stevehorvath59-289-337240 I saw this movie when it was released into the Theaters in the 1980's. I enjoyed the pure acting by the performers since there were no understandable dialog in this production. This story happened before the language, as we know it, became a part in human civilization. The story is based on a tribe whose only fire is extinguished by an accident. The next hour and half is the story of 3 men from this tribe who left on a quest to find another fire. During their search, these 3 tribes man come across a few life threatening scenarios that some critics considered out of place, for instance Saber Tooth tigers and Woolly Mammoths. Some believe that the creatures were out of the time period, but when we know that 10 thousand years old Woolly Mammoths remains were found in Siberia a few decades ago, the creatures were not at all out of place for early hominids who lived a million years ago. The film introduced Rae Dawn Chong who becomes a central figure with her knowledge of knowing how to start a fire. She had became attracted to one of the 3 men who were in search for fire and she follows the 3 back to their own habitat to help them continue their survival with Fire.

AMar_rom The precise path of the evolution of the human societies is not known, especially during the Stone Age period (about 10,000 BC) which predates the historical periods of written documents or other findings that can reveal details on society rules and norms, judicial system and commerce.This movie provides a glimpse in the endless quest of man of Neolithic age to establish his livelihood and place within nature. In those times fire must have played a big role: it helped to cook, forge tools and weapons for hunting and self defense against predators or other tribes.This film is about the quest of three tribesmen who belong to a northern cave-dwelling tribe. After losing their sacred fire they set out towards the hotter and more fertile southern plains in order to recover and bring back another fire. This journey is very dangerous since they have to avoid natural predators, other tribes with cannibalistic diets and certainly the elements of nature e.g. bad weather, ragged and inhospitable terrain with limited food supply.I enjoyed very much this film keeping in mind its speculative character. No one can say what it was like in those times but let's not forget: this is a movie, not a documentary.

smatysia OK, well, even attempting to make this into a movie was innovative, especially at that time. I read the novel that this was based on, many years ago, and liked it a lot. To the best of my recollection, Ika and her tribe never appeared in it, so the filmmakers added that bit. The cinematography was beautiful, and the Scottish locations helped get across the cold of Ice Age Europe. The struggle to survive really came across as well. The special animal effects, were much remarked on at the time, but look rather cheesy now. However, I kind of like that. You really had to work at it back in the day, unlike now, when the computer will put anything at all onto your film. Ron Perlman looked seriously simian, and you have to give him credit, since he doesn't look that way normally. And this was the breakout role for Rae Dawn Chong, who also nailed her very odd role. Worth checking out.

Woodyanders Three bumbling, but amiable and persistent caveman embark on an epic and perilous journey to discover a new source of fire for their tribe. During their pilgrimage our trio have memorable encounters with savage wolves, equally vicious saber-tooth tigers, woolly mammoths (in an extremely moving sequence one of the cavemen gives a mammoth a clump of grass as a peace offering), several nasty rival tribes (a cannibalistic bunch of ugly apemen are especially foul and frightening), and a protective mother bear. Director Jean-Jacques Annaud and writer Gerard Brach do a simply amazing job of creating and presenting a thoroughly believable depiction of a harsh, strange, and oddly beautiful past world. Everett McGill, Ron Perlman (in his film debut), and Nicholas Kadi do remarkably agile and convincing physical acting as our three protagonists; they manage to make these characters funny, charming, and even touching. Rae Dawn Chong likewise shines as Ika, a sexy and vibrant member of a more advanced mud-smeared tribe the guys run across on their travels. This film earns bonus points for its candid, yet tasteful treatment of primitive man's sexuality, the sublimely simple, but still gripping narrative, and a few nice amounts of inspired humor. Claude Agostini's sumptuous widescreen cinematography delivers a wealth of stunning visuals and makes the most out of the breathtaking landscapes. Yves Langlois also deserves praise for his highly rousing and majestic orchestral score. Essential viewing.