Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

A Masterpiece!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

A viewer is not expected to know a lot about linguistics nor should have any prior knowledge of works authored by great Swiss linguist Ferdinand De Saussure (1857-1913) in order to comprehend that in the complete absence of sound, meanings are invariably conveyed through gestures. It is on this artistic tool that French film author Luc Besson worked with actor/director Pierre Jolivet to create a science fiction masterpiece in 1983. Le Dernier Combat is a unique futuristic film in which human civilization has been obliterated to a very large extent. What remains on earth is a small group of men would would not hesitate even for a moment in order to show their supremacy and regain complete control over their rivals. As Iranian actor/director Majid Majidi was judged as "Man Friday" for his artistic contribution in Mohsen Makhmalbaf film "Boycott", French actor/director Pierre Jolivet has achieved the same distinction by having played a main role in this Luc Besson film. In 1990, Pierre Jolivet achieved astonishing success with a science fiction film called "Simple Mortel". Most brave men do possess a sweet romantic side which helps them to channelize their energy. This feeling is expressed by Pierre Jolivet's character as a brutish man with a heart replete with feelings who would do anything to get closer to his beloved. Apart from a pleasant musical score by Eric Serra, veteran Italian cinematographer Carlo Varini has shot surreal images for this film. It would be worth mentioning troubles faced by actor Jean Reno when he has tough time collecting fishes falling from sky. It is not only admirers of science fiction films who should watch "The last combat" with utmost care but also anyone genuinely interested in good cinema as Luc Besson has drafted a highly original scenario which could easily beat any Hollywood science fiction film.

This is an example of what film school lecturers would call a good debut movie. It follows all the rules. Short scenes, to the point, cheap to shoot, guerilla-film-making, no sets (just disused buildings) and possibly an empty hospital wing. Also, even the black&white film-stock was a stroke of genius, probably selected more for its low expense rather than film effect, but it worked.Reno was amazing as the Brute. Everyone's acting was brilliant. The plot was simple and effective and no flabby bits left to distract you. A tight, well-crafted, cost-effective budget movie.Released in 1983, this would've been made just before the art of big-budget action spectaculars became refined by the Hollywood movie-making engine, and movie-making was more exclusive and therefore more difficult and more in need of the right people in the right places than today's internet-enabled world, so Luc Besson would've had to do quite a bit of negotiating and promise-keeping to achieve this result, which makes the end-product all the more remarkable.But, then again, the French movie-industry has always maintained an excellent reputation (yes, I know Luc Besson is Belgian, but the movie is a French production) and has been the source of many Hollywood remakes.If I have one criticism, it's that the cover-picture on the DVD (and possibly the original sales poster) bears no resemblance to the movie whatsoever and appears to be a rather bizarre image rather than representative of any of the movie's themes - at first glance, it appears to be a man in post-apocalyptic armour on a swing, but on second inspection reveals a man in armour with a lance on an office chair with his legs on a desk in a reclined, self-confident posture. This never happens in the movie once.It's black-and-white film-stock, zero dialogue, physical acting, tight scenes and brilliant actors makes this movie one worth adding to your private movie collection. A superb movie.

I am glad that Luc Besson moved on from this Cannes film festival fodder and into more entertaining movies. Although it does take a fair amount of gall to direct a post-apocalyptic film in black and white with absolutely no dialogue, it seemed obvious to me that it was geared for the Film Festival set; things happen incredibly slowly, and there is no explanation for many elements of the film (people can't talk, fish rain from the sky, etc.), but how could there be as there is no dialogue? If you absolutely must see everything Luc Besson has directed, then by all means, see this movie. But if you are looking for a well-made Besson, then search somewhere else. Luc Besson has directed such classics as Nikita, Leon, Subway, and Le Grand Bleu, all of which are infinitely more entertaining and watchable than this post-modernistic French cinema which was likely praised at the time of its release as the future of film. Fortunately, it wasn't, and Besson went on to bigger and better things.

I thought Besson's film managed to do without words what few films have been able to do with them; Capture true human emotions. The main character's struggles, triumphs, set backs, hopes and desires are all so honestly shown that you wonder if he is acting at all. The film has a low budget and is obviously made without the glitz and glamour afforded to most Hollywood productions but that minimalism is what allows this film to transcend the stereotypical Sci-Fi labeling and become a true drama. However calling this film solely a drama would take away from the fantastic post-apocalyptic plot. True this type of movie has been done been before but I think this one captures the joys and sorrows of that type of world possibly better than any other one does.