So I saw "The Quiet Earth"

What's his face · April 17 2010, 03:05 AM

I watched this movie after reading about it on Listverse. It's a New Zealand film from 1985 with a really good actor in the lead role.

I have to say, it's one of the most imaginative movies I've ever seen. The ending is absolutely mindblowing. Obviously, it's meant to be left up to the viewer to interpret it however he/she wants.

This movie is just begging to be remade (properly, of course)

Has anyone else seen this movie?

Mr. Laser Beam · April 17 2010, 03:29 AM

I've seen it. I thought the ending was creepy as all get out. I did wonder what happened to everyone else, as well.

Klaus · April 17 2010, 04:42 AM

It's always produced a pretty polarized reaction when brought up here, some love it and some are bored to tears by it.

I'm firmly in the "love it" camp, I have it on DVD.

About the end and who's left:

Ryan · April 17 2010, 05:13 AM

It really is a brilliant ending. You'd never be able to get away with that today, sadly.

Mr. Laser Beam · April 17 2010, 05:15 AM

They never said exactly what happened to everyone else. From our POV, they disappeared, but they had to go somewhere. Perhaps a duplicate Earth was created somehow, and the characters from the film were deposited on it? Thus from most people's perspective, nothing happened.

StarshipDefiant · April 17 2010, 05:26 AM

I didn't like this movie, no one in my family did, when we watched it we had all gone "...wtf?" It was just a lame movie, and the love triangle thing is cliched, last man and woman on earth, but one isn't interested in the other, then they come across another man or women and suddenly two people can barely keep their hands off each other. Lame.

WillsBabe · April 17 2010, 11:13 AM

Great movie. Saw it over Christmas as one of the dvds we accumulated to get us through the dross that is seasonal tv. I have massively vague memories of watching it back in the 80s, but it wasn't at all familiar to me. I thought it was novel and enjoyed it. I wouldn't want it remade. For me part of the charm is that it is what it is and is made in New Zeland. No offence to Americans here, but I get tired of most films and tv being American. It's nice to see something from somewhere else. (I imagine if it was remade it would most likely be a US studio that did it.) I don't think it needs remaking in any case.

Kegg · April 17 2010, 11:29 AM

I think Klaus is dead on the money about the ending and overall it's a pretty solid movie. I don't see any need for it to be remade simply because it is after all just another 'last man on earth', story, however well told, and I don't think there's anything about this particular version that needs revisiting.

JoeZhang · April 17 2010, 12:02 PM

I must re-read the book which I seem to remember is significantly different in parts.

3D Master · April 17 2010, 12:07 PM

What's his face wrote:

I watched this movie after reading about it on Listverse. It's a New Zealand film from 1985 with a really good actor in the lead role.

Has anyone else seen this movie?

No, great isn't it? ...so how about a description of what's it about so us who haven't watched it can decide whether it's something they would want to watch?

Klaus · April 18 2010, 04:59 AM

It's a last-man-on-earth story to begin with, but morphs into more than that as it goes along... it's a character movie, not an action one.

April 17 2010, 03:05 AM	#1
What's his face Rear Admiral Location: Ontario, Canada	So I saw "The Quiet Earth" I watched this movie after reading about it on Listverse. It's a New Zealand film from 1985 with a really good actor in the lead role. I have to say, it's one of the most imaginative movies I've ever seen. The ending is absolutely mindblowing. Obviously, it's meant to be left up to the viewer to interpret it however he/she wants. This movie is just begging to be remade (properly, of course) Has anyone else seen this movie?

April 17 2010, 03:29 AM	#2
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" I've seen it. I thought the ending was creepy as all get out. I did wonder what happened to everyone else, as well. __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

April 17 2010, 04:42 AM	#3
Klaus Rear Admiral Location: Beach condo, Bay of Eldamar	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" It's always produced a pretty polarized reaction when brought up here, some love it and some are bored to tears by it. I'm firmly in the "love it" camp, I have it on DVD. About the end and who's left: Since only people dying at the time of the first incident made it through, he's presumably the only one still left in the world at the end... he died just as the 2nd one happened because of the explosion __________________ "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain t-shirts! deviantArt

April 17 2010, 05:13 AM	#4
Ryan Commodore Location: Lincoln, NE	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" It really is a brilliant ending. You'd never be able to get away with that today, sadly.

April 17 2010, 05:15 AM	#5
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" They never said exactly what happened to everyone else. From our POV, they disappeared, but they had to go somewhere. Perhaps a duplicate Earth was created somehow, and the characters from the film were deposited on it? Thus from most people's perspective, nothing happened. __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

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April 17 2010, 05:26 AM	#6
StarshipDefiant Captain	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" I didn't like this movie, no one in my family did, when we watched it we had all gone "...wtf?" It was just a lame movie, and the love triangle thing is cliched, last man and woman on earth, but one isn't interested in the other, then they come across another man or women and suddenly two people can barely keep their hands off each other. Lame. __________________ Mal: I aim to misbehave Whiskey: I know where to find food. In the kitchen. Bennett: D-did you just...try to tase me?

April 17 2010, 11:13 AM	#7
WillsBabe Vice Admiral	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" Great movie. Saw it over Christmas as one of the dvds we accumulated to get us through the dross that is seasonal tv. I have massively vague memories of watching it back in the 80s, but it wasn't at all familiar to me. I thought it was novel and enjoyed it. I wouldn't want it remade. For me part of the charm is that it is what it is and is made in New Zeland. No offence to Americans here, but I get tired of most films and tv being American. It's nice to see something from somewhere else. (I imagine if it was remade it would most likely be a US studio that did it.) I don't think it needs remaking in any case. __________________

April 17 2010, 11:29 AM	#8
Kegg Rear Admiral Location: Ireland.	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" I think Klaus is dead on the money about the ending and overall it's a pretty solid movie. I don't see any need for it to be remade simply because it is after all just another 'last man on earth', story, however well told, and I don't think there's anything about this particular version that needs revisiting. __________________ 'Spock is always right, even when he's wrong. It's the tone of voice, the supernatural reasonability; this is not a man like us; this is a god.' - Philip K. Dick

April 17 2010, 12:02 PM	#9
JoeZhang Rear Admiral	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" I must re-read the book which I seem to remember is significantly different in parts.

April 18 2010, 04:59 AM	#11
Klaus Rear Admiral Location: Beach condo, Bay of Eldamar	Re: So I saw "The Quiet Earth" It's a last-man-on-earth story to begin with, but morphs into more than that as it goes along... it's a character movie, not an action one. __________________ "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain t-shirts! deviantArt