75 reviews
Indie SciFi - complex and slow - opportunities missed
- xodarap-mp-cdes
- Nov 14, 2015
- Permalink
Sad
- karenfrance
- Oct 13, 2018
- Permalink
It's not that bad ...
I'll get the negatives out of the way first. This film is low budget with a limited story line and a weak script. The acting is pretty dodgy, mainly from the male character to be fair. The two women were not that bad, and given a decent script and story to work with I think they would do OK.
So for the positives. There's not a lot of action really and I found the first half hour pretty unbearable but I did stick with it and I have to admit it ended up not too bad. I was curious to see how it ended and I actually quite liked the ending. I like the ambition of this film, despite the low budget (about £50 I think!) it does its best to create tension and atmosphere and sometimes almost succeeds therefore I've given it 5 for effort. I suspect most people will hate it but it has a certain charm ...
So for the positives. There's not a lot of action really and I found the first half hour pretty unbearable but I did stick with it and I have to admit it ended up not too bad. I was curious to see how it ended and I actually quite liked the ending. I like the ambition of this film, despite the low budget (about £50 I think!) it does its best to create tension and atmosphere and sometimes almost succeeds therefore I've given it 5 for effort. I suspect most people will hate it but it has a certain charm ...
- lorraineesimpson
- Nov 17, 2017
- Permalink
Horrible camera-work and editing ruin an already flawed movie even more
Sci-fi without a purpose
This movie has bad acting, bad sets, bad makeup, bad camera work, bad editing, etc. But it's low budget, so what do you expect. All that could have been forgiven, If it wasn't for the god awful pointless script.
There are plot holes that you could drive a truck through. There are sections of dialog that completely contradict themselves in the time from starting a sentence, to finishing it. The character motivations are poorly defined and pointless. The scenes are not in chronological order. They jump around without any discernible orientation (did this thing happen before that other scene, or after it?). This technique is completely irrelevant to the story telling element. There are plenty of hints of foreshadowing, like there was going to be some big reveal that would explain the editing and bring everything together. Needless to say, I was profoundly disappointed at the lack of a payoff.
This is probably the worst sci-fi I have ever seen. Plan 9 from outer space was more coherent than this.
There are plot holes that you could drive a truck through. There are sections of dialog that completely contradict themselves in the time from starting a sentence, to finishing it. The character motivations are poorly defined and pointless. The scenes are not in chronological order. They jump around without any discernible orientation (did this thing happen before that other scene, or after it?). This technique is completely irrelevant to the story telling element. There are plenty of hints of foreshadowing, like there was going to be some big reveal that would explain the editing and bring everything together. Needless to say, I was profoundly disappointed at the lack of a payoff.
This is probably the worst sci-fi I have ever seen. Plan 9 from outer space was more coherent than this.
- nedjeffery
- Nov 29, 2018
- Permalink
agree with review by Arthur Facteau
this easily should be rated a 3 out of 10! the current 5.1 is far too generous, heck even a 3 is generous. the opening scene was pretty indicative of how poorly it was all put together so i really didn't need to torture myself for another 40 minutes until i finally could not take it anymore. i am quite certain i have seen better camera work on Youtube from 12 year old's, yea it really is that bad. anyone rating this above 3 stars is either easy to please or is involved with the project in some way, is a fake review or was payed or influenced to put something on here to skew the vote. pathetic. Unfortunate, because we see this a lot here on IMDb especially with lower budget movies like this one being a perfect example. if you really have nothing better to do, you can always see it for yourself but be warned, this is utter garbage!
- tangoscash
- Oct 17, 2015
- Permalink
Unusual story
going back to earth from mars..... don't.
Perhaps this was a thesis film.
It reminded me of community theater. Not because of the acting, but because the sets were sappy at best. The lighting was sophomoric, the camera work was struggling.
The actors were clearly not to blame. Directors need more insight.
And to the person who compared this to early Star Trek -- please at least review the scripts from early Star Trek television productions. We cared about the characters in Star Trek. in Earthrise - nope.
Try again.
Read more.
Edit yourself.
Amazon -- Stop showing student films.
It reminded me of community theater. Not because of the acting, but because the sets were sappy at best. The lighting was sophomoric, the camera work was struggling.
The actors were clearly not to blame. Directors need more insight.
And to the person who compared this to early Star Trek -- please at least review the scripts from early Star Trek television productions. We cared about the characters in Star Trek. in Earthrise - nope.
Try again.
Read more.
Edit yourself.
Amazon -- Stop showing student films.
- lawleekennedy
- Dec 25, 2015
- Permalink
A strange film
- blumdeluxe
- Feb 19, 2017
- Permalink
Earthrise-Not worth the time.
