Review of The Black Hole (1979) by James C — 20 Jan 2013

Wow, wow, wow! Before I start the review, what the hell happened with VINCENT!? To me he looks like something Blue Peter "made earlier". Please remember, that this is no small budget production. This is a Blockbuster, made by Disney in 1979. All 6 of the above films were made for a total of around $37,750,000 and The Black Hole cost $20,000,000 ON IT'S OWN!

Moving on, The Black Hole is a Disney Sci-Fi family movie set in space. We enter the film as a ship and crew come close to a large black hole. They discover a ship nearby that seems desolate and stop to repair their ship and to investigate the situation further.

The opening title sequence is pretty impressive. The music is haunting and the early CGI is great. Unfortunately its all down hill from here. Any shots of space or outside the ship are convincing but inside is a very different story. I am sure cereal boxes and paper mache were involved. It makes Barberella look like an elaborate visual feast.

It is a very different outing than what we have come to expect from Disney. It was their first movie rated PG. It's darker and more brutal than you would imagine. Especially when Maximillian, the over protective robot, turns Anthony Perkins into a human kebab. And what the hell is Anthony Perkins doing in this film anyway? From the most notorious Motel in the world, to the biggest toilet in the Galaxy! Also, most Disney movies are easy to understand, are full of colorful characters and pay attention to every small detail. The Black Hole is not easy to understand, all the characters are dull and bland and seems to defy all known laws of science and physics. With the story that's on offer, you would expect quite a dramatic adventure. But the film seems to stubbornly try to be as unexciting and outright boring as it can.

In its defense, the opening sequence, the soundtrack and the cinematography through out are creative, inventive and enjoyable. But the story, script, characters, acting and internal special effects are weak and painfully bad.

The story itself reminds me a little of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Discovery of a ship, eccentric captain, extensive knowledge, not wanting to leave, large devastating phenomenon outside, Captain Nemo wants to go down with the ship, etc. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is also a Disney movie; a much, much better Disney movie.

Disney have shown over many decades that when they get it right, they really get it right. Our joint top movie The Lion King is testament to this. But when they get it wrong, they really get it wrong ... The Black Hole is testament to that.