731. The Quiet Earth

The Quiet Earth
1985
Directed by Geoff Murphy

Recently I had to watch The Last Battle for this blog, which was a post apocalyptic film where everybody lost the ability to talk.  I hated it, not because it was silent, but because of the brutal treatment of women.  It's kind of my shtick to complain about it.  Anyway, I was wary of the genre because of this.  Still, this was a pleasant surprise and get this: no rape!  Can you imagine?  How did it even make it on The List?

Scientist Zac Hobson wakes up to discover that he is seemingly alone on Earth.  Apparently an experiment he was working on, "Project Flashlight," went a bit awry and eliminated the human race.  After wandering around for awhile, he begins to lose his mind.  He then discovers that he is not actually alone.

I would have never guessed that this was the same director that was behind Utu.  The movies just have
completely different feelings about them, The Quiet Earth being vastly superior.  It's such an atmospheric film, and the first half hour is absolutely brilliant.  The audience really feels Zac's isolation and desperation.  Unfortunately, we are then introduced to some other characters.  I suppose it was necessary for the story, but I really missed when it was just the audience and Zac Hobson.  I also thought the love triangle wasn't very compelling.  It was hard to be touched by romance when they were really just stuck with each other.  I am sure if I was the last woman on Earth, the two remaining men would fight over me too....right?

I will stop rambling now.  Definitely one of the better films of the genre.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

First science fiction movie ever made in New Zealand.

701. Utu

Utu
1983
Directed by Geoff Murphy

I know virtually nothing about New Zealand cinema, unless you include the Lord of the Rings movies, which I really don't think count.  This was quite a pleasant introduction, although the film itself was a bitch to find.

Te Wheke is serving as a Maori Captain in the British army when his unit comes across his own slaughtered village.  He gathers a guerrilla force and vows to terrorize the British forces.  A lot of people seem to translate Utu as revenge, but according to IMDb, it actually translates as "a balanced exchange or reciprocity."

I also know zero about New Zealand's history, although this movie certainly piqued my interest.  It was pretty brutal, particularly when Te Wheke attacks the church.  It was strange at times; I wasn't quite sure what the filmmakers were getting at.  It seemed like they were glorifying Te Wheke at times, or as if Utu was a noble force guiding him that he couldn't control.  But they depict him doing the most brutal things, and I find it hard to believe the filmmakers would think the audience would approve.  Maybe if he had gone after the British soldiers who were directly involved in the destruction of his village, I would have had more sympathy.

Still, it was an exciting film and I certainly did not guess the ending.  Worth watching if you ever come across it, but I highly doubt that will happen.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Anzac Wallace had never acted before this film.