Soylent Green

I had not realised that Global Warming and all the effects it would place on a society was as strongly trumpeted as in this film. Back in 1973 I cannot recall ever being confronted with the state of the future of Earth being determined by what the human race do from 1973. In fact, once I got the message, about 5 minutes in, my reaction was admiration for the Producers, Actors and the Director, along with all who worked on this film. Many may have missed this message and just played it as a welcome paying part whilst others were radically hoping that balances would be tipped and governments around the world would step back from the abyss in time to save the planet. However, it is not the norm for the population of any country to take regard of anything that will require his or her involvement and passion; the world is not made this way.The film predicts a New York of 40million population with mass homelessness and unemployed living on the streets or under any cover that is available. It is the dystopian future nobody wants but which nobody bothers to fight against.This is where the company Soylent comes into play manufacturing a variety of coloured protein biscuits upon which the massive population depends. Its latest product, Soylent Green, unknown to the downtrodden masses is created from the bodies of the dead; the unwritten and unrealised maxim becomes "The more who die, the more are fed". Charlton Heston's policeman, part "Thorne?" is horribly corrupted by a corrupt and cynical minority of rich and notable people including the Sate Governor. It is one of these Important people, a member of the Sylent Board by the name of Simonsen who is assassinated at the behest of Soylent because of his shock of learning of the truth about their products. Being regarded as unreliable he is marked down for termination and is to this situation that Detective Thorne enters the fray. He is convinced that Simonsen's death was targeted and he begins the process of gathering information, as well as liberating some soap, bourbon, apples and beef from Simonsen's home. He returns the following day to sample the delights of the furniture living in the flat, lucky devil.To cut what could be an extremely long review into a short review only needs me to relate the relationship between Thorne and Sam Roth, beautifully played by Edward G Robinson, as being a central prop to the characterisation and Thorne's reaction to the event by which his "Book" has had enough of life and decides to die at a government centre where his body, and those of thousands more are changed into Soylent Green protein biscuits. This period of the film is, for me, the most beautiful as it features Sol, Edward G, in the peace of his "death room" being mesmerised by the beauty of the film of Earth's past fecundity and the very appropriate and also very emotional Beethoven's 9th symphony.Thorne then has the proof of what Soylent and its directors are doing and he appeals to his boss to get that information out.My apologies for this rather choppy review, it is enthusiasm and righteous desire that have propelled me. So, all I really need to say is that this film deserves 5 stars and probably more.

I have tried to find this science fiction from many many sites and places, So I was overjoyed when I saw it was offered on the Amazon Prime App to buy or rent. Needless to say, I purchased it, at a pocket friendly cost. and I can now watch it when I wish.

Strangely a movie never recommended anywhere and you don't hear of it but a fab film.If you Charlton Heston fan and like planet of the apes and earthquake this is stand alone a good film and worth a watch

Good

arrived early exactly as seller described ,would buy form seller again A++++

Though there are some interesting ideas in the this film and it is fairly gripping at points, it just isn't that exciting. The horrific revelation at the end is neither surprising nor particularly shocking compared with some of the other horrors of this future world. I watched because I love sci-fi, but this doesn't stack up well against Apes/Silent running etc etc.Worth a watch if you can get it cheep and are interested in this kind of thing.The DVD version looked shocking awful in the outside shots, with a yellow tinge and pixelated artifacts - I couldn't tell but I assume the original has dust storms or something - they didn't come out well in this version.

Really good film. Obviously quite dated but with a scary message.

Nice 👍