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Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Sadly Over-hyped

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The acting in this movie is really good.

First off Australian and or New Zealand movies are usually great. This is no exception. Scientist Zac Hobson awakens (or so it seems) to be the last man on Earth. Slowly he figures out there was an effect that basically made everyone disappear from the planet except those who were at the very second of death. After almost going nuts and off the deep end, he finds another. Then another. The effect keeps having small signs of happening again and actually destroying the entire Earth so he has to act. The three get together and build a bomb big enough to make sure the sending station blow up so it can't send a signal round the world to make this happen. Zac, Joanne, and Api, are all great in the movie. All have different personalities, and none are overdone or directed to be so it seems. The dialog is good and never gets boring. The FX are fine for the day and there aren't too many thankfully. I have read a lot of reviews on this movie since I watched it for the first time, and a lot of those pan the ending but I personally like it. Well worth the watch, I watch it about once a year or so since it is a very good science fiction movie in my favorite subject for Sci Fi movies.

Top Kiwi actor Bruno Lawrence ("Smash Palace", "Utu") stars in this post-apocalypse drama as Zac Hobson, a government scientist who awakens early one morning to find an utterly decimated New Zealand. This may have something to do with the multinational project on which he was working. He seems to be the last human standing, and for months he deals with loneliness by doing anything he takes a notion to do. I mean, what the Hell? He's now got tons of freedom. His existence is then thrown for a loop when he encounters two survivors: first, a beautiful young woman named Joanne (Alison Routledge), and later, an intense Maori trucker named Api (Pete Smith).This addition by New Zealand to the entire post-apocalypse genre is not all that satisfying at the end, but if it's true that the writers didn't quite know how to end this thing, it only adds a level of interest by not providing neat and easy answers. Viewers can interpret it how they will. And getting there is an entertaining journey. For about 36 minutes, Lawrence is the only living human on screen, and he makes Zac an easy character to root for. You can't blame him for the various wacky things he does in order to keep his sanity. And when he meets Joanne, and then Api, it does complicate things in believable enough ways.Give credit to director Geoff Murphy and company for their creations of the deserted and forlorn environments. They really do master the illusion of a world without individuals. The pace is deliberate, and for the most part their film lives up to the word "quiet". This is subtle, character-driven stuff, not for folks who'd prefer the thrills of something like "Mad Max".Our three main actors are engaging, especially Lawrence, who keeps you watching through the opening third. Lawrence also scripted (with producer Sam Pillsbury, and Bill Baer), based on the novel by Craig Harrison.This is worth a look-see if you're a fan of this genre and are searching for its less well known entries.Seven out of 10.

Directed by Geoff Russell, this is one of the most visionary and imaginative science fiction films ever produced. Years ago on a Saturday night, this movie served as my introduction to the SciFi Channel. That was back before SyFy and when great science fiction films were shown instead of schlock and reality junk. This was a terrific introduction and one I've never forgotten. Featuring an outstanding and memorable performance by Bruno Lawrence, it is that rare combination of an intelligent script and superb direction fulfilling the true potential of science fiction to tell a meaningful story. The existential power of this film is realized in a stunning closing sequence of incredibly haunting imagery, beautifully scored by composer John Charles, with special effects that are simple yet breathtaking. It may be one of the most moving, breathtaking, and thought provoking motion picture climaxes ever filmed. It is certainly one you will never forget. This is science fiction at its finest and deserves to be recognized as nothing less than a classic.

PRE-SPOILER : If you have that sort of fantasies it is worth watching the movie, but beware, when the female comes, the fun ends.SPOILER ALERT: I have the understanding that many people have fantasies about being the only person left on earth. I know i do, thats what made me watch this movie in the first place. The fist part was quite enjoyable. The protagonist does exactly the same things that i would imagine doing if i was in his place, which only fueled my imagination. Of course, i wouldn't imagine that i would have a mental brake down so soon, but still, what do i know. Maybe this is in the order of things. I was getting quite content with my choice of movie, but then... She came... Thats where the downfall begins for me. With every minute passed the amount of cheesiness increased. I was still interested, but i felt the first wave of repulsion. Then HE came. Tsunami of repulsion fell upon me. One would expect some kind of denouement. The males would fight for the woman, bullets would be fired, tears would be shred, that meant the end of the fun for me. I got kinda what i expected. Battle between male, a kind of battle that is as old as the world. A battle for a woman. Tension, actually. Series of tension for a woman. But drowned with cheese whiz. There was nothing present worth calling a battle. At the very end, to amend for his sin ( parting in the annihilation of men kind) altruistically ( not really) the protagonist sacrifices himself so that the others could live on. The guy went to a wondrous place (heaven probably, for he amended his sin) , and the romantic Latino guy was left freely to reproduce with a female that has mated with every single living man on earth. The future of mankind now is possibly in the hands of half Latino, half Caucasian incest beings. A bright future awaits earth. P.S.The fact that they were all "dead" puzzled me a bit, i should probably watch it again. But i rather not.