Rating: 
Summary: Ecological sci-fi that even this conservative can embrace
Review: Hailed by some as one of the best science-fiction movies of the 1970s, Silent Running is a quirky, unique movie that conveys a serious ecological message in an unforgettable manner. To be honest, I had never heard of this movie before, but the premise of the film intrigued me, as did the knowledge that a prominent special effects man for 2001: A Space Odyssey, Douglas Trumbull, directed it. Almost despite itself, the movie moved me in places, and I ended up quite enjoying it, even though there are many things about it I didn't particularly like. Many would consider this a boring movie, I am sure, as there are no fierce battles fought or alien beings threatening to destroy mankind. Silent Running is a thinking man's science-fiction film that succeeds or fails on its compelling storyline alone. The story takes place some time in earth's near future, at a time when all plant life has been destroyed on the planet in some unexplained way; America's last forest land still exists, however - millions of miles out in space on board the Valley Forge. The ship carries along several huge geodesic domes filled with trees, flowers, garden plants, etc., along with much of the animal life that goes with them. A crew of four mans the ship, with the help of a number of mechanical drones, but only one, Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) really cares about the forests in his care. We first meet the other three crew members racing willy-nilly around the ship in jeep like go-carts, thinking nothing of trampling a bunch of flowers or taking shortcuts through the grass. In person, they are even less likeable, making fun of Lowell's idealism and basically harrumphing on their own belief that the forests have no importance whatsoever. Lowell himself starts off on the wrong foot, in my opinion, in terms of the audience's reaction to him. The man is a wide-eyed zealot seemingly about two steps away from madness of a dangerous kind; I agreed with everything he said about the importance of the forests, but his words are somewhat lost on the listener (and the crew) because he is simply annoying in his fanaticism. His mood doesn't improve when the crew gets word that they are to destroy the forests and return home to commercial service. Freeman can't handle such a decision, so he does what he feels he must in order to save the last vestige of earth's forests still in existence. The second half of the film revolves solely around Freeman, as he is basically stranded in space with his forest. His only companions are (originally) three drones, and in my opinion these little robotic guys steal the show. This is a 1971 film, so the drones are by no means technologically exotic, yet these things do have their own personalities; there are a couple of especially poignant moments with the drones that I would like to have seen explored on their own terms, but this would have wandered a little too far afield from the premise of the film. The ending is actually quite touching and, perhaps more importantly, it feels right to this viewer. There is certainly a strong undercurrent of allegory working in this storyline. Freeman's fellow crew members represent society at large; their lack of concern for the forests and dismissal of any ecological cares at all are meant to be a condemnation of contemporary society's uncaring and unthinking attitude toward ecology on the planet. Freeman is an evangelical fanatic on the subject, a voice crying in a wilderness that may not survive much longer if things continue as they are; up until the very end, he does not give up hope, though, and that is the inspirational message that stays with the viewer after the movie ends. It's a rather somber and depressing movie for the most part, yet I, who would not call myself an environmentalist of any kind, was touched both emotionally and intellectually by the film. Freeman and his crewmates represent the extreme weights on both sides of the environmentalism/commercialism scale, and it is up to us, the viewers, to find a way to balance those opposing weights on our home planet.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended Bit Of Sci-Fi Hippie Schmaltz
Review: Get ready to LAFF! All the reasons that people cite for why this movie is flawed (shakey premise, preachy, maudlin, flat, Joan Baez theme song) are, in my opinion, reasons to love this film. If it hasn't aged particularly well, it has certainly survived as a hilarious sci-fi feature that is very much of its time. Dern's characterization of the psychotic tree-hugging Lowell is a joy to watch. When he preaches to his crewmates about the benefits of eating "real food" versus food pills (Ren & Stimpy anyone??) as he scoops out his cantelope is mighty funny stuff. "I grew it. I FIXED it." (Fixed it? = Hilarious.) Also, the little circular bumper pool table with the robot arm opponent thing is novel. Ha ha. And the high-speed 6-wheeled all-terrain vehicle joy ride through a warehouse of polystyrene octagonal storage pods is choice. Weeeee! Trumball's effects are great by '70s standards. Not as spectacular as 2001: A Space Odyssey, but a might better than either Logan's Run or Battlestar Galactica that followed in later years. (I'd say it's comparable to Space: 1999) The establishing shot at the beginning of the film where we see Lowell standing in his kitchen window gazing out into the vastness of space, slowly pulling back to reveal the hull of the "Valley Forge" (his gigantic all-american eco-space ship, complete with geodesic domes) is stunning in its way, and very reminiscent of 2001. Lastly, the "drones" Huey, Dewey and Louie are fascinating to watch. Like bulky air-conditioning units with articulated "feet" and flash-cube style sensors, cooling vents and grabby little pincher arms, the adorable drones waddle around the Valley Forge and fix things and water plants and - eventually - perform knee surgery on Dern. [Grisly!] Like R2D2, these robots contain live actors inside, and are made to seem very adorable and cute and childlike. When one of them is accidentally destroyed, the other two actually seem "sad". It is a "very special" moment in a very special film. (Define "special" however you see fit.) Unlike R2D2, however, these robot costumes house not dwarf actors but full-sized amputee actors with no legs who walk on their hands. The visual effect is truly like nothing you've ever seen in a sci-fi film, or are likely to see again.
