Nightfall (2000)

Strong and Moving!

Admirable film.

A Major Disappointment

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

That's what I was thinking when I first saw this movie. Holy doodle WHY did I spend anything on this? The book was amazing, I agree with the "greatest science fiction story ever" title, but honestly, the movie fails. Favourite lines:-KOPTONNNNNNN!!!!!KOPTOOONNNNNN!!!-No! Not that way! Which way? ...this way.And the whole fire-eyes thing? Uhh...WHAT?Sorry guys, if this movie is your cup of tea then just skip this review. I'm sure there are TONS of really nice ones after mine....wow I almost had you there!So, if you're looking for a hilarious fire-retinas, snake-piñata, NO! not the university! type movie GO FOR IT!coughcoughMANOSWASBETTERcoughcough

I first read Isaac Asimov's sci-fi story, Nightfall, in the 1980s when I was asked to help find financing to make a film version by the person who then owned the movie rights. I read the book and was moved... Asimov's story says much about the nature of scientific knowledge and religious superstition, and it says much about how we are locked into our world and often not able to transcend it. At the end, the scientists of the day discover that the religious nuts were right all along about one basic fact... but their interpretation of this fact was quite wrong. Asimov had a long and prolific career as a writer of sci-fi but Nightfall, written when he was only nineteen was one of his more (most?) famous stories.I couldn't raise the money for its filming and lost track of the project. So I was excited to see the film. What a disappointment. It had been filmed in India (is that we they got the money finally?) and the story greatly expanded. It had been made into a love story - it did not explore the nature of knowledge at all. The lead actress was quite unconvincing, pathetic, actually. I had my whole family watch the movie with me and was quite embarrassed. They kept asking me what I thought but I would say nothing as they would have all walked out... I kept hoping is would improve. But it didn't.

I am a hard core science fiction fan and an Asimov fan in particular. In fact Nightfall was the first science fiction book I ever read. I have reread it many times and always remembered it fondly... Until now. I can't believe the people that made this film got the legitimate authorization to butcher such a wonderful story. The acting was horrible although I suspect that was mostly due to a lousy script. The special effects should have been left out to further improve this movie. Worst of all I actually bought it thinking Asimov's estate wouldn't let them make too bad a movie.. Right? WRONG!! That said. I hope they do a better job with I. Robot currently in the works. Looks like a bigger budget what with will smith etc...

I'm not that much of a hardcore Asimov fan, but Nightfall is one of my favotire stories. I saw this movie at the rentals and decided to give it a go. Like many other pointed out - the only thing similar to the story is the fact that there is indeed an eclipse on 6 sun world. The director decided to build the movie around the point where everyone go insane and start burning things. Which is an important part of the story, but not THE most important one. Not to mention the use of SUPER POWERS? "Hmmm... this story is nice, but let's add superpowrs to it! Yeah, that should make them watch it!" Err, not. To sum it all up - If you read the book, don't see this, it has little to do with the story and you will just sit and say "Ehhh... he can light flames with his mind?". I know i did :)