I have to admit that my reason for watching this film was purely down to the popular critic Mark Kermode, he's always promotes it as one of his favourite films of all time alongside The Exorcist (which I'm never watching again). He states he sees it as a better movie than Blade Runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey from the same period due to its more touching and caring approach to the sci-fi movie genre. Since 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of my favourite films ever made I felt I should see if Kermode is right on this one.
With all plant life on Earth extinct, four men travel in space with a few specimens of plants and life kept inside giant atmospheric domes attached to the spaceship that they live in. Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) is incredibly proud of the work he's doing in the domes to preserve what is left of life on Earth whilst his crew mates are less interested. Orders from Earth come to jettison the domes full of wildlife and return the spaceship for maintenance which forces Freeman to take drastic action.
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| Freeman Lowell with two of the drones |
The plot itself is too simplistic and underdeveloped which means the film stalls for long periods, it fails to keep you engrossed at its lowest points. Whilst the script is also a disappointment, the actions of Bruce Dern throughout the second half are far more measured and meaningful than anything said between the crew in the early scenes. It's an enjoyably nostalgic film these days which has recently been released on Blu-Ray but it's not quite the classic Kermode bills it to be.
2.5/4 Sweet humanistic sci-fi movie but fundamentally flawed
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