I love good Science Fiction. That say's it all, 'Good' Science Fiction. Something that will have a story worth paying attention to, that will not bore me to tears.
Some will say that I have no business sending in a review, as I did not watch the entire movie, but sometimes it would seem, less is more. This is one of those cases. After 20 minutes, I decided life was too short to waste any more time.
Really can't see how this won any awards...
You can take a chance, see if you like it, as it would seem some have liked it, and maybe they are either easy to please, I maybe I am just too damn picky, you will have to decide for yourself.
Some will say that I have no business sending in a review, as I did not watch the entire movie, but sometimes it would seem, less is more. This is one of those cases. After 20 minutes, I decided life was too short to waste any more time.
Really can't see how this won any awards...
You can take a chance, see if you like it, as it would seem some have liked it, and maybe they are either easy to please, I maybe I am just too damn picky, you will have to decide for yourself.
- facteau579
- Oct 11, 2015
- Permalink
Indie sci-fi film that engrosses you without you realizing it.
The budget might have been low on this film, but the production value is not. An impressive amount of time and effort went into crafting this indie sci-fi film. The visual and audio effects are especially notable, and the editing is fluid and keeps the story continuously progressing right up to the finale. This movie proves that indie filmmakers with a narrative they are passionate about can make a full length feature that is just as interesting and dynamic as any big Hollywood production company. Great tie in with the legendary Apollo 8 photograph "Earthrise." Demonstrates that inspiration can come from anywhere and with enough creativity it can lead to a awesome project like this one.
- hannahmaharrey
- Oct 15, 2015
- Permalink
I LOVED the concept but......
That's what attracted me to wanted to watch this. Going to the Earth we know.
It would have been WAY better having them explore Earth then to end it like that.
I wish someone would come up with a movie with that concept.
It would have been WAY better having them explore Earth then to end it like that.
I wish someone would come up with a movie with that concept.
- vicky_renee
- Apr 4, 2022
- Permalink
Less than the sum of its parts
I don't get it
- alfredfreitas-113-134780
- Apr 22, 2016
- Permalink
Earthrise is engaging.
I really enjoy this film and I am not a big sci-fiction guru. There's a light touch with details and applied with a subtle touch. The acting was solid. The cinematography was unique and appealing. Outstanding sound. Nice pace that builds. It reminds me a lot of Shane Carruth's Primer (2004). Both are small budget, yet pack a big punch. Yes, there is a chance that you might not like this movie. That's because it is not a movie made for the majority of paying cinema goers, but it is a movie made for the sake of movie making. It is an original, so if you want something that you are used to see and expect beginning and ending in a specific way don't go watching this one. I will finish by saying you must tip your hat to any film maker who takes on such a complex storyline on a small budget. Low budget sci-fiction's usually don't work but somehow the Director Glenn Payne pulls it off. It's a thumbs up for me.
- ericfadams
- Mar 22, 2016
- Permalink
A more 70s style sci fi film
This film is more of the 60s or 70s style sci fi movie where CGI is not the main attraction but the story and atmosphere. I would call it a sci fi drama. Go into with the expectation of watching human drama with a sci fi setting rather than the other way around.
- viknesh-silva
- May 27, 2019
- Permalink
These actors are awful!
The acting is unbearably bad. I mean, seriously awful
- numbahunna
- Aug 6, 2020
- Permalink
Bad writting.
Well Done Film
I've always loved sci-fi, and Earthrise really surprised me. Glenn Payne has written & directed a fantastic story. The acting is solid as well.
The real treat, for me, is the cinematography. It's beautifully shot, and has some great sets, which is impressive given the budget. One reviewer noted the methods from Star Wars that were utilized, and lack of green screen use, and I, too, found that impressive.
If you like terrific indie sci-fi, then do yourself a favor and check this film out. You won't be disappointed. Congrats to the cast & crew on their success!
The real treat, for me, is the cinematography. It's beautifully shot, and has some great sets, which is impressive given the budget. One reviewer noted the methods from Star Wars that were utilized, and lack of green screen use, and I, too, found that impressive.
If you like terrific indie sci-fi, then do yourself a favor and check this film out. You won't be disappointed. Congrats to the cast & crew on their success!
Solid Story Told With Care
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this film when I rented it on Google Play and while it isn't perfect, I was pleasantly surprised.
Earthrise won't be for everyone. It is paced fairly slowly (though for the most part the director keeps it from dragging by telling the story out of order) and some of the props/wardrobe/effects show the limited budget. There is an odd hiccup in pace near the end and some won't find the payoff satisfactory, but I enjoyed the ambiguity.
