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This review is for the Studiocanal/Mongrel Media version of 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' 40th Anniversary Edition released in 2016.
RATING: Because of the terrific content, I am giving this release 5 stars.
WHICH VERSION IS BEING REVIEWED: The version being reviewed is the Canadian release which comes with one disc. At the time of this review, Amazon includes different releases of this movie (as well as many other movies) in the review section.
WHY DID I BUY THIS VERSION? The version being reviewed is the Canadian release which comes with one disc. I purchased this Canadian version because I read that this version is sourced from a 4K scan whereas the U.S. version is not.
Prior to purchasing this release, I had watched this classic film once before. I remember it being in the theater's when I was young. Seeing the movie posters in the subways of New York left an everlasting impression. This was the first time I heard of David Bowie. About 10 years ago, I purchased a standard DVD edition of this film. Ever since, I've encountered discussion of this movie but only remember it in bits and pieces. I decided I wanted to watch it again in a restored Blu-ray version as well as get a version that had 'extra's' so that I could understand more about it. Therefore, I purchased this edition.
This movie has been reviewed many times by many generations so I will keep the plot discussion to a minimum. 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' is obviously a cult classic, though I am not the biggest fan of the movie. I will talk a bit about that in the Comments section below.
BLU-RAY: Although it doesn't say so on my packaging, I've read that the print was made from a 4K scan. The picture is quite good as would be expected. The movie is shown in widescreen 2.35:1.
EXTRA'S: For starters, you get a reversible sleeve so if you don't like the image of David Bowie's face on the cover you can change it to the one you see on the other 40th anniversary editions right here on Amazon.
- French interview with David Bowie from 1977. It's a bit tedious since the interview translates everything. Bowie doesn't say much. He just briefly talks about traveling and where he currently lives and that he doesn't speak French. He states that he has run out of things to say and won't be making albums anymore. He says he'll focus on movie soundtracks.
- Interview with Costume Designer May Routh featuring original costume sketches.
- Interview with stills photographer David James
- Interview with Sam-Taylor-Johnson. This is a fan interview
- Interview with the producer Michael Deeley - Deeley discusses how he got the financing for the movie and why they chose New Mexico to shoot and how they chose David Bowie to be the lead.
- "Lost Soundtracks" featurette - This featurette discusses the soundtrack that was never released. Bowie attempted to write music for the movie. However, Bowie was a 'mess' and couldn't compose. Ultimately the fees and royalties were too high because there is a lot of different music that wasn't made for just this movie. It then goes on to discuss some of the music that 'does' show up in the movie.
- Interview with writer Paul Mayersberg
- Interview with cinematographer Tony Richmond
- Interview with director Nicolas Roeg
- Interview with Candy Clark - Actress Clark talks about her experiences. She discusses how she got the part, meeting David Bowie and various scenes. Overall, it's an informative interview.
- Trailer
*****WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT*****
PLOT/SUMMARY: Thomas Newton (David Bowie), a humanoid alien, has travelled to Earth from a planet that is having a life-ending drought. Newton's home planet is much more advanced technologically than Earth. He comes to earth, pretending to be an earth man, and uses his technological knowledge to patent inventions and become super wealthy. He does this with the hope that he can create a spaceship to transport water to his home planet and save his family. Needless to say, he wants to accomplish this as quickly as possible.
Newton arrives in New Mexico and meets Mary-Lou, a simple girl who teaches him about Earth and it's customs. Mary-Lou believes he is from England.
Throughout the movie, flashbacks of Newton and his family on his home world are shown.
Newton meets a womanizing ex-professor who befriends him and ultimately discovers his secret. From here we find out if Newton succeeds in saving his home world and what happens to him.
COMMENTS: I want to point out that while I think this is an excellent release, I am not a big fan of the movie. Most people who are looking to purchase this are going to be fans of the movie and it is definitely a cult classic. At the time of it's release, the review's were mixed. Today it is obviously looked upon differently. Without having read the novel upon which this movie is based, I imagine it went into more depth and answered some of my questions and complaints that the movie did not address.
-In my opinion, the special effects look quite primitive, even for 1976. Newton's home world is depicted as almost completely barren. This is not what you would expect from a world that is supposed to be far more advanced than our own.
-A race that was advanced as Newton's was would surely be able to come up with a way to create water or a substitute.
-I find it very hard to believe that Newton would be left alone in that apartment for years. This is just too much for me to just "suspend disbelief." Really?... just abandon an alien from another planet and forget about him? This makes no sense at all. It kind of reminds me a bit of "District 8", another incomprehensible scenario where we take advanced aliens and throw them in a slum like concentration camp. Yes, I get it. There was a message being sent, but still...
-The idea of the movie is good, even if it is a common theme in science fiction. It's the execution, mostly the second half of the movie, that I did not like.
PRODUCTION:
-I've seen interviews with David Bowie where he talks about not even remembering making the movie. He said he lived in L.A. at the time and was heavily into drugs at the time. He said he was high throughout most of the filming.
-This is British film made in 1976 and based on a novel that was written in 1963 of the same name.
-The movie was shot mostly in New Mexico with a budget of between 1 and 2 million dollars.
CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: If you are reading this review then you are probably a fan of the movie and have seen it already. I would say that if you are looking to upgrade then just go ahead and do so. I can't see how you would be disappointed. There are a ton of extra's along with a reversible sleeve case and the print is very good.
Ultimately, despite the fact that I don't love the movie, I am giving this release 5 stars because I am judging it on the content of the release.
Recommended for anybody who is a science fiction fan.
| Additional Blu-ray options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
|
Blu-ray
June 1, 2019 "Please retry" | — | 1 | $11.16 | $28.99 |
|
Blu-ray
October 24, 2016 "Please retry" | — | 1 | $16.48 | $20.77 |
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Reviews with images
I love the film
Can someone tell me how Tommy walks into the shop with only his wedding band and comes out with a wad of 100's and a large string of gold rings? Also, if he sold his ring to the pawnbroker, what ring did he want to give to Mary Lou towards the end of the film? Didn't he sell it to the pawnbroker? I love the film. I think Bowie played the part beautifully but whoever did continuity needs training. The film needs better editing, jumping around from here to there. In the middle of one theme or issue and herein jumps another.Bowie plays an alien who looks human trying to get water for his dried up planet. How he crashes in a lake in New Mexico but has a British passports is one of those freaks of this film. It doesn't fit anywhere. He saw this planet "on telephone, saw the water" and thought he's get some for his planet? Huh? Now he's stuck on earth and becomes an alcoholic, uh huh. He meets up with Mary Lou who literally carries him to his room after a bad elevator ride leaves this poor alien on the floor to later barf up his lungs. There's a bit of a love story in there somewhere but a really sexy steamy bit about an unloaded gun and Tommy's threats to blow Mary Lou's brain's out with it - really to have sex with it?This film goes this way and that up I keep watching it. I don't know if it's because I'm trying to make sense of it or because Bowie is so drop dead gorgeous in it - front nudity so watch your children. I love this film even though it makes no sense in places.
Top reviews from other countries
Alain MARLIOT
C'est un nom qui n'a pas besoin de publicité.
Reviewed in France on April 12, 2024L. Joe Sullivan
This Canadian version of my favorite film of all time is very nearly perfect
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2017AmazonCustomer
SciFi Movie with a rather plotless story line.
Reviewed in Australia on May 2, 2021