MovieChat Forums > Orca (1977) Discussion > A underrated gem to say the least

A underrated gem to say the least

posted 17 years ago by jbjbcme
12 replies | jump to latest

This film is beyond brilliant. You can not compare this to Jaws or even call it a rip-off of that film. This is a totally different film. A symbolic message in it is how possibly animals are more ethical than human beings. This film also reminded people who look deep into film that Dino DeLaurentiis is one of the best producers of the time. He even made another film holding the same type of symbolism 8 years later in 1985: Cat's Eye. People that downgrade Orca really didn't understand its point.

[–] raymond-x-jacobsen 17 years ago

I do (understand its point), and you're correct on that level. I never compared this to "Jaws", ever---and really, it's a better film in many respects. Mystical, almost, and jaw-dropping in many scenes. I loved all of Dino DeLaurentiis' films that came out around that era, and "White Buffalo" is another favorite of mine. People can ridicule or make fun of his films---hell, I even enjoyed "King Kong Lives!" for what it was. He was a master of bringing the impossible to the screen, and they just don't make movies like that anymore!

[–] jbjbcme 17 years ago

Absolutely right and it is better than Jaws! You know film, that's for sure!

[–] raymond-x-jacobsen 17 years ago

Well, "thank-you", jbjbcme!! I'm kind of a film nut---got my degree in theatre about 20 years ago from the University of Minnesota, and during that time took many film theory classes, etc. Great stuff, but honestly, as much as I learned-- I've loved films ever since I was a kid--most of the people that taught the classes, or attended, were what I called "film snobs", meaning that all they enjoyed were films that were "artsy", or of course anything by Kubrick, Eisenstein, Hitchcock, etc. Now, as much as I do enjoy those films, I love all movies for the most part (only a few on my "don't watch" list, like "Gummo", for example---simply dreadful and boring)----and like I said in my earlier post, these films by Dino DeLaurentis (spelled that wrong, I'm sure)were just spectacular to me---great casts, great, magical stories---pure escapism at its best---they always came across as big, epic movies to me, and had so much style. Wish he would have made a lot more!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] sblackmagicwoman 17 years ago

it is so pompus to say that "if you don't like it you didnt get" i hate when pepole do that i'm sure you ment no offense. but it is a condisending statement.
I got this movie the first time i saw it. and i didnt care for it. like i said i'm sure you mean nothing by it but it is rude.

[–] hingleyc 16 years ago

The book was well reviewed to a large extent. This was a large-scale attempt to make a better movie than jaws, not to mearly cash in like "Tintorera" or "Tentacles". I like the movie a lot while it fails to outdo "Jaws". It's no wheres near as bad a pic as some claim.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] blizzrock13 16 years ago

Jaws is purely amazing. This movie was one of the most miserable movies I've ever had to witness. The soundtrack was horrific, the plotline was LUDICROUS, and the continuity simply did not exist.

2/10.

[–] lm362 8 years ago

The plot line was not ludicrous. Nolan had lost a wife and child to a drunk driver. Nolan apparently let the justice system handle this. The whale lost his family because of Nolan's actions. Nolan mistakenly thinks the whales revenge shows more love for its family than Nolan showed for his. This is only part of the plot line. So far, I see nothing ludicrous, nor in anymore of the plot line. The soundtrack was moving and exciting. I did not see any problems with continuity.

"Do All Things For God's Glory"-1 Corinthians 10:31
I try doing this with my posts

[–] KimberlyShaw 15 years ago

Hollywood productions filmed in the maritime provinces of Canada weren't an everyday occurance when the Delaurentis crew descended on Newfoundland to shoot "Orca". It made news at the time for that very reason & many residents were used as 'color'. The Herzog novel was quite good, de Laurentis spent a lot of cash to make a first rate product that wasn't just anothe rip-off/cash-in of "Jaws". And while it's no wheres near as good as the classic Speilberg pic, "Orca" is a well acted, cleanly directed slick production blessed with a fine, memorable soundtrack. I like it a lot & remember it fondly.

"There's my buttercup!"

[–] lm362 8 years ago

I respect your views but do not feel that the film has a symbolic message of how possibly animals are more ethical than human beings. The orca being vengeful was not being ethical because revenge is not an ethical act. I see the film as having the message of how we should not seek revenge or feel it is ever right to do so and how we should consider the consequences of harming an animal or its offspring sense the animal has no sense of morality, right or wrong, nor can it reason as a human does, if at all. The film shows, in its own way how angering an animal can result in relentless pursuit of the person who has angered it and how it can not be reasoned with and efforts to calm it down might not be successful as it would be towards a human. That is based on fact because of wounded/angered animals really being dangerous, not able to be calmed down. Vengeful humans in reality trade their humanity and become animalistic.

"Do All Things For God's Glory"-1 Corinthians 10:31
I try doing this with my posts

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

It definitely deserves a higher rating than 5.7