiet Earth
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Movie Reviews of The Quiet Earth
Movie Review: A little correction
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, this is a very fine film. However, it is not an Australian film at all but a New Zealand film. Bruno Lawrence was a fine New Zealand actor. Just wanted to clear that up.Movie Review: The Quiet Earth
Summary: 5 Stars
Great movie that arrived in perfect condition and played perfectly as well. I would recommend purchasing for this seller at any time.
Cheers,
Scott
Movie Review: Awsome Sci Fi Thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
Do you like Sci Fi without the creatures? This one is great. More science and no zombies.Movie Review: "I've been condemned to live."
Summary: 4 Stars
Imagine this little mind-bending scenario if you will...you wake up one, fine morning, run through your normal routine, leave the house, only to discover you're the last person left on Earth...oh yeah, as if that weren't enough to tweak your melon, throw in the fact that everyone else on the planet has inexplicably disappeared, without a trace...based on a novel by Craig Harrison, The Quiet Earth was directed by Geoff Murphy (Young Guns II, Freejack, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory) and stars Bruno Lawrence (Smash Palace, Warlords of the 21st Century, Wild Horses), Alison Routledge (Bridge to Nowhere, The Returning), and Pete Smith (Pandemonium, The Piano, The Legend of Johnny Lingo).
Sunrise...the dawn of a shiny, new day...after three minutes of watching the sun coming up (along with the opening credits), we see a lone, balding man (Lawrence) sleeping in his bed (we later learn his name is Zack), sans any clothes (nekkid man alert), with an item strategically placed over his genitalia...thank the Lord for small favors...anyway, the man awakens at 6:12 AM (a key number) and proceeds with his routine. Strangely, he's unable to pick up any chatter on his radio and a phone call placed goes unanswered...oh well...as he leaves his house (gee, traffic sure is light today), the realization begins to settle in there no one else around. Not only that but it appears as if everyone has just vanished as if they were plucked from wherever they were, doing whatever it is they were doing, all at the same time (you'd think it was The Rapture coming to fruition, but if that were the case I'd expect a lot more people to be running around, at least a lot more non-Christians types). The man finally arrives at a research facility (I'm guessing it's his place of employment given he has an I.D. card allowing him access), we learn of his involvement in some sort of global top-secret project called Project Flashlight...could this have anything to do with the current state of things? Perhaps...so anyway, the man, believing he is the last person on Earth, goes through a number of phases, eventually falling into a deep depression (so much so he's ready to eat the barrel of a gun), but he eventually comes to accept his fate and pulls it together, just it time to discover he's not alone, as a red-headed woman named Joanne (Routledge) makes the scene...well all right...things are definitely beginning to look up. After a time of contemplation, the pair decide to initiate a search to try an locate any others who might be around, and split up to cover more ground, Zack begins investigating the `event', and the possibility that the work he was involved with may have some global, even cosmic, ramifications. Eventually the pair find another man (I should say he finds them), a large, hunky truck driver named Api (Smith)...Adam and Eve...and Api? I guess the party's over, for Zack at least...an interesting dynamic between the trio develops, along with the revelation that the `event' which initiated the disappearance of nearly everyone on the planet may have only been a precursor to something else...
I really enjoyed this New Zealand produced science fiction feature despite finding certain aspects of it thoroughly confusing (perhaps I should have taken that college course in quantum physics instead of advanced basket weaving). I guess I'm just used to films more often than not laying things out for the audience to avoid any real brain strain, but that's certainly not the case here as there's plenty of ambiguity to go around. It's not that I mind being challenged by a film, but it just seems not many out there are willing to put their audiences to the test, at least in terms of mainstream features. While I watched this alone, I'd suggest watching it with others as it will certainly initiate conversation after the film ends. I thought the movie very well put together, and featured some very capable performances, especially in terms of Bruno Lawrence. I actually enjoyed the parts with Lawrence by himself the most, especially the sequences where he went a little loopy and was running around a vacant city in a woman's slip brandishing a shotgun. Eventually the others come into the picture, effectively disrupting the intimacy between Lawrence's character and the audience, but I suppose it had to happen, as I have yet to see a `last man on Earth' film that is truly a last man on Earth film (someone else always shows up). I suppose I could relate to Lawrence's character the most, as Joanne was all weird and emotional while Api was just, well, weird, but then again, who knows how one might react when trying to come to terms with being the last vestiges of humanity. I thought the reasoning behind why the three remained while everyone else disappeared was handled well, but as far as the actual fate of those missing, well, that's left to speculation (my bet is on a cosmic rift). I thought it was pretty funny how Zack speculated on how the `event' came about, and that if it was due to the international project he was involved with, the fault that resulted in the occurrence was most likely caused by the Americans (you know us Americans with our `shoot from the hip' mentality...how could it not be our fault if'n given our invovlment?). Since the story did eventually bring in a couple of other characters besides Zack, I would have liked to have seen a bit more in terms of the relationships and tensions resultant from the fact of there only being two men (one of them a minority prior to the `event') and one woman remaining, as it felt like some of this may have been glossed over. Perhaps the novel provided more in terms of this, I don't know. I feel I should warn some viewers the material can seem dry at times, especially if you're expecting an end of the world, post apocalyptic nightmare story complete with fleshy-headed mutants, as there's none of that here, but only an intimate, thoughtful, intelligent tale of three people trying to cope with the unexpected.
