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...every so often you will see a film or hear a story that will take your breath away and leave you wondering...this is one of those stories.

That said it is probably not for everyone. If you don't want your believes challenged you should probably stay away from this one. The film is all about the characters and their dialog, it is what makes or breaks the film, and I must say they did an excellent job, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, wanting to hear more. All this topped with great acting makes this a film really worth seeing.

It goes to show that you can make great films these days without explosions and killings...so simple yet so effective. Great movie!

'The man from Earth' is science fiction fantasy in concept, not in presentation. It is consciously, inescapably low-key - subdued, restrained, laid-back. The narrative consists wholly of dialogue - recounting history, personal and global; philosophizing, hypothesizing amidst friends and colleagues. There are no active flashbacks, no action scenes, not even a change of scenery beyond the interior or exterior of the abode where the characters are gathered.

And it's both endearing and engrossing.

The production is staggering in its simplicity, yet weirdly impressive in its craft. Just look at the cast: Richard Riehle, Tony Todd, John Billingsley. Uncomplicated and direct as the performances are, all involved here are great. I'm personally less familiar with Ellen Crawford, William Katt, but the same goes for them.

Writer Jerome Bixby, having died several long years before 'The man from Earth' was made, had some very notable credits to his name, and still this screenplay may well be his very greatest achievement. The same goes for director Richard Schenkman, whose list of past works rather seems to culminate with this. His camerawork here is plain and unremarkable, but he pointedly fixes his eye on each actor as the screenplay demands. As much as the film consciously eschews any sense of dynamics, the final emotional beat of the story is told as well with the pen as it is conveyed by the camera, and is a superb capstone.

The end result is a bewitching exploration of an idea, presented as realistically and as plausibly as I think is possible: What if an individual, by genetic quirk, did not age? What if a man living in contemporary times were, in fact, thousands of years old?

Tantalizing and excellent as the film is, 'The man from Earth' is not perfect. I personally feel that Mark Hinton Stewart's score, fine as it may be, is altogether unnecessary in its use as background musical accompaniment. Between Schenkman's direction and Neil Grieve's editing, the film is paced much too quickly for my preferences. Ideally this should have been a fair bit longer than 90 minutes: A more patient vision would have allowed more time for crucial story beats, lines of dialogue, and character interactions to manifest, breathe, and digest. As it is, the conversation moves along so quickly that I found myself doubling back multiple times to catch something I missed the first time around. In a feature where the dialogue is paramount, that's inexcusable.

Even with these flaws in its realization, though, the screenplay is a treasure, and the greatest contributor to the movie's success. It would be so easy for a tale like this to be needlessly inflated with fiery bombast - an active investigation by police or reporters, chases, suspense, throwing of objects and emotional outbursts. That 'The man from Earth' deliberately dispenses with all such notions is a further credit to Bixby's legacy. The substance of the film is in the discussion and analysis, and anything beyond would have been superfluous.

There's not much more to say. This is a film appropriate for all audiences, though of course anyone who's not receptive to a picture centered exclusively on dialogue may be put out. Yet for as straightforward as it is, 'The man from Earth' is a fascinating feature, and quietly rewarding. I'm so pleased I had a chance to watch this, and recommend it for all.

I will be honest i did not expect much but this is actually one of my all time favorite moves i absolutely loved it. The acting was fantastic the entire movie takes place in one room and the actors still pull it off this is one of those movies you go to bed after watching and it has you thinking about wow what if that really happened.

They made a sequel to this as well though i will admit it is not as good as the first it is still worth watching. If you want to sit back and watch a movie without all the flashy special effects that just has a great story told bye great actors and makes you think then this is definitely a must watch.

This is by far the most unusual movie I have ever seen. I am a die hard Sci-Fi buff and found myself wondering why no one has released a movie like this before. I was totally engrossed... the story pulled me in like a Black Hole, I found myself wanting more and more.

