Cheap Soylent Green (DVD) (Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson) (Richard Fleischer) Price

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Customer Reviews of Soylent Green

Eerily Spectacular
It amazes me that every time I see this film, it hits home harder. The futuristic view of New York City in 2022 in an earth depleted of its resources in which poverty and starvation are grim realities for the overwhelming majority of the population is frightening enough, but then comes the solution: a curious wafer, Soylent Green, that seems always to be in short supply, and people are forever waiting to get what little they can of it. <
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>Detective Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston) is assigned to investigate the death of one William R. Simonson (Joseph Cotten) who held a key position in the company that manufactured Soylent Green. Mysteriously, the case is quashed before it can be resolved. Thorn's irascible nature does not allow him to let the matter drop, while his roommate, the elderly Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson), talks mostly about how life was so much better in the Seventies when the earth still had resources, although, as he admits, "People were always rotten." Thorn will not let the case drop even though he is ordered to do so. <
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>Other agents working for the Soylent company, such as Tab Fielding (Chuck Connors), are busy eliminating anyone who may have any information regarding the death of Simonson, which only spurs Thorn on to find out more and more. Meanwhile, Roth discovers a secret that explains why the Soylent company is so anxious to keep the death of Simonson quiet and Thorn off the case. As he dies -- "goes home", as the term is used in 2022 -- he instructs Thorn as to what he must do to disclose the secret of Soylent Green in all its horror. <
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>The film depicts a world that is not unlike many other sci-fi futuristic societies seen in Running Man in which the people are starving and desperate for food. Scenes of the police coming in to ward off rioting crowds drive home a grim message indeed. The film is very compelling viewing definitely for an adult audience -- the film would not be suitable for children by any means -- with Edward G. Robinson's performance in what turned out to be his last role being probably the most memorable in a very good movie.

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A Few Gems More
I just want to mention a couple of overlooked items: the art direction and costume remind me of Jean "Mobeius" Girraud's work from the era. Not surprising that Blade Runner comparisons are made given that it's production design was also influenced by the french master. Also, I always find Leigh Taylor-Young captivating in this film. Any fan of big brown female eyes will be rewarded in their viewing of this classic sf film.

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I saw in theatres...
The premise of this film is intriguing, and the script isn't that bad. It's a great action film. There's excitement. It's always great to see Edward G. Robinson. Unfortunately, I thought Chuck Heston was a little too old to be doing all that stuff (stunt doubles galore). My problem was with Richard Fleischer's direction. The goofy crowd scenes didn't make sense, especially when the tow-trucks came along. However, it was a fairly good adventure film, good vs evil and some redemption and renewal.