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The Black Hole (1979)
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Reviews Counted:26
Fresh:11
Rotten:15
Average Rating:5.1/10
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Synopsis: A space crew travelling the cosmos runs into a long-missing craft, manned by Dr. Hans Reinhardt (Maximilian Schell). Upon meeting Reinhardt, the astronauts discover that not only is he insane, but... A space crew travelling the cosmos runs into a long-missing craft, manned by Dr. Hans Reinhardt (Maximilian Schell). Upon meeting Reinhardt, the astronauts discover that not only is he insane, but also he is steadfast in his efforts to travel through a nearby "black hole," an abyss from which no one can escape. Matters worsen when Reinhardt holds the crew captive, after realizing that they can help him reach his goal. The squad must now figure out a way to flee from Reinhardt -- before it's too late...This attempt to gain a piece of the 'Star Wars' audience comprised Disney's first entry into the world of the PG rating. The film, not a huge success in 1979, has since gained a cult following due to its ominous tone and innovative visual design and effects. [More]
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, Tommy McLoughlin, Roddy McDowall, Slim Pickens
Director: Gary Nelson
Director: Gary Nelson
Producer: Ron Miller
Story: Jeb Rosebrook, Bob Barbash, Richard Landau
Composer: John Barry
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Reviews for The Black Hole
It is good to see the Disney craftsmen doing what they do best on such a grand and risky scale. If one has time for only one space opera this season, this is the one to choose.
The problem...is that the protagonist, Schell, is nuts, and we find it difficult to root for him. The other characters are never fully developed, and so the picture becomes a triumph of style over substance.
The science of this fiction is as hokey as the drama, but the imaginative art design and excellent special effects are magnificent.
An elegant, if stubbornly unexciting, popcorn-muncher that flips into a chin-scratcher, with a crew of mostly bland heroes.
Ranks among the very best films to come from the post-Star Wars sci-fi boom.
...ultimately revealed to be an underrated and surprisingly dark Disney effort.
Disney's most ambitious and costly production to date -- about a spaceship crew which encounters a Black Hole and a long-lost madman -- and if looks were everything, you could hardly fault it.
It cost half as much as Star Trek and looks better -- not as lavish, perhaps, but more original. The special effects are fancy, and the design even more so.
Takes us all the way to the rim of space only to bog us down in a talky melodrama whipped up out of mad scientists and haunted houses.
Even as a fantasy-lovin' boy of 14, I was bored silly by this movie, and a repeat viewing just last week revealed that the film has, if anything, gotten worse over time.
...with so many great fantasy and sci-fi films appearing in the intervening years, I doubt that too many adults are going to find the Disney flick of much interest. I didn't.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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