HOME   News   Reviews   Adv Search   Features   My DVD   About   Apps   Stats     Search:
  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Mono
  • German: Dolby Digital Mono
  Subtitles
    English, German, Dutch, English - Hearing Impaired, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer

Silent Running

Universal/Universal . R4 . COLOR . 85 mins . PG . PAL

  Feature
Contract

This is one of those classic science fiction movies. I couldn't bring myself to NOT buy this when I was going out to see what's available at the local stockist.

'Silent Running' is a science fiction film that was made in the middle of epics like '2001' and 'Star Wars'. It is not a blockbuster like those two however its significance is still strong. The people involved in this project are familar names to science fiction fans. The director is Douglas Trumbull. Special effects is John Dykstra. The screenplay is by Michael Cimino and Steven Bochco. If you're a film fan, I don't need to explain to you who these people are.

This film is Bruce Dern's. He has to carry 75% of this film as it revolves around his character who is a botanist-cum-astronaut. Dern injects real sympathy into his character. He leads a four man team in a mile-long spacecraft around the rings of Saturn. The spacecraft is a commerical freighter adapted to carry geodesic greenhouses in an effort to biosphere some forests away from earth. There are no forests on earth. Environmental degradation and development has destroyed the natural ecosystem. There are several of these 'space biospheres' orbiting Saturn in an effort to time capsule the final natural lifeforms.

These forests are very well captured by the director and cinematographer. It is a visually stunning film in a relatively low tech sort of style. The budget looks quite reasonable with the John Dykstra effects and sets reminiscent of '2001', 'Alien' and 'Star Wars'. The shooting style takes off 'Star Trek' to NASA footage. The ships and flight mechanics look excellent but they don't have that stark beauty of 'Discovery' in '2001'.

Bruce Dern's character 'Lowell', expects that they'll return to earth one day to replant these forests. he relishes the replanting of earth. Unfortunately that is not to happen - earth has sent word to nuclear destruct these forests in deep space. Lowell cannot let that happen and he manages to save one biodome. However to do that he must isolate himself from his three crewmates. So while he saves the biodome he slowly goes insane from the lack of human contact.

He has three robotic companions who seem to resemble R2D2 from 'Star Wars' in human characteristics. They almost have more human emotions than the humans in this film. The robots either play for comic timing mostly however they are used in very humanistic style which is meant to contrast with the robotic, unthinking actions of the people in this film, especially those back on earth. Most of the script is between Dern and these robots with Dern having to pull all stops in his performance.

This film is horribly melancholic, especially the final few scenes. The pacing is slow but even after the initial excitement at the start. The various vignettes are beautiful, sad but unforgettable. The environmental message is perhaps even more potent now, thirty years later. 'Silent Running' deserves to stand next to '2001', 'Blade Runner' and other landmark pure science fiction films.

  Video
Contract

The box says '4:3 Letterbox' which is an oxymoron of incredible proportions. It's actually a non-anamorphic transfer which measures out to about 1.85:1 (not stated). It is a bit noisier than I'd like but it is a colourful, reasonably sharp print. Damage is very limited and the quality is consistent. Blacks look good. The external star backdrops are not as impressive as say 'Star Wars' but it looks reasonable with an acceptable representation of space. The busy interiors of the ships are well served by the transfer with the intricate details easy to discern. This is as about as good as it gets for a non-anamorphic print of this age. The disc is single layer and not even a full single layer disc (~3.5Gb from memory) so it is compressed a bit too much. Still, I was pleasantly surprised.

  Audio
Contract

There are two tracks - 192k/s Dolby Mono in English and German. There is excellent vocal intelligibility and reasonable music fidelity from the rather unique score and the various Joan Baez songs. Effects are laughable but there's reasonable treble but no bass. Environment effects are limited to the biodomes which have post added sounds.

Generally very TV-like sound but expected for its age. Even so, the excellent scoring by the music director resembles the music from past science fiction epics but is original at the same time.

  Extras
Contract

We don't need no stinkin' extras. There's a trailer of VHS quality and it looks much worse than the main feature.

  Overall  
Contract

I paid under $20 for it and it really is good value even considering the barebones nature of the disc. If you're a science fiction fan, you should get this.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=1178
  • Send to a friend.

    Cast your vote here: You must enable cookies to vote.
  •   
      And I quote...
    "Well presented disc of a landmark science fiction film..."
    - Tony Lai
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Rom:
          Pioneer 105(s)
    • MPEG Card:
          Geforce2 32MB AGP
    • Decoder:
          Sony TA-E9000ES
    • Amplifier:
          Parasound HCA-1206THX
    • Speakers:
          Mission 763
    • Centre Speaker:
          Mission 75c
    • Surrounds:
          Mission 760
    • Subwoofer:
          Mission 75as
    • Audio Cables:
          rca coaxial SPDIF
    • Video Cables:
          VGA connector
      Recent Reviews:
    by Tony Lai

    The Barefoot Contessa
    "A well presented disc of an obscure Bogart film..."

    Etta James & the Roots Band - Burnin' Down the House
    "Another typically high quality DTS music production from Warner Music and Eagle Vision..."

    Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas - Cabo Wabo Birthday Bash Tour
    "I don't want to get drunk after the show, I want to get drunk during the show!"

    Joe Satriani - Live In San Francisco
    "A great two disc collection marred by a glaring audio fault..."

    James Morrison: Scream Machine - Live at the Basement
    "A fine production of some rather experimental music..."

      Related Links
      None listed

     

    Search for Title/Actor/Director:
    Google Web dvd.net.au
       Copyright © DVDnet. All rights reserved. Site Design by RED 5   
    rss