Le Dernier Combat [DVD]

Owing perhaps a little to the earlier and very influential 'The Road Warrior', Besson's film is a minor masterpiece in its own right. Despite a few apparent flaws and an ending that is a little too happy, Besson and the film's star Pierre Jolivet have crafted a unique view of one person's survival in a brutal post-apocalyptic world.'Le Dernier Combat' presents a believably dead world where a few humans struggle to survive and even fewer retain a sense of humanity. The director fills the movie with striking imagery that grabs your attention and doesn't ever let go. At one point during a rainstorm it begins to downpour fish; later during another rainstorm two of the film's characters get caught in a hailstorm of rocks! Scenes such as the very unusual opening shot, Jolivet drowning his sorrows with several bottles of liquor, his escape on a makeshift glider and many others never leave the memory once viewed. My personal favorite: two of the characters share a bottle of wine at dinner and, as is the civilized custom, each takes a sip from their glass and nod approvingly; cut immediately to an empty wine bottle balanced on a pedestal that someone is using as a target to hone their skills with a sword. It provides a brilliant parallel between the two types of people struggling against each other here.What sets 'Le Dernier Combat' apart from others in the post-apocalyptic film genre is the fact that there is no dialogue spoken at all. Contrary to the criticism that it is a novelty, instead the absence of dialogue draws you into the movie, helping you become intimately connected to the survivors and sharing their experiences as if they were your own. Moments of suspense, despair, isolation, melancholy, elation, defeat and great joy are all conveyed superbly by the cast without the benefit of speaking. There is a singular moment where two of the characters say "Hello" to one another with the aid of what I believe is helium, but beyond that you won't hear a word spoken in this film.Most deserving of it's cult status, the movie is best seen on the big screen due to it's being filmed in CineScope. The DVD release from Columbia Tristar is presented in widescreen and it is an absolutely clean and error free copy that will please any fan of 'Le Dernier Combat'. Though Luc Besson has had many other film successes since this was released in 1983 this one gets my vote for his best.

I don't think its an original, as it offered Korean as a language as soon as I turned it on, but switched it back to English the quality is good for the price. Also, remember it was filmed in the early 80's.

This movie instantly moved into my top 5 most favourite post apocalyptic movies ever seen...wow...it was so much like a story in Heavy Metal magazine, fantastic!!!

the movie is pretty cool, and very nicely done for the genre....the soundtrack is awful, but the film more than makes up for that. worth the money...great to have in the collection

"Le Dernier Combat" takes place in a grim post-apocalyptic future and is Luc Besson's first feature. Even though it won a lot of praise from critics, it has rarely if ever been available in the U.S. If you like Besson, read the history of this outstanding film and buy it. (Columbia will also be releasing a new edition of "Subway.")

This magically influential silent movie is definitely the best thing I have ever seen. It depicts struggle for survival after an atomic war. I highly recommend this to everyone.

A GREAT FILM! No Dialog. Black & White. Minimal Characters and Weird Scenarios. French New Wave! Pierre Jolivet & Jean Reno star.

I bought it because I need new ideas in imagination and this flick had none. Yeah, people killing others for no visible reasons is nothing new, sex with sex doll behind suitcase not really fun to watch, kinda drifting aimlessly and finally the hero rewarded with good looking female face. Yes, face is all we see as it ends immediately. Gee, I could do better in kindergarden. Not to mention nobody say anything through all movie and lousy choice of music doesnt add to positive thinking. The movie is supposedly French and sure enough music from another French flick "La Marge" was hitting on brain cells.

What an incredible film “Le Dernier Combat” (English title “The Last Battle”) is (for me). It’s taken me a long time to get round to watching it, but now that I have, I am really so impressed with just how good it is especially for a first time directed feature film.I’d like to say that I have always loved the films of Luc Besson, and whilst “Nikita” would have been in any list of mine of favourite films of the last few decades, there are some of Besson's films that I have not taken to – “Lucy” is an example of one that didn’t work for me. His earlier films – “Subway”, “The Big Blue”, “Nikita” I really like though, and so had wondered what “Le Dernier Combat”, his first full length film would be like. To be honest I would not have been too surprised if it had been a bit rough around the edges, if for example the camera work was not as good as his later films, or that the editing might have been a bit rough – but no, not at all. “Le Dernier Combat” is a high quality film in any and all aspects of cinema.The look of the film is brilliant, and one could easily think that it was the work of a long standing director. Music from Eric Serra works really well, just as in his later collaborations with Besson. The actors and especially so Pierre Jolivet in the lead role and the two other leading actors – Jean Bouise and Jean Reno, are amazing and especially so when considering the spoken dialogue (or lack of it) and yet the story is told really well.I will definitely be watching this film again – a superb film from Luc Besson.On the DVD (ASIN: B000087I29) you get:(There are no Subtitles for the film – they are not needed!)“Le Dernier Combat” (1 hour 29 minutes)Scene SelectionTrailers (“Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” and “Godzilla”

Luc Besson must have BECOME one of my favourite directors and movie creators because excited to have found yet another film I wasn't aware of, I was looking forward to getting and viewing. Sadly, it was quite a struggle to endure as it was quite senseless at times. I do like some abstract-ness and surreal-ness in movies but this evntually gave me a headache. I STILL though remain a big fan of Luc Besson for sure!

Saw this on BBC2 back in the days when they had themed weekends and showed fantastic films, B-movies and old black'n'white films.There is no real dialogue, no colour and only a dozen actors but it manages to portray such a vivid story of both hope and hopelessness in a bleak, ravaged future.This is top Sci-Fi (and Besson) and is a must for any good DVD collection.The film print is of good quality and well transferred.

A great film to watch . for people who like that kind of movie . I enjoyed it .But do read about it before you buy .

great idiosyncratic movie