MovieChat Forums > The Quiet Earth (1985) Discussion > what is it with these movies

what is it with these movies

posted 8 years ago by watterlloo
6 replies | jump to latest

The Omega Man. The Quiet Earth. I Am Legend. Etc....

All these movies tease some crap about a normal guy figuring out he's the so-called "last" man alive...cool idea.....then.....

He runs around, and finds token female (hottie), and then the premise goes straight out the window. I liken it to watching something being advertised as porn, and it ending up being about plate tectonic shifts on the Pacific rim.

I still like the movies, but keep the premise straight. OR......

Is it just that nobody, even cutting-edge directors, don't want to handle such a dramatic subject, as someone actually BEING the last human alive? Begs the question. And don't tell me about how "boring" it would be. How "exciting," exactly, was this gem? I thought so.

As a side-note, I liken this entire situation to the state of most horror films made in the USA today. They make "horror" films, but just HAVE to toss in humorous crap here and there, for so-called "comedy relief." Why? If I wanted to see comedy, I would go SEE a COMEDY. Poor audience members today....can't handle real horror and drama anymore. More dumbing-down, nanny state crap.

Let the flames begin.

"Hey, shut up in there, I'm trying to type....." OT: Do the voices in my head bother you?

[–] greg-233 8 years ago

If this film adaptation had been more faithful to the novel it was based on, it would have been much more downbeat. (For one thing, the protagonist didn't find a "hottie".)

[–] rndhyd 8 years ago

You're missing a big point. A novel & the movie are 2 different hings. There's no reason for them to be incompatible.

A film often changes things. So what?

Have you ever seen a claim "by the book"?

If you gain pleasure by reading books -- then continue; good for you. If you want it made into a movie -- verbatim (almost,variances allowed) -- then get funding & do it!

 

[–] MerovingianGoddess 8 years ago

The problem all people have with these movies is that they see themselves as being so much smarter, more apt to make better decisions, and would not have made the same mistakes as the protagonist. This makes the audience basically armchair quarterbacks, and people who boisterously promote their 20/20 hindsight when actually they had no vision at all.

In such a situation as this movie, how many of us would have just gave into our own vices and fear, and never even crawled out of the safe rabbit hole to begin with?

Merovingian Goddess
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!

[–] sloveniapower1 8 years ago

Can't have films without a love interest it seems, shame.

[–] eightbitsofhorror 8 years ago

We, the audience seem to require that glimpse of hope for movies. I love the idea as well but agree seeing things as we know it just fade away in a whimper would be interesting.

[–] kiboshz 7 years ago

I'd say the biggest problem,would be Hollywood finding an actor (or actress) who has the acting chops to BE the movie. That is one hell of a tough job - to be the only person in a film and to carry every single scene.