The story may unfold slowly, but it touches on themes that resonated with my friends and I, the need to let go of your past, the feeling like you are where you're meant to be and the conflicting obligations to a bigger cause and personal obligations. The three main actors handled their parts well, particularly the two leading ladies. The director made some interesting choices with the framing and cinematography and good lighting elevated some of the more tedious scenes.
Overall, it was a decent watch and a good first feature. It left me with a good mix of questions and answers. Worth a viewing.
Earthrise won't be for everyone. It is paced fairly slowly (though for the most part the director keeps it from dragging by telling the story out of order) and some of the props/wardrobe/effects show the limited budget. There is an odd hiccup in pace near the end and some won't find the payoff satisfactory, but I enjoyed the ambiguity.
The story may unfold slowly, but it touches on themes that resonated with my friends and I, the need to let go of your past, the feeling like you are where you're meant to be and the conflicting obligations to a bigger cause and personal obligations. The three main actors handled their parts well, particularly the two leading ladies. The director made some interesting choices with the framing and cinematography and good lighting elevated some of the more tedious scenes.
Overall, it was a decent watch and a good first feature. It left me with a good mix of questions and answers. Worth a viewing.
- needsmooreleland-89124
- Oct 14, 2015
- Permalink
Great looking indie film
- ajsiii2002
- Jul 21, 2015
- Permalink
The expectations game
Earthrise has that quality, I think, of throwing viewers off who go in expecting star wars or alien or gravity etc, and don't know how to react when they see a piece of indie cinema/ art. It's what some call understanding the film's "level of ambition." That is to say, we don't judge "Snakes on a Plane" by the same criteria we judge, say, "Schindler's List." I liked the film, and also appreciated that a low-budget indie would even attempt a space movie! The resourcefulness and off-center narrative I find refreshing, compared to the overblown and dumbed-down mainstream fare. I suspect the negative reviewers wold feel the same way about Solaris (original or re-make) because it is "slow," etc. I also find that films with ambiguous narrative - where cause and effect, linear story, and by-the-numbers clear explanations of everything are not offered, tend to put off some viewers -- resulting in those trite one-word reviews like "slow," "boring," "bad," etc. Earthrise is not for everyone, nor should it be. Less receptive viewers who can't sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time will have a problem with it, perhaps. Personally, I prefer to think, and figure out or interpret for myself, and I don't need fireworks every minute to be interested in a story. The only real sin a film can commit is to be boring - but boring means different things to different people. I was not bored, and I liked the film. I can tell what does bore me: Transformers, Fantastic Four, and other noisy disaster/ apocalyptic junk films from Hollywood.
- David-W-Warfield
- Mar 14, 2016
- Permalink
Great sci-fi film
From Director/ Writer Glenn Payne
Great film about a mission home to earth! Living in space can break down the mind and it is beautifully shown through the cinematography, direction, and story of the film. Watch this awesome science fiction thriller unfold through plot turns and in- depth character development!
The sets are all practical and methods of filmmaking from Star Wars were used. Not one green screen shot in the film with the characters, that's impressive!
The film explores themes of love, paranoia and home.
Recommended to any science fiction fan!
Great film about a mission home to earth! Living in space can break down the mind and it is beautifully shown through the cinematography, direction, and story of the film. Watch this awesome science fiction thriller unfold through plot turns and in- depth character development!
The sets are all practical and methods of filmmaking from Star Wars were used. Not one green screen shot in the film with the characters, that's impressive!
The film explores themes of love, paranoia and home.
Recommended to any science fiction fan!
Mind-Bending Science Fiction
Nightmares come true in this sci-fi drama about a lonely crew traveling from Mars to Earth for the first time in their lives. While the twists and turns of what is plaguing the ship keep the audience on its toes, it's the personal dramas between the crew members that really carries the story. Yearning for earth, despite never looking upon it while reflecting on the atmospheric limitations of Mars, creates a dynamic that is filled in by the imagination of the audience. This is good story telling using the elements available to the filmmaker.
I liked the cinematography a lot, the layers of light and shadow create intrigue in a sterile environment, the sound mix and music were also both really good.
I liked the cinematography a lot, the layers of light and shadow create intrigue in a sterile environment, the sound mix and music were also both really good.
Good indie si-fi
To see some of the reviews talking bad is ridiculous. For this movie to be an indie film on a low budget they did a great job with this film. The creativity behind making this film look like there really in outer space was very good. That's what movie making is all about. Would have love to see what they did on earth at the end but I was very satisfied with this film. Must see for yourself
- johnapplebee-95947
- Oct 16, 2019
- Permalink