MovieChat Forums > Quatermass and the Pit (1968) Discussion > This movie is so bad, its great

This movie is so bad, its great


This movie is one of those movies that is so bad, that its great. I saw it again on TCM on Oct. 22. That is the first time I had seen it since the early 80's. I saw scenes that I had completely forgotten about. The acting is terrible and the special effects are dreadful. That is what makes this movie so great. Of course this movie was made at the height of the Cold War and the Martians are a thinly disguised representation of the Russians. When you are a kid, this movie scares you. As an adult it is just silly. Like I said this movie is so bad ... its, its ... its great!!

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[deleted]

Thanks for saving me the trouble, drmality.



"What I got don't need pearls." -- Linda Darnell (1923-65)

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This movie is brilliant, original, imaginative, has great acting and an amazing script. One of Hammer's best.

So you're wrong.

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imo one of the best Sci Fi movies ever made. I know the production values are strained in places, notably the admittedly laughable scenes of ancient Mars, but when the concepts, writing and acting are so exemplary its a small concession.

Unfortunately today people are too easily distracted by the technical merits of a production and hence often miss the real quality and imagination on show.

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Remember kids, anything that was made "in the height of the Cold War" is *actually* about Russians. Incontrovertible fact.

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The guy who made this thread must be one of those people who can't appreciate anything for the era it was made in. It is a well made film with pretty good acting throughout, so I can't imagine what this person is on about. As a child is does indeed frighten, but as an adult I am able to appreciate the subject matter and it's implications despite the fact that it isn't really scary anymore. I hope you never watch the original mini-series upon which the film is based, seeing that you place so much importance on SFX. God forbid you enjoy something for having a good story!

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No, actually, it's so great it's great. And if you think the Martians were meant to stand in for the Russians...well, I think you need a history lesson, as well as a bit more understanding of film.

What ever happened to the time when directors realized that taking risks is a bad thing?

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If anything, the Martians are stands in For Lovecraft's The Great Old Ones.
I am one of those who thinks that if he had been alive, H.P.Could have had a pretty damn good case the Hammer plagiarised his works for this film.

I'll Teach You To Laugh At Something's That's Funny
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''If anything, the Martians are stands in For Lovecraft's The Great Old Ones.
I am one of those who thinks that if he had been alive, H.P.Could have had a pretty damn good case the Hammer plagiarised his works for this film.''

Actually this started life as a TV serial (by Nigel Kneale) and was then turned into a film by Hammer.

Kneale's sci-fi often has a few similarities with Lovecraft. 'Quatermass 2' featured creatures similar to Shoggoths!

If you hate Jesus Christ and are 100% proud of it copy this and make it your signature!

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been watching the Quatermas series of films with my 9 yr old son. Watched this last night. Not only is it a solid film with some amazing concepts, creepy aliens (well executed for the time!), but is a good time for me and my son. Not sure what sbutler0727 is going on about, but clearly we're watching the same film from totally different mental places. Too bad for you, I guess.
thankfully my son is loving this series! he loves the harry potter films, but dreads 90% of the dreamworks cgi crap these days, and would rather watch this stuff!

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The problem with the film though is that there isn't much by the way of believability. Setting the FX aside it didn't make any sense whatsoever that the archaeologist would be allowed any where near the site once a bomb was suspected.

That major flaw wound me up to be honest. I know there wouldn't be a film unless he was allowed to come and go whenever he wanted(with the indescribably gorgeous Barbara Shelley). Also the Major was far too stupid for any kind of realism. Also when the driller was there it was clear as day to everyone that he got nowhere but when they returned into the ship there was a gaping hole they assumed he had made it with his drill. He wouldn't have to point out the bore was too large compared to his bit, it just never happened and they all saw it not happen.

I thought Quatermass was also a terrible casting choice, but that's neither here nor there.

That said this film introduced me to the creature that is Barbara Shelley so all is forgiven. I googled her because I thought she MUST be Helena Bonham-Carter's mother - she isn't but the likeness is uncanny!

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@wolfylee...

I love this film, but when you say that Ronay's presence at the crash site takes some swallowing, I have to agree.

On the other hand, if you think that Breen's "stupidity" - I would say rather "single mindedness" - is unbelievable, then I wonder how many military types you've met? There's a certain type of soldier that Breen's character exemplifies perfectly...

"Duck, I says..."

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I thought Quatermass was also a terrible casting choice, but that's neither here nor there. >>> Andrew Kier was far more inline with the character as originally written by Kneale in all of the Quatermass TV mini-series than Brian Donlevy ever was. Donlevy played the character cold and harsh, which is nothing like the character and a reason why Kneale hated him in the role.

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No it is not bad at all, and you'd find very few people who agree with you. Most critics liked the film. And I find it laughable that anyone would find the acting of Andrew Keir, Barbara Shelley, James Donald and Julian Glover bad.

Still, I think you are basing ''bad acting'' on the acting now. Now people exaggerate emotions too much and speak too ridiculously - the new Doctor Who is a good example of this - that they are unrealistic. People used to such dreadful acting might indeed think that is the norm, rather than bad. The acting in this film is far more impressive and realistic even if Duncan Lamont can get a little hammy in his (rather common in UK cinema) ''going completely insane'' scenes (he is a good actor, though).

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I can give it 5 of 10 at best.

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Bad?

Perhaps the most cerebral horror movie ever made... bad?

Gosh.

---
Space For Sale.

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