Jerome Bixby’s The Man From Earth (2007) is a great sci-fi movie. I know fans of low-budget fan-produced Trek sometimes visit this blog, and this movie is something that they owe it to themselves to check out. The few people who have watched The Man From Earth at my recommendation have always come back to share their thoughts…it’s the kind of film that last under two hours but starts a conversation that lasts three. It’s a great movie.
The Man From Earth introduces us to John Oldman (David Lee Smith), a college professor who is turning down tenure after 10 years to move on, move away. When John skips the goodbye party his fellow professors have arranged for him, a few of them decide to drop in on him at home. After all, who turns down tenure?
They find John packed and waiting for some movers, and of course they break out a bottle and settle in to wait. Before long, they are having an impromptu goodbye party.
Then something incredible happens…John turns to his fellow scholars and tells them he has been walking the Earth for 14,000 years and he has to leave because after 10 years people will start to notice that he never ages. They ask him if he’s serious, and John says we have some time to spare (waiting for the movers) so let’s just have fun with it…prove me wrong. Continue reading »
