THE OMEGA MAN: OMEGA MAN is one of those underappreciated gems that got little critical respect when it came out, but is in fact far better than the vast majority of "post-apocalypse" films. Based loosely on Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" -- one of the greatest horror novels ever written -- OMEGA MAN benefits from a literate and coherent screenplay and a fine performance by its lead actor (Charlton Heston), who carries the film virtually single-handedly for the first 15 minutes or so. His portrayal of a rational man gone "just mad enough" to cope with the horror of a world devastated by bio-warfare is both compelling and convincing. Anthony Zerbe's portrayal of the hate-filled, anti-technology zombie who seeks to destroy the hero is chilling. This movie is in the top 2% -- worthy of comparison to "On The Beach" and other films usually considered more "highbrow". Check it out! This is truly one of my favorite films, but sadly, the more times I see it, the more flaws I discover. Pay attention to the first five to ten minutes of the film. During the driving sequences, you will find two instances of moving cars within the scenes - guess it was hard to find an empty street, even in 1971. Also, when Heston exits his car after getting a flat tire, a man can be seen moving in the background between buildings. Don't get me wrong - this is a fine film and one of the best "last man in the world" stories I've ever seen. But, someone wasn't paying attention! Let me know if you find other errors in the film. A fine motion picture that prophetically forecasts what truly could cause the end of mankind, worldwide biological warfare, not nuclear war! Movie Synopsis When I first watched this movie, as a kid back in 1974, the first 15 minutes of the movie appeared to be about a crazy man driving around the streets of Los Angeles on any sunday afternoon shooting people, breaking into places, and stealing cars, as it was typical for downtown Los Angeles to be vacated on weekends. I would venture to say that very little street barricades were placed, if any, to achieve the "Ghost town" effect. It was not until the appearance of the esoteric men in black robes at "Neville's guarded fortress, that I realized this was a world of anarchy. The News clips, with "Anthony Zerbe" at his former pre-disaster occupation as Anchor man, were the perfect transitions into this story of a world, wiped out by a plague brought on by chemical war, with buildings left intact. The intellegent dialogue of "Zerbe", created the basis of imminent horrorible death for "Neville" ubiquitous throughout the movie, even in "Zerbe's" absence. Movie Review I felt that "Omega Man" ranked on the top of all movies of that era when there was competition between film makers to "out-horror" one another. From that period, I believe "Omega Man" is perfection in the art of movies in it's context, and is a perfect example of how a movie that exploits more dialogue, and less violence, can have a greater impact on the adrenaline rush that audiences expect SOYLENT GREEN: How can you not love this movie? You just can't. Great classic over dramatic acting by Charlton Heston. This is not that great of a movie, save for Hestons preformance. Watch it if your bored. This film is a fascinating look at what might be if the enviornment deteriorates further and further. There is a bitter irony in that this was Edward G.Robinson's last movie...and that his last scene was a death scene...and his character ended up-! Charlton Heston's classic reaction to the truth about Soylent Green is almost a trademark for ol' Moses.(Chuckle!) This was a good movie; it could have been great if anyone other than Fleisher (a mediocre hack) had directed. Heston is o.k., but a bit over the top. Had the studio bothered to put a couple mil more in the set design (more decayed buildings) and added a few thousand extras roaming the streets, this could have been more than just an underground classic. Very original film, but it's just too mediocre to be a classic. The movie was obviously shot on sets in a few small areas and just didn't look convincing enough. New York City is supposedly overpopulated with 40 million plus people, but in some of the scenes, the streets are almost deserted. A very unpleasant atmosphere these people live in: green air pollution, extreme heat, decayed buildings, overpopulation, homelessness, air conditioning, comfortable living quarters and real food for only a wealthy few, but worst of all, green tablets that subsist of 100% of most people's diet (were Soylent Red and Yellow made of the same stuff as Soylent Green?). Charlton Heston had done well as an overworked police detective, supported by a very pleasant cast including Edward G. Robinson as his roomate and researcher, Leigh Taylor-Young as a sexpot who occupies the luxurious condo of her murdered boyfriend, and Brock Peters as Heston's boss. . |
