Customer Reviews

Final Days of Planet Earth / Supernova

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Well, I'd definitely like to thank the Hallmark Channel for this small delight. Usually, one would have to tune into the SciFi Channel's original Saturday night movie for such an inept little alien film. But Hallmark wasn't content to let SciFi bask in all the bad science fiction glory, so we get the epic (almost 3 hour) "Final Days of Planet Earth."

Apparently as the Earth's days are numbered, logic becomes a less important commodity! In "Final Days," we're treated to a full-on invasion of bug people. These creatures look like preying mantis', and don't talk when in this form. They work and or threaten menacingly. However, they are also able to wear human skin--and when they're in this guise, they can blend in intelligently, productively and without detection. The only real giveaway is that they don't blink--so watch carefully!!! (I'm sorry, but even this rule is broken.)

Of course, they want to feed on what we humans have to offer! The head alien insects, former astronauts that flew on the same mission, have inexplicably all gotten jobs at City Hall. (For some reason, this unnamed city is quite a draw.) They're all in influential positions, as well--including Mayor's Assistant and Chief of Police! No one has yet to make this connection. Seems like someone might think it was coincidental, especially since the mission is well publicized--many characters can recall details of it from memory.

Well, now you're thinking--but what of the heroes? Who will save us? Don't fear--wait until you meet this bunch. You see, the aliens choose their victims by a great, unconventional method. If one of them sees you, and you're either on to something alien-esque or just plain annoying the bureaucrats--they give you a hand written invitation to a mysterious office in City Hall. Behind this nondescript office door, which no one notices, is a cavernous, industrial hallway and pressurized hatch. I won't spoil too much, but I might have found it strange when I opened this door for my appointment--though I'm no expert on City Hall.

We get an archeologist who has experienced a weird phenomenon on his dig, an exterminator whose too good at her job, an old man from a shelter whose noticed birds missing from the park, a crooked salesman who has bothered an unemployment officer, and a woman whose missing husband worked as a City Hall janitor. Don't worry if this sounds like a meager bunch--they are surprisingly well armed. Our archeologist carries and brandishes a gun for no conceivable reason, our exterminator loves her tazer, and the old man has a grenade (yes, I said it--a grenade). They need help, so they look for the lead astronaut from the space mission. He is being held and tortured in a top secret facility, but don't worry--the janitor's wife works with computers. So with 5 minutes in an Internet cafe and Google, they locate him, break him out and he joins the ragtag band.

This good astronaut is played by Campbell Scott, the acting legacy of George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst. Having worked with no less than Bertolucci and winning awards for films like "Big Night" and the woefully overlooked "Roger Dodger," one would like to think he saw some artistic merit in this film. "Final Days" also boasts the immense talents of Daryl Hannah and Gil Bellows as the other "name" talent.

I was amused by the silliness of this film, the absolute lack of logic or common sense. But when films are harmless entertainment and don't aspire to anything more--I'm usually nicer than when films are pretentious, self-important, or purposefully condescending. In that spirit, this baby gets a 2! Harmless enough for the kiddies, there is even a potential chuckle or two for you. KGHarris, 10/06.

although a made for cable film,this ones worth a look.A colony of Praying Mantis from another universe plan on using the human race for food.Seems that the insects home planet ran out of food they needed to survive.They use human skin to cover themselves to look like normal humans, are the top officials of city hall as they "prosses" humans to make a liquid they can suck up to nurish their body's.Sort of a insects from outer space establishing a "Star Bucks" serving a human liquified delights.

This is the kind of movie that if you have absolutely nothing better to do, watch it. Acting was less than stellar, video quality was not blu-ray worthy and the story was "been there, done that." I gave it 3 stars because it passed the time and made me want to know what happened next. I would not recommend purchasing this movie, however, its not a complete waste of time to watch.

tried 2 different blu rays both had the same manufacture defect the audio on all tracks was screwed up, how can something leave the pressing plant so messed up, terrible.

This movie is definitely for Sci-fi fans. It is more on the subdued side as opposed to the high octane type, like 'Alien'. However, it is a good story.
Fairly formula type: the earth is being invaded by bugs using human skins to blend in in order to get a substance to help their 'race' survive. Humans are expendable.
I gave this four stars because it could have easily been shorter. Coming in close to 4 hours with a low key plot... you really have to like this genre to sit through it. But I do like this genre, still think it could have been shorter though.
Definitely a family type, low key, not much in the way of violence or strong language or sexual situations. Worth a watch.