Rating: 
Summary: deeply flawed, but it has its moments
Review: Briefly, Silent Running is set in the distant future where Earth's forests, because of pollution, have been transplanted to large terrarium-like domes orbiting Saturn on a trio of space cruisers. When the ships are recalled to Earth for commercial service and the domes ordered destroyed, one of the crewmen takes action to preserve the trees and plants he has spent the last eight years caring for. Silent Running has a number of problems: the shaky premise, the underdeveloped script, poor characterization, Peter Schickele's all-thumbs score (the very opposite of subtle) and two horribly dated songs from Joan Baez. The cinematography is about competent for television in the early 70s, which is to say rather flat and unengaging. Despite his involvement in the visuals for 2001, director Douglas Trumbull strains under the restraints of his million dollar budget to make the special effects believable. Bruce Dern is typically overreaching -- compare Edward G. Robinson's short, understated reminiscence about how Earth used to be near the beginning of "Soylent Green" with Dern's harangue on a similar theme here -- and his character, Freeman Lowell, is, quite frankly, a rather annoying nut case. Still, there are two compelling reasons to see this movie. The first is the backgrounds: most of the interiors were shot aboard a decommissioned battle cruiser, lending a sense of cramped realism to the film. The control room, radio chatter and all, seems especially believable (at least when the oscilloscopes aren't in the frame). The domes, only small sections of which could be shown because of budgetary considerations, are an interesting idea that plays out well visually. The second and best reason to see Silent Running, though, is its take on one of science fiction's tried and true conventions, the robot. The "drones," as they are called here, are admittedly technically impractical, but their design and execution are rendered with an affecting pathos. They're not simply cute; they're clunky and slow (but efficient) and possess a mute humanity that the actors can't summon. They are perhaps so enduring as characters because the viewer empathizes for them in their long-suffering, duty-bound roles. Or maybe we just feel how hard it must be for them to be stuck on a space ship with Bruce Dern. Either way, the drones are a brilliant touch, and they are the element of this film that works the best. Extras on the DVD include a rather dully narrated, contemporaneously produced documentary about making of the film which shows more of the battle cruiser and gives some good insight into how the drones were done. Other features include more recent interviews with Douglas Trumbull and Bruce Dern, neither of which are very insightful (filmographies would have been nice, but none are included, and the passing discussion with Trumbull about working with Kubrick on 2001 only begs more on the subject). Science fiction fans will want this one for its cult value and its unique place in the canon of downbeat sci fi from the early 70s, but those with only a passing curiosity may just want to rent.
Rating: 
Summary: Moody, Brilliant S.F. Film
Review: Silent Running is at times idealistic, and at times dark. It is, however, always quirky. The ending (which I will not disclose here) sums up the strange and beautiful nature of this movie, as does the lilting theme song appropriately sung by Joan Baez. The beginning of the movie is perfection, and it continues through murder, hope, crisis, and renewal (not necessarily in that order) to the ending which is both heartrending and lovely. It is very definitely a film of its time, and if you can accept what that means you'll be able to bask in the atmosphere of this early 70s eco-film. Movies are, at their very core, a form of escapism. Watching Silent Running means spending some time inside an uncertain and always disarmingily gorgeous future space.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't Play Well In Time
Review: I liked this movie when it was first released to the theatres in the 1970s. I thought a revisit on DVD would bring back some of those fond memories, but, sadly, the film looks very dated.' Forget the premise - it's pure enviro-fiction. Think about it for a minute: the planet earth has no more forests, trees, deserts - no wilderness left. We had to put all our critical environments in pods and orbit Jupiter with them (why Jupiter? why not orbit Earth?). This very Asimovian premise falls on its face in light of science: since green plants give us the oxygen we need, a planet devoid of all green plants would be a dead planet - there would be no oxygen-breathing life on it. OK. Let's say, though, that the radical environmental movement has succeesed in numbing your sense of reason - the film still fails in its scripting, which is needlessly whiny. Bruce Dern gives a rather egalitarian performance as the tree-hugger, which doesn't help to lend credibility to his cause. Some of the effects still hold up, but overall the film has that shaky, matted look of cheesy 70s sci-fi (even STAR WARS has that look). The most interesting thing about the DVD is the Special Features, and the documentaries on the making of the film. Once I finished with those, I had nothing more interesting to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Great Science Fiction ... One of the Better from the 1970's