The picture quality on this Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD release, presented in widescreen (1.85:1) format, enhanced for 16X9 TVs, looks very sharp and clean, while the Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 audio seems a little soft and uneven at times. Extras include an audio commentary track by co-writer/producer Sam Pillsbury, a theatrical trailer, and an eight page insert booklet with some liner notes. One other aspect I should mention is the DVD comes in a very cool metal case featuring some beautiful cover artwork.
Cookieman108
By the way, the film does feature a scene I believe obligatory to all `last man on Earth' films in that of a bit where those remaining go on a shopping jag, procuring those material items they wouldn't have been able to afford before the stuff hit the fan...
Movie Review: FIRST TIME VIEWERS ARE IN FOR A TREAT AS WE JUST DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS TO HAPPEN NEXT!
Summary: 4 Stars
IN A NUTSHELL: YES -- STILL ANOTHER THE WORLD IS OVER PAL WITH A STORY TO TELL -- BUT A LEAST THIS IS A GOOD STORY
This is a film that starts out, and is best, with just one character -- Zac Hobson, brilliantly portrayed by Bruno Lawrence as a man turned mad by the curse of being alive on 'THE QUIET EARTH'.
OF COURSE THERE'S MORE -- A LOT MORE [SOME PLOT SPOILERS BELOW]
It seems as though Zac Hobson's work, on a secret government project name 'Flashlight', has effected the Earth rather profoundly, or so he assumes. He awakens at the film's beginning at 6:11 am and finds that he is completely alone in the world. Though he does indulge himself in some fantasy shopping and toying with heavy equipment, this first act is rather restrained and powerfully played by Lawrence's understated interpretation of his role as well as Director Geoff Murphy's good taste in avoiding excessive exploitation via special effects and sexploitation.
This first of three acts is rather potent and leaves us really wondering about what is yet to come in the next two acts. Unfortunately, the plot unfolds and expands in the form of a young woman named Joanne [Alison Routledge] who seems to have entered the scene to let the audience off the hook, insofar as pondering something of significance, like the end of the world. This is followed by the entrance of an even more contrived character, 'Api'-- a native aborigine, civilized by the 20th century, as far as such is possible in a world that had destroyed itself. Now we have a 'love-triangle' - YUK! Of course there is the usual fighting over the girl nonsense and you can see where this is going and unfortunately there are no surprises here as the second act grinds on.
Fortunately, the third act does get back to the business of the end of the world, and with a little bit of poorly elaborated science we come to understand that a huge explosion is needed at the site of 'Project Flashlight' or the last 3 humans will be joining the rest of humanity in a matter of hours. The end is something that should NOT be revealed in a review so perhaps you will see it and make your own judgement about this film. In my opinion, 'THE QUIET EARTH', varies between excellent and ordinary depending on the scene, but is certainly worth watching just for the suspense, if nothing else and perhaps the chance to ponder the future of humanity.
-----> THE CREW
Geoff Murphy - Director
Sam Pillsbury - Producer / Screenwriter
Don Reynolds - Producer
Bill Baer - Screenwriter
Craig Harrison - Book Author
Bruno Lawrence - Screenwriter
James Bartle - Cinematographer
John Charles - Composer (Music Score)
D. Michael Horton - Editor
Michael Horton - Editor
Josephine Ford - Production Designer
Rick Kofoed - Art Director
Kim Sinclair - Set Designer
Mike Kane - Costume Designer
Jill Mills - Makeup
Ken Durey - Special Effects
SPECIAL FEATURES:
-----> An 8 page 'COLLECTIBLE BOOKLET', it serves as a useful though light companion to the film.
-----> COMMENTARY by 'Writer'/ 'Producer' Sam Pilsbury
-----> THEATRICAL TRAILER
-----> WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION - enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs
-----> DOLBY SURROUND 2.0 -- a bit soft, fuzzy and muted. OK audio quality overall, but not up to the same standard as the video image which is clear and sharp throughout the film.
BOTTOM LINE: THE LATE BRUNO LAWRENCE IS OUTSTANDING -- ESPECIALLY IN ACT 1
A worthywhile film whose first act is a true powerhouse to behold. Though the central issues in the film get a bit muddied by the love triangle it still remains an excellent and exciting film.