This film is tantalizing, not to your eyes, not to your ears, but rather where it counts the most...your brain. What a breath of fresh air, I felt satisfied in the end and invigorated. If I had paid 50 dollars to see this film I would not have been disappointed.

For anyone who has an intellect, is open minded and ready for an adventure born of thought, Ideas and possibilities, make absolutely certain you do not miss this film.

I cannot speak about the depth and art put forth in this film without giving away details that will rob enjoyment from you if you have not seen this film. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend this film for anyone who enjoys a film that reaches to the stars and does not depend on CGI.

This is a film without pretense or smoke and mirrors.

It is so nice to see a film that depends solely on story and dialogue. I highly recommend this to SF readers before viewers.

A true masterpiece.

A true shame this film never got any publicity to speak of. All though it did not cost tens of millions to put to film, it is a winner in any category.

I, too, saw this movie at San Diego Comic-Con 2007, and was incredibly happy that I did. I would, however, in no way consider this a thriller, as another reviewer did. This is a movie to provoke deep thought and conversation and that dares to challenge mainstream beliefs. It is one of the most intensely engaging dramas that I have had the pleasure to see. Excellent ensemble performances created believably real characters, each with his or her own fallibilities, personal credo, and enthusiasms.

The movie is basically a conversation amongst college professors. So if you are looking for serial murders, chase scenes, or shoot-outs, you won't find it here. If you enjoy thought experiments and intelligent discourse, and appreciate what it means to accept your friends for who they are, see this.

I will buy several copies to give to friends.

Jerome Bixby's "The Man from Earth" stands proudly among the best science fiction films ever made. However, unlike "2001", "CE3K" and "Blade Runner," this little movie relies not on outstanding set design and mind-blowing visual effects, but rather on ideas; the very foundation of science fiction.

I've been a fan of Mr. Bixby's ever since "Star Trek", and I must say this equals if not surpasses "Mirror, "Mirror". I agree that some of the acting was stilted, and the music partially drowned out dialogue in one scene, but my family and I were mesmerized throughout. As to my personal beliefs regarding God and faith; "Man from Earth" in no way offended me, but rather challenged me. Challenged me with historical facts (several of which I've since checked online, and thus far, all of which appear 100% accurate.) This is a chess game of a film, forcing the viewer not only to listen and to think, but to understand.

I highly recommend "Man from Earth" to any and all who love intelligent science fiction. A friend downloaded the film, illegally no doubt. I've watched it three times thus far, and I'll be the first in line to buy the DVD (legally =) this coming Tuesday.

I had picked up The Man from Earth about four years ago, but only watched about 20 minutes before getting bored. After coming across it again I decided to humor the film and watch it all the way until the end. While I enjoyed some of the ideas put forth and the questions asked, many of those questions were provided with asinine answers that were then accepted without debate by presumably educated university professors. At times the film exudes freshman-level materialist philosophy that is so thickly laid on you can see it hanging in the air. Some may see this emerge from a desire to make the film accessible to the widest possible audience, but this is not a typical Hollywood style movie. It brands itself as something akin to educational material, "a thinking man's movie," and it's a shame to see what many believe is one the decade's most thought-provoking films turn out to be little more than a Philosophy 101 study group discussion at one of America's many criminally overpriced institutes of higher learning. Then there's the blatantly ahistorical statements about the Middle Ages in regard to hygiene, scientific stagnation, and the church, all of which are made, of course, without providing any supporting evidence. Such idiocy I cannot defend in any context. Perhaps you may take away something from this film that you had never previously considered. I, for one, did not. If you are the type of person who enjoys a good old fashioned philosophical brainstorming session then I sincerely believe that you can do better than The Man from Earth. Watch Primer instead. Even better, why not read a book? If you get even one solid book on philosophy under your belt, then you will be officially more qualified to speak about mankind's origins than this film.