Review: There's a strong political/ecological message in this film but I enjoy it for its science fiction screenplay. With many of the films of the time ("Soylent Green", "The Omega Man", etc) there was strong social commentary and apocalyptic themes. While ecology is important to us all, in this film, it's a bit too strong in parts (though it doesn't overwhelm the entire script). With that, there's a bit of a mixed message presented by the film, regarding the forest domes and the ill-fated crewmen of the film's main character, Freeman Lowell. Bruce Dern is perfect as Lowell who disobeys orders but at the cost of his own integrity. There's some shocking heavy-handedness to his otherwise benevolent character. You'll have to see the film for yourself and draw your own conclusions. But enough of that. As science fiction, this is simply a great film. Excellent special effects (for its time) and sets. I liked the spaceships; they seemed very practical and functional. Without giving away too much of the plot, one must wonder why such extreme measures are taken with the cargo when it seems it could have been "parked" somewhere. When you watch the film, you'll understand what I mean. But of course, there'd be no story without the extreme measures. Oddly touching and indeed brilliant ahead of their time, are the three robots that accompany Freeman. The robots are apparently equipped to have emotions as they experience grief, concern and loneliness. They even cheat at cards, while playing Poker with Freeman. Two of the robots have a tété-a-tété outside on the surface of the spacecraft where they share their concerns about Lowell and the cargo. By the end of the film, I was surprised to discover how much the robots themselves had touched me. I don't know how they manipulated them but they each took on real personalities. Freeman even takes the little robots out for their own personal "Arbor Day". It's actually done very well and the robots really make you believe it. There's a little bewilderment and disbelief on the part of the robots when their first tree-planting doesn't go smoothly and Freeman chastises them for their lack of understanding ... neat ... This film has stood the test of time. The cinematography is well-done and has been preserved in near pristine shape. The film looks every bit as new as when it was produced (some colorization in the special effects was characteristic of the studio technology available at that time and does not represent degradation of the master reels as such). There really was never a film quite like "Silent Running" and I dare say it could not be duplicated nor equaled. This is not the action fare of "Star Wars" but it's a little faster paced than "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the subject matter is a little less complex and mysterious (let me say "2001" was brilliant on several levels for the most part). I even like the robot that plays pool with the guys. This is a science fiction classic, if you liked the 1970's, and a "must have" for your collection. With regard to the DVD, you get chapter access and nothing else. No production notes, no theatrical trailer, no language / subtitle options, but the film is worthy of digital processing, so buy the DVD if you can for that reason, just don't be surprised by the lack of features.
Rating:
Summary: Clumsy, derivative and implausible
Review: There is not a great deal I have that's positive to say about this movie. First off, it's heavily derivative, especially of Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey: Alone in deep space, things get very weird, equipment fails, innocent astronatus die, remaining crew go through a psychedelic space trip hurtling through the rings of Saturn and nothing else makes a lot of sense. Switching things around so it is the meatware that goes bonkers doesn't really alter this fact. But its "grand" scheme is where similarities end, and even there it's more of a contrast than a compare. In no sense is Silent Running in the same league as 2001. Then the screenplay, such as it is, is dire - there's very little dialogue, hardly any action and the action you do get adds nothing to the narrative or dramatic tension (why the demise of the third robot? Why not just start with two? Why the game of cards?). The plot scenario is ludicrous from the beginning: even allowing the silly premise that the Earth has become, by intended human intervention, totally devoid of plant life (which, the amateur biologist in me shrieks, would surely destroy the oxygen/carbon dioxide equilibrium, would it not?), then to receive an order, with no explanation, to nuke the remaining space-bound conservatories and return the boys to earth defies any sort of credulity. As does Lowell's ability to reprogramme robots to understand ecology and card games by looking in the manual, soldering their motherboards a bit, and typing in a programme. For a supposedly pro-ecology film (if it were one of these, it was certainly ahead of its time) there are a number of anomalies, chief among them Trumbull's curious decision to portray the hero and saviour of the plants as a murderous paranoid weirdo. Mind you, with the strains of Joan Baez gagging her way through a staggeringly awful cycle of (specially commissioned!) folk songs, perhaps you can excuse the poor man of cutting up a little rough. Last, Silent Running was - quite apparently - made on the cheap. The sets are drab - much of the space ship looks suspiciously like a partially converted warehouse, and the blue-screening and special effects are ho-hum. Given that special fx was Trumbull's bag, the shortcoming on this score pretty much sums up the rest of the film.
Rating: 
Summary: Zzzzzz -- terrible
Review: This is one of the most ridiculous sci-fi DVD's I have ever seen. The dialog between the Valley Forge and the other ship is ridiculous. Dern talking to the two driods is pathetic. If I had to see one more close up of Dern's flared nostrils I was going to puke. I definitely would not recommend this DVD to anyone. It is very dated, boring, with terrible acting, directing and dialog.
Rating:
Summary: The Saddest Piece of Science Fiction Ever
Review: As science fiction should be, Silent Running is powerful metaphor, making the viewer (or at least this one) question the wisdom of our society, then flipping the questions inside out. It's profoundly sad in a mature way. Definitely goes on the shelf with the Planets of the Apes and Logan's Run.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not great
Review: Silent Running is a film which, despite, some weaknesses, is enjoyable. Freeman Lowell(Bruce Dern, in an excellent performance)is working on a space freighter to preserve the final vegetation in the universe. Orders come to destroy it, but he goes beserk and.... well, I'd better not spoil it, but suffice to say, grows noticeably poorer in the second half. The Joan Baez songs are highly out of place, and the finale has to be seen to be believed. The film probably would have worked better with a better script and director, but it gets points for making a good point, and I may like it even better as the years pass.
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