MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) Discussion > One of the worst movies I've seen

One of the worst movies I've seen

posted 16 years ago by esakshaug
76 replies | jump to latest

I'm usually in to strange movies like this. I love David Lynch, and I don't have any problems with artistic freedom, but this was just bad, bad, bad.

The actors were mediocre,
The effects were laughable,
The lighting made it look like a home-movie,
The Cuts were confusing and didn't make any sense a lot of the time,
and the structure of the screenplay was so bad it took me an hour to figure out what the hell was going on? (very confused about the aliens on the "desert-tram" and what the plot was all about),
The adaptation I hear is not good (I haven't read it though).
Also, what the hell was the point with Rip Torn's sex-scenes? They had no relation to the story at all?

You may call me stupid, but both me and my (history/language teacher-)girlfriend was baffled by how terrible this film was. I would like to point out that it had potential. I'm really looking forward to the remake.

PS. I'm Norwegian, don't pick on my English skills :)

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] singels 14 years ago

Are you some alcoholic and did it give you flashbacks?

[–] lindsaym41 14 years ago

I don't think this film is a "bad" movie by any stretch of the imagination. The film was visually stunning, had a very interesting story & concept, & David Bowie did a wonderful job in his role, especially considering this was his first film.

So while this film isn't really "bad", it is most definetly a test in *beep* endurance. I would almost dare to call it the most self-indulgent film that I have ever seen. It's like the director just couldn't resist putting in pointless scenes, dialogue, & chopping editing that made no goddamn sense. And much like "The Thin Red Line", the film lingered on & on & on & on. Every time I thought it was finally going to end, it would stagger on for another half hour like a meth addict with a spear through his head. I have no problem with "epic" films. "Apocalypse Now" is one of my top 10 favorites. But this was just entirely too much. I think better editing & a better script would have solved this problem, but obviously the director was too busy fellating himself during every single shot of the film to worry about such "trivial" things.

However, I still think it is a classic in it's own right, but I personally believe it's a more of a movie for film buffs only. Just make sure you have a lot time & patience on your hands when you sit down to watch it.

[–] mensur_sony 14 years ago

I'm not a fan of science fiction films. I only watched it for David Bowie and that was really perfect, even a masterpiece! Definitely one of the best movies I've ever seen and I gave 10 out of 10. Just because it has made 30 years ago it doesn't make it bad. I can understand if someone says that they didn't like it because it's very "different" but your reasons are strange. Haven't you seen any film made in 70s? Acting was pretty good, especially Bowie was terrific. The Cuts were not confusing, effects are pretty decent and not laughable. As an adaptation, I didn't read the novel but critical reception are very high ("Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes). There were not modern technology at that time but still they made total perfect movie.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bradjanet 13 years ago

If this is the worst movie you've ever seen, you've been very lucky to avoid the mountains of crap out there.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

[–] birdeyes304 10 years ago

I feel the same way. A person comes from another planet and is subjected to hedonism at its finest with confusing twists as to what the human race really is. That is the stupid story I guess. 100% stupid.

[–] wirenwit 13 years ago

I found the script unique and stimulating; Bowie, Rip Torn and Candy Clark, perfect for their roles. But the direction and editing were amateurish. I wonder if Roeg got his reputation because of his bold choice of scripts, rather than his technical abilities.

[–] s-napolitano8 13 years ago

I don't understand why when someone says they don't like a film they're automatically stupid. I like everything. Seriously it's like a curse. This movie however...I found pointless. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it, that doesn't make me or anyone else stupid..Why bicker? I don't get it. Talk about it instead of, "Oh you're a big dumby for not liking it"

It sucked...to me. To most of you on the board, apparently, it's a masterpiece...sorry I can't enjoy this one.

[–] nephihaha 13 years ago

For what it's worth the original poster seems to have seen the cut version. I watched the full version, and it explains a few things which are plot holes in the cut version.

I have seen Bowie criticised as an actor, but he did suit this role IMHO.

---
It's not "sci-fi", it's SF!

[–] DrSamba 13 years ago

I've seen it a few times, but always the cut version. I enjoyed it, but did find it confusing at times.

I just found out the director's cut is available at my local library. I'm looking forward to seeing it at last!

[–] kswiss89 10 years ago

I actually think Bowie acts surprisingly well, although I am a huge fan of his music I see him credited in movies and am also really driven to see them... Given other musicians who have tried to act as well: *Cough* Gene Simmons *Cough*; Bowie deserves little to no criticism.

"Even though I'm no more than a monster - don't I, too, have the right to live? " -Oh Dae-Su

[–] franzkabuki 13 years ago

Yeah the cuts ´were´ kinda confusing, but that´s a great thing, creating numerous wonderful transitions between all sorts of imagery and tones - Roeg seemed to have impeccable instincts for that stuff here and in Walkabout and, especially, Don´t Look Now. And I´d say the screenplay was so ´good´ that the story takes at least 2 viewings to bring it all together more or less perfectly. An amazingly shot, poignant and startlingly original - if not perfect - work of art; Roeg sure cooked up some heavy sh-t in the 70´s. 9/10.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] TheBotticelliQueen 12 years ago

I liked everything about the film except for the editing, really. Like a poster above said, the narrating could've used some work. When narration was used, it was ineffective most of the time, seeing as it provided information already given to us. Like towards the beginning, Rip Torn was narrating how he was going to work with Bowie's quirky character when we already knew that a) the point of having Rip Torn was so that his story would tie into Bowie's, and b) We already started to get the idea that Bowie's character was pretty quirky.
Editing, however, was definitely the biggest issue. Besides that, lovely movie. :)

[–] Mr_Blonde3 12 years ago

"One of the worst movies I've seen."

It was very surreal, and I have to admit I snuck a peek at wiki afterwards to fully understand some things, but I liked it. Bowie was just the right level of Odd, and I really liked Rip Torn.

I love to love my Lisa.