Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (March 31, 2025)
Created as a pilot for a TV series, 1971’s Earth II never got past that stage. This leaves this 98-minute telefilm as the only remnant of a sci-fi show that could’ve been.
With Earth in decline, the US spearheads “Earth II”. This exists as a space station that offers a potential way for humanity to continue, one that also acts as a non-partisan enterprise not beholden to any single nation.
However, not everyone on “real Earth” likes the concept, so the Chinese threaten the colony of 2000 inhabitants with a nuclear weapon. Led by administrator David Seville (Gary Lockwood), Earth II battles to avoid destruction.
Though Earth II ran on TV in the US, it got theatrical distribution internationally. Given its 1.85:1 dimensions, the trailer on this disc appears to have promoted that run and not the film’s 1971 TV broadcast.
If you view this ad, you’ll get a distinct 2001: A Space Odyssey vibe. With an emphasis on the sci-fi aspects of the movie, this feels like an obvious attempt to capitalize on the Kubrick classic.
Does this mean I think the producers cast Lockwood - 2001’s Dr. Frank Poole – to exploit these connections? Yup – no insult to Lockwood, but I suspect he got the lead here as one more reminder of the then-only-three-year-old 2001.
Despite all these elements that remind us of the 1968 Kubrick flick, Earth II doesn’t play like that predecessor at all. Even with fairly good production values, it nonetheless feels a lot like the TV movie it was.
Oh, Earth II certainly looks a lot more expensive and sophisticated than the average made-for-TV production of the era. To be sure, its visual effects fare pretty well and still largely hold up after 54 years, especially for those of us who grew up with – and still love – practical elements.
Even with those pretty solid visuals, the rest of Earth II comes across as flat and without much to it. Granted, one expects a pilot to do little more than set up the scenario and characters, which this one does.
It fails to form any roles who seem especially compelling, but one assumes the parts could’ve grown with additional episodes. The basic concept of the space station brings obvious promise.
And again, perhaps a weekly version of Earth II might’ve grown into something intriguing and involving. The telefilm product doesn’t get there, though.
Earth II simply feels slow and stagnant. Even with existential threat of the nuclear weapon, we rarely sense tension.
We find ourselves stuck with persistently stiff dialogue – and lots of it. Earth II plays as an exceedingly chatty project, probably to avoid shelling out for too many expensive visual effects.
Which I wouldn’t mind if Earth II managed some excitement, but when even the threat of nuclear annihilation fails to quicken the pulse, I know the film doesn’t work. The movie simply seems too slow and too dull to become more than a sluggish dud.
Footnote: this version of Earth II adds a little footage originally found only in the slightly longer international cut. I couldn't find details about the specific differences, unfortunately.
