MovieChat Forums > The Man from Earth: Holocene (2018) Discussion > Missed Opportunity

Missed Opportunity

posted 6 years ago by neptunewanter (2)
9 replies | jump to latest

Holocene felt like a completely different type of movie altogether than the first. It truly felt like an extended episode of some Teen Nick TV show. I kept excusing the horrible dialogue and tropes because it felt like the movie was leading up to them confronting John with what they know, whereupon they would have their own discussion of John's past. But what did we get? Art's bloody car breaking down (what?! seriously?!), John getting tazed, the group leaving the scene, and the worst character in the entire movie turning into even more of a cliche and having an incredibly meaningless discussion with John. I mean, fuck. The only time in the entire movie that we get what we all came for -- John discussing his life -- is with some suddenly-maniacal zealot that lead nowhere.

Others may disagree with me, but just one idea for this sequel would have been John encountering another immortal like him, much like how he spoke of occurring in MFE, and the results of that. Hell, it could even be a woman. Imagine the directions that could go.

I know it's not smart to expect more than the first film. But come on. Fans came to this movie in hopes for another intellectual (if that's the appropriate word) experience, not a group of "A" students committing crime after crime.

The film should have been about exploring John or possibly even another man who has lived for so long. The first film was fascinating because we were constantly on the edge of our seat with how John would answer questions about his past. And even while we left MFE satisfied with that movie as a whole, we also loved it because there was still so much to think about and so much to want more of. John can slow his bodily processes down? Hmm, that's interesting. Would like to see that. John has lived all around the world and fit in with all different kinds of groups? Jeez, I wonder what that was like. It would be interesting to hear the various ways he can communicate too. Damn, what about that man he met a long time ago that he thought might be like him? Was that guy the real deal? Maybe not. Maybe that guy was indeed a phony. If he was, there must be more, right?

Just so many paths that could be explored. Holocene just didn't really explore anything. Sort of cool seeing him as a teacher...I guess, but that's it.

[–] ss5mmyers (157) 6 years ago

Spoilers ahead. This movie opens up even more possibilities though. From the first film to this one, we have nothing to go on about John's life except his word. The kid turning it around to him possibly being the anti-christ is yet another option. Then you have the suggestion of John being this immortal serial killer as well. The film is asking you to question John's story even more now and clearly they plan more for the story to leave it all so open.

[–] neptunewanter (2) 6 years ago

Yes, it raises some questions, but they're contrived and silly. Anti-Christ or serial killer? I mean, wow. Way to piss on the thought-provoking story of the first film.

[–] ss5mmyers (157) 6 years ago

So you'll accept immortal caveman and Jesus, but not a serial killer or the Anti-Christ?

[–] Moonglum9 (10713) 6 years ago

I wonder if the anti-Christ is a Mirror Universe Jesus. He's probably clean shaven and short haired.

[–] ss5mmyers (157) 6 years ago

Actually many historians think Jesus was short haired.

[–] Moonglum9 (10713) 6 years ago

He never has short hair on my burnt toast.

[–] maximmm (3041) 6 years ago

I agree - we are seeing his in the same role of a professor elsewhere - surrounded by horrible teen actors - and this film featuring even worse production values (probably because they've used more locations - so more money spent on the wrong things). The writing was particularly disappointing in this sequel.

I feel like this story of a 14 thousand year old man could be done well- even in the TV series format - but it would need decent funds, decent writer and decent actors. The lead is good, but in this sequel he's stumbled a few times - and that's the fault of the director - so they'd need a decent director as well.

Anyways, it is what it is - we got a decent original film and a crappy sequel - it's sort of the standard these days, anyways.

[–] silexit (10) 5 years ago

The first one was fantastic. So interesting.

The sequel was a shit fest from start to finish. The most uninteresting characters ever (except the lead, obviously), horrible performances (except the lead, obviously), and the writing, the story, the dialogue - it's all just so bad it's not even funny. This felt like a completely different movie, universe, from the original.

I mean, God damn.

[–] Owlwise (1495) 3 years ago

The original needed no sequel—but if someone were to make one, it should be much better than this mess. As you say, there were so many possibilities that might have been explore.

For instance, how does John maintain his secret in a world of increasing digital presence, with cameras & computer data everywhere for anyone to use? How long can he hope to keep his secret in such a world? And what if he can't?

And turning the story into a poor copy of the old TV series The Fugitive & The Immortal, throwing in an immortal serial killer, is as about unimaginative as could be. The original dealt with real ideas that were far more interesting than those overused storylines. And there were more ideas to explore—if they'd only taken that approach.

For me, this sequel is just bad fan-fiction. The original stands on its own perfectly.