Customer Reviews

The Quiet Earth [VHS]

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Although I do wish I could get a copy on DVD here in the states (hint, hint) I wanted to share my thoughts with those having a look here.
A vivid look into one man's nightmare and awakening, but also a haunting commentary on the dangers of science without a conscience. Masterfully blended in a raw and unadorned style which makes the characters seem more alive, more real, for the lack of Hollywood glitz and glamor. No "B" movie here. Truly a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. And a film that will have you scratching your head and wondering about a great many things for years to come. After roughly 15 years I still consider this movie on a regular basis.

For fans of apocalyptic sci-fi The Quiet Earth is a must see. This is the story of a suicidal scientist waking up to an empty world and then finding out why this happened. The ending is atypical for movies and has you thinking long after the movie. I've traveled to New Zealand and watching the end of the world scenes in 80s Auckland was eerie.

The DVD transfer is surprisingly good considering the age of the movie. Full 16x9 widescreen with good color. The sound quality is a little off. The DVD box is really well made. The box is solid and has interesting artwork. This DVD will make an excellent collector's item.

4.5 stars. Australian Science Fiction has never been widely distributed nor marketed widely in America. With the occasional, rare exception, such as "Pitch Black," most people think all Australian films are invariable linked to "Crocodile Dundee." This story starts off with a man waking up to find all the people in the world are gone. While he is alone there are some unnerving and even blasphemous scenes showing his mental disintegration through isolation. I recently had a collegue mention that Man is a social creature, and that if any one man was all alone in the world he would eventually crack-up. This discussion reminded me of this under-appreciated film that, for some reason, is not available on DVD in the United States. Bruno Lawrence is excellent as the main character, showing both mania and depression with equal intensity; but eventually he embraces his future, albeit with a somber countenance, only to discover that he is not alone and for very macabre reasons. The first time I saw this movie I absolutely loved the ending, which is both fantastic and reasonable. All in all, this is must-see, intelligent Sci-fi. Thank you. EDIT: Apparently, this film is from New Zealand. (picky-picky, people) Also, it is now currently available on DVD. Yeah!

I won't say too much about this movie. Many others before me have already done that. I'll just say I enjoyed this movie for what it was. A break from the usual space shoot-em-ups. Don't get me wrong...I'm a big Star Trek, Star Wars, etc fan but it's nice to find a scifi movie that makes you actually think! Nuff said...

This is the classic mind blower, along with the musical score, a very haunting and extremely profound look into "What If!"

I thought "On The Beach" was the most chilling end-of-humanity film ever made until I saw "The Quiet Earth." It wasn't promoted much after it was released; all I remembered was the movie poster. I rented it one night and have been haunted ever since. Being the last human on earth would truly be more terrifying and maddening than dying among millions.

The first 50 or so minutes of this film are terrific. The late Bruno Lawrence plays Zac Hobson, a scientist in New Zealand who wakes up one morning to find that everyone except him seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. We see him trying to cope with this state of affairs, going crazy and then slowly regaining his sanity while the world is silent around him. In these scenes, Lawrence gives a bravura performance which manages to stop short of hamming it up and really gets you caring about Zac's frail psyche. His descent and renewal are as gripping as any great moviemaking could be, done with only a few words, a few poignant gestures and deft editing and camerawork.

Zac then finds out that he's not alone after all: first, a young woman named Joanne and then a burly Maori lorry-driver named Api find him and the three of them try to puzzle out why they're still on Earth and everyone else has vanished. It's at this point that the movie gets pretty soggy. There's a rather flimsy plotline about how an experiment funded by the big, bad USA somehow brought about this catastrophe, a love triangle that comes about just when you're hoping a love triangle WON'T come about, and an ending that smacks of the story petering out, as opposed to leaving you with tantalizing unanswered questions. So that's disappointing. But the first 50 minutes of THE QUIET EARTH are right up there with the first hour of THE BLACK STALLION, where the director uses all of the cinematic tools at his disposal to help you experience Zac Hobson's despair fully and completely. That's worth the viewing in and of itself.

OK, 4.5 stars, only because the special effects haven't aged well. This is a stunning film. It's about a man who awakes to discover that he is alone. Completely alone. There are no birds, no animals, no humans. Or are there? Is he truly the last man alive? What caused this catastrophe? How did he escape it? Watch this movie to find out. Unfortunately, in the US, it is impossible to find this on DVD. Lucky for me, I happened to find it on tape at a garage sale. I have "forced" nearly all my friends to watch it. The start off by scoffing, but end up amazed.