I rarely buy a movie I haven't seen, but I bought this thinking that with Daryl Hannah for decoration and Gil Bellows as the lead, it had to be worth $4.99. At the end of part I was thinking "Hey, not bad!", but part II was terrible acting and poor plotting. What finally made it "bad" for me was the "aliens in disguise" business. At first they seemed to be using mind control, but by the end we see Hannah's character jump out of her rubber suit, instantly becoming several sizes too big to have ever been inside the suit. Bellows looked really silly holding Hannah's empty "human suit" and staring up at the giant monster. sigh. At least he didn't actually have sex with her (but he came close!).

Oh, well. The kids will enjoy it.

I have to admit the film was silly, and had been done better previously, but I found myself watching with some interest and amusement. Gil Bellows saves the film from being a total washout. He plays a good hero. Daryl Hannah has often been criticized, and if this was her comeback, it didn't work. I really loved her in "Splash" and "Steel Magnolias". She's not convincing as a mean person. Campbell Scott played crazy, and he was okay in a difficult role. Not bad, really, but it will satisfy those who enjoy movies "so bad, they're good". I was entertained.

This is an odd movie, too long by half; it reminded me of a lot of other movies I've seen along similar plotlines. It's your typical BIG BUGS want to take over the world scenario. Their reasons for doing so were lack of food on their home world and that they knew they could manage the natural resources of Earth better than we have. Of course, by resources they mean people (bred for food. I guess that would make us aphids?).
With a less than auspicious beginning, it's no wonder this epic isn't more highly regarded. They leisurely/briefly introduced a clump of characters then abruptly discarded them; amiably peeking back in at their lives at various points from time to time. There was no hurry, no intrigue, no suspense to start things out. They just showed people going about their business until eventually they brought them together and then the action finally began (too late to satisfy me). This movie is so low-key, so lackadaisical; one wonders why they even bothered to thwart the plans of the superior bug race. Then again, what else did they have to do; most of the characters were out of jobs at that point.
At least this movie was consistent throughout. The characters were all more or less stupid, the only reason they got away with so many things was because they could count on everyone else being equally stupid. A lot of the decisions made didn't make sense, starting with the astronaut the bugs saved because they were afraid of him/his blood. They could have easily solved that by jettisoning him in space in the first place. I spent a great deal of time questioning the motives of every action/choice depicted; it's as if they filmed the rough draft without vetting its likelihood or logic behind what they were making these people do. It also didn't help that the hero (Gil Bellows) was basically incompetent (not to mention unlikable). As for the astronaut who started the whole thing, Campbell Scott might as well have not been in this movie, he was rarely used and of that, hardly anything one would brag about. Then there's the bug queen. Daryl Hannah hasn't exactly had a sterling career thus far so I doubt that appearing in this one did irrevocable harm to her legacy. I suppose that if everyone involved tried just a little harder this might have been okay. As it is......eh.

I'm still trying to figure out how those gigantic bugs fit inside a person without the pointy bits sticking out!

O.K. i am not going to mention how lame this movie was, and i am a fan of b-flicks.
However, i must point out the issue with the Blu-ray disk as there are audio problems with this release.
BOTH the Dolby and DTS tracks have the same issue with the sound field. The audio surround mix comes from the FRONT LEFT, CENTRE, and RIGHT REAR, the front right and rear left are silent, who the heck mixed this sound track? what a mess up, not to mention it was REALLY annoying hearing all the right front audio coming from the right rear speaker.
But wait folks!! it gets better!! even the stereo 2.0 track is messed up but with a diff'rent problem, in the 2.0 track there is a slight echo with the ambient sounds (like a car driving by) but the voices don't have the echo but come from a combo of the front left and centre channel.

buyer beware!!!

A surprisingly good film, Final Days of Planet Earth brings to the screen the story of an unlikely group of people that have banded together in an effort to uncover a plot that could spell the end of human civilization, as we know it.
An archaeologist leads a motley crew of a band who all share something in common: they've all been chosen to become hosts or fertilizer in the service of some very desperate and rather anxious alien life forms...
Daryl Hannah being the only well known of the actors disappoints with her performance which seems forced and unnatural, while the rest of the cast carry out their performances pretty well (though nothing great) and establish likable characters.
Although it was a pleasure to see the lovely Daryl Hannah again, good acting on her part and a bit of exposure would have been just right...
The film doesn't start off that strong, but instead picks up about 20 minutes into the movie. Moreover, in the beginning it's too abstract and difficult to follow, but most of it falls into place soon enough. One thing we're never told is how and why Commander Phillips has such an effect on the baddies...
In short, the setting, the music and the acting are pretty good, the action/special effects are just average, the plot is interesting, while the dialogues are rather poor.
In a nutshell, it's probably not a movie you would want to add to your collection, but it will provide for an evening's entertainment, and that's about it. 3.5 Stars