Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

An Exercise In Nonsense

A Brilliant Conflict

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

People often dismiss this as a movie for children, but it is simply not the case. It's about the hard cold facts of reality as they pertain to two very different people, as well as the equally hard lessons they must both learn in order to deal with it. The story that it tells says so much about love and on so many different levels. There is a powerful healing that the man and boy imparted to one another despite their age difference. A healing for a loss that cannot be recaptured once forcibly taken or repurchased once casually cast aside as valueless. It is a testament to the real possibility of personal change that lies deeply dormant within us all. A change so profound, it is often referred to as a miracle. Not to be missed by the hard-of-heart or the ageless.

I saw this movie on cable when I was a kid, and I hated it. Before he starred in "Silver Spoons", Ricky Schroeder was in two worthless movies, "The Champ" (1979) and "The Earthling" (1980). And I always say now, that before he hit big on TV, he had it rough! I mean, these two movies involved the boy's parents getting killed in a gruesome way. It's a wonder he should've considered becoming a priest instead of staying in Hollywood. Anyway, this film was passed by Oscar and for good reasons. William Holden was a grumpy old loser and Ricky Schroeder was a whiny little orphan twerp in this piece of crap. The movie is slow and boring all the way through, not to mention the plot was putrid. I don't recall the music, that's a relief. If for some reason you want adventure Australlian-style, do yourself a favor and rent a "Crocodile Dundee" movie, any of the three, instead of "The Earthling". You'll not regret it at all, mate.

The Earthling is the last film of director Peter Collinson and he was actually in the last stages of terminal cancer during the production of this film. It is also the penultimate film of the great William Holden, and he's quite enjoyable to watch as a hugely insensitive, selfish and hard-to-please old man.In a story that mirrors the real-life illness of Collinson, an old American returns to his boyhood home in the Australian outback. He has been diagnosed with cancer and has decided to see out his final days in his favourite place. However, the trek to his old family home is a long and arduous one, deep into the outback. En route, he happens upon a young boy whose family have been killed in a horrific camper van accident. Initially annoyed to be lumbered with the boy (Schroeder), the old man eventually teaches him the art of survival in the wilderness and actually grows to love him.This strange outdoor adventure film feels like it was originally conceived as a family production. However, somewhere along the line it became tougher than that. Perhaps Collinson had directed too many violent thrillers (The Sellout, Open Season, The Penthouse) to judge the tone needed for a family film. Perhaps his imminent death had made him cynical and bitter. Either way, the cruel attitude evident in Collinson's direction - via Holden's character - lends the film a highly unusual element of grittiness. Some critics feel that the film suffers as a result, but I disagree. The film suffers from an over-reliance on wldlife shots and occasional dull stretches, but not because of the tough edge of its main character. The Earthling isn't great, but it's certainly interesting enough to be worth a viewing or two.

I like The Earthling. This was the first film Ricky Schroder made after The Last Flight Of Noah's Ark (now there is a real classic). He does a wonderful job appearing with one of Hollywood's legends. I read a biography of Bill Holden's and it said that he and Ricky had a ball working together and it surely shows in this fine film. The chemistry between them is sensational. This man teaches the boy how to survive and he teaches the man how to love. Yes it is dark and depressing, but I feel that makes it a better movie because it is not typical Hollywood schmaltz. Peter Collinson, the director of the film was dying of cancer as it was being made and less then a year after the film was released, William Holden died in a drunken fall in his home. He fell and gashed his head on a nightstand and bled to death his body not being found for several days. Holden is truly one of Hollywood's most tragic fatalities. This man was loved by all who knew him, but he just didn't love himself. I don't think the Earthling has ever been shown on Tv and I think that is a real shame. It is not a happy film to watch yes, but it is an example of fine filmaking. A sort of film noir if you will. A possible spoiler here, Holden's character dies and I always wondered if Ricky made it back to civilization in the end.