Update 6-4-06: They are releasing this on DVD! Buy this as soon as you can and watch it. I plan to.

Truly one of the most compelling sci-fi films I've ever seen. Classic "last man on earth" elements with a twist of Maori culture, rivalry, sexual tension, and a suprize ending. My concern is - when's this gonna show up on DVD??? Would love to have a copy for my collection. Highly recommend this video!

When one thinks of New Zealand film making, one probably assumes that it was Peter Jackson that put them on the map - that he could be the only filmmaker out of that region. Alas, one should realize that New Zealand has been releasing films for many years, and have even put their stamp on American cinema as well. I recently had the opportunity to watch a little film that probably wouldn't attract too much attention today, but in 1985the rumor is that it was the second highest grossing foreign film in our country. One can only applaud New Zealand for their creative effort, and for me, I will be applauding them for more. "The Quiet Earth" was a fresh slice of science fiction delight. It was a unique premise, based of a bestselling New Zealand book, that has seen several transformations in American cinema throughout the years. Most recently I witnessed a mediocre adaptation in the film "The Last Man", but must express my excitement more towards this film due in part to the ability to grow the characters, the attention to detail, and expressionism of the unknown. "The Quiet Earth" is one of those films that interweave religion, science, and human existence together so well that it will leave you lapping for more by the end.

To be brief, "The Quiet Earth" poses the question of what emotions one would feel if discovered they were the last man on the planet. Would it be the hypothetical "kid in the candy shop" experience, or be driven to the brink of madness due to boredom, or would one invest time in ones self - rediscovering why, who, and how the world transformed into the desolate Earth it became? All great questions that are explored greatly by director Geoff Murphy and demonstrated through the ingenious acting abilities of one Bruno Lawrence. It would be tough to handle the first act of a film solo, using no language outside of the sheer insanity of being alone, he gracefully pulls it of with ease. In fact, it was the beginning act of this film that immediately grabbed me. I could watch Zac (Bruno) over and over again as he engulfs himself in his new environment. Just as we think we are about to loose him, others are brought into the picture, not as confusion, but as a moment of hope and inspiration. While they seem threatening, Zac learns what he must do to ensure that they survive to rebirth the Earth - leaving us with an ending that makes us glad to have such a thought provoking genre.

I do not want to use this as a platform to compare and contrast this miraculous film and that of "The Last Man", though it was through the latter film that I was introduced to this one. They are two separate films, and I will leave it as that. "The Quiet Earth" will evoke laughter, tears, and at times, the genuine scare tactic to bring about the story. Director Murphy does what I thought only Danny Boyle could have done in "28 Days Later" with empty streets, unpopulated towns, and streets as urban mazes. While the tricks are simple, the effect is tremendous. Again, I cannot state the Bruno Lawrence is amazing, both alone as well as his interaction with the others as they arrive. Instead of focusing on lust, insecurity, and neediness, he continues with his research to find a cure for the effect that he, or his team, may have brought to the world. The concept of death playing a big part of their existence now is mind-challenging. It really places a different perspective on "where" these survivors really are. Is it the Earth that they once knew, or some parallel universe as seen in "Sliders"? Then, just as you think you know the answer, Murphy throws in the final moments of the film and any guesses that you may have are out.

The cinematography, besides what I said above, is amazing. It really captures the film, and for the 80s budget pre-CGI, I have to applaud this team. While listening to the commentary, the effects were done with no budget, but with imagination - something you find lacking when computers become too much of a staple to the film (ie see the newer "Star Wars" films). The acting, as already said, is 1980s acting. Sometimes wooden, sometimes stagnet, but overall exactly what I wanted from this film. It fit the tone and low-budget-y of the film, but it was perfect. This is what I miss from films that were released in the 80s. Sure, they didn't have the money, but they were creative and imaginative - a crucial feature I miss in today's cinema.

Overall, I must admit, that this is a film that will definitely be added to my collection. It is one that I can watch time and time again, continually questioning the facts, the unknowns, and the opportunities. Don't be afraid of 80s foreign films - they may surprise you ... greatly!

What if you were the last person on Earth, with an endless supply of everything, what would you do?

Grade: ***** out of *****