MovieChat Forums > Testament (1984) Discussion > Im sooo disappointed...

Im sooo disappointed...

posted 10 years ago by gobe-2
11 replies | jump to latest

How this movie can get such high rating??? It was so borring and full of cliches... The actors were annoying, especially the daughter (Ive ff all scenes with her as I simply could not stand her). I love post apocalyptic movies but this one seemed so unreal, not convincing, not something I could relate to. The dialogues or journal monologues were supposed to be deep and touching where in fact they weren't. First half hour of the movie could easily be skipped as it was just useless for the whole movie. I understand that this movie bases on a subject which was very freightening for many people during cold war but this is not enough to rate it so high. As a movie, a thing to watch, it was horrible!!!

[–] greg-233 10 years ago

Post apocalyptic films seem to fall in a spectrum ranging from action adventure (The Book of Eli and Terminator Salvation) to sombre and sober (Testament and The Road).

I prefer the sombre and sober type. I think they convey a higher sense of realism because it's clear the characters are not enjoying themselves.

[–] gobe-2 10 years ago

Me too. The road was so far one of the best I've seen! On the beach would be ok too if they would shorten it by soap opera moments.

[–] greg-233 10 years ago

I thought The Road had quite a few similarities to Testament.

In The Road we have no explanation of what happened to the Earth. There is a flashback in The Man's bedroom at night. Everything seems to be lit up by flames outside the window. With a view of a dead wasteland, The Man's voiceover says "there was a long shear of bright light, followed by a series of low concussions."

In Testament we have no explanation of why there was a nuclear war. No one seems to know how it had started, or who started it. It's symbolised by a glaring light (coming in through another window).

Both films focus on a parent, with voiceovers that move the story along. (The original short story that Testament was based on was just a set of diary entries.) There are flashbacks to happier times. And in both films there is the contemplation of suicide. The events in Testament were pretty much what I expected of a nuclear war movie.

[–] Ite 10 years ago

You have horrible taste. This movie was never boring.

[–] rainbowfever64 10 years ago

Then your idiot. This movie was very good. Better than the day after.

[–] zooymtoo 9 years ago

I love all different varieties of post apocalyptic movies and this one shines in the genre of realism. It's subtle and quiet and true. And also very moving in its approach to portraying how it really might be.

It wouldn't have to be a nuclear attack, by the way, to find things to relate to in it. That's almost beside the point.

The Road and On the Beach were most similar in how most people would approach the bleakest most hopeless scenario. And they're all fine movies in their own way too.
Not sure how anyone would find this one boring...or unrealistic unless you're caught up in the Mad Max action mode. How realistic is that, really?.
I would be very curious as to what apocalyptic movie you would find more realistic unless you're concentrating on moot points like the lack of cell phones, technology etc...because this was made before you were born and it's irrelevant to the story. .

[–] IcySpoon 8 years ago

I found this a deeply personal film. As a wife, mother, daughter and sister it touched me deeply and caused me to reflect on the relationships I had/have with my family and how much I take them for granted. I think the first half hour could have gone a bit deeper in exploring the various relationships among family members but I don't think it hurt the film.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." Norman Maclean

[–] lenlarga 8 years ago

"I think the first half hour could have gone a bit deeper in exploring the various relationships among family members but I don't think it hurt the film."

There were little hints here and there about tensions between Carol and Tom- we are led to believe they were nothing more than the common spats that even the happiest of married couples endure, but there is no way to know for sure, since we never delve very deeply into their relationship.

I understand what you're saying, but I think the point of the movie was to make the Weatherly family a stand in for a very typical American family from the suburbs. In that sense, the film revealed just enough of their personal details so that we identified with the Weatherly's and their dilemma.

[–] lm362 8 years ago

A movie being full of clichés is not boring if they are properly done. That happened here. How could you find the daughter boring? I could totally relate to her fear of never being able to experience being intimate with someone as I am a single person. I could relate to how she took good care of her siblings as I've seen many youths do likewise. Try putting yourself in the characters place, feeling what they feel. This movie deserves it's high rating and was very good.

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

[–] cara-stone 8 years ago

You clearly missed the message entirely.