If not the "best" science-fiction film ever made, Jerome Bixby's Man From Earth is certainly one of the most thoughtful. This movie reminds me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Not with spaceships and effects, but with intelligent characters and exceptional dialogue, and that it left me with a sense of true wonder and joy, long after the credits ended. If the movie had been two hours longer I still would not have been bored, even though most of the film takes place in one small room. It's like watching a ninety minute Twilight Zone, with a perfect surprise ending. John Billingsly stands out, as does David Lee Smith, who may or may not be a caveman. The rest of the cast is good, but the script is the true star. And to anyone claiming this film is boring because we never leave the one room; Some of the very best Twilight Zones were just that. Good actors, good scripts, one or two locations. To anyone who's fed up with spaceships and explosions and Jar-Jar Binks, see this movie as a reminder of what science fiction has always been about.

I enjoyed this movie. I appreciated that the entire film was solely based on dialog and that there were no fancy flashback scenes. And I also enjoyed the intellectual challenge posed by the film.

I think though that this film could have been so much better. For this film to work it really needs to be a lot more thought-provoking and ground breaking intellectually.

As a historian I loved the idea and was thrilled to see it being played out. However I was disappointed that the story revolved around Western Civ 101.

The story of the birth of Christianity as told by the main character is an old and favorite of amateur historians mostly told at cocktail parties to impress and create controversy.

I was really hoping and expecting something new, exciting and thought-provoking. Instead the story is based on trivia and historical generalities (e.g. pig farmer friend of Van Gogh, student of the first Buddha, etc...).

The idea of a man living from the dawn of human history is a vast literary treasure trove. And yet all this movie focuses on is the roots of Christianity. David Lee Smith's character, John Oldman, lived 40,000 years and yet the only details of that incredible story he re-tells are of being Jesus and his convenient friendship with Van Gogh which he never describes.

This film could've been a beautiful and amazing insight into human history and into the human condition and all it turns out to be is an agnostic vehicle.

I rated the film 7/10 as the idea is wonderful, the dialog is decent and the simple presentation is daring and well-done.

Where the film fails is in the poor cinematography and lighting. Its almost as if the director was directing a play vs a film. The characters are all boring stereotypical professors with the addition of their attractive female devotees/flunkies--Alexis Thorpe and Annika Peterson.

Furthermore the film's inability to tap into the wonderful richness of the human story keeps it grounded in mediocrity.

Good science fiction is supposed to entertain a fantastic notion in order to stimulate new perspectives and ideas about humanity and reality. If you are looking for that, then consider a different movie.

I watched this movie because of the reviews and ratings here on IMDb. This site doesn't usually let me down, but I have to say that there is no greater discrepancy here between rating and actual quality than there is with The Man from Earth.

Have you ever had a professor who obviously considered himself a genius, and also considered himself funny, even though he was plainly the opposite in both cases? Prepare for dejavu if you watch this movie. The humor tries to be intellectual, but I would say it is more like Full House meets The New Yorker. The characters are all so unrealistic and, well, downright unlikable. The acting is awful, just completely bad. It feels like it was made by an atheist who considered himself enlightened, yet the message gets lost in the abysmal story.

I won't spoil anything, as if there was some way that could make the movie even worse, but the ending will either make you laugh derisively or shake your head in disbelief over how poorly done it was.

The review I read said the movie was for people who are not afraid to think, yet the ideas expressed in between the cheesy one-liners were no more profound than an AOL chatroom discussion about who is greater, pirates or ninjas. Nothing new was said, no ideas reinvented, no original thinking in the whole blathering mess.

My grandfather started this when I was a little boy. All I remember at that time was my grandfather sitting in his room all day everyday. He was so creative. When he and my father (Emerson Bixby)would talk about It, I could see A glow in both their eyes and knew something special was coming. This movie represents the true art of science fiction and I believe It will surprise allot of people on how many different ways entertainment can form itself. It Is well put together and scripted. Great cast...(GREAT) cast. Directer was great and most off all. The man who made sure my grandfather's story never died, Mr Emerson Bixby who I'm positive will bring us fun and interesting films for years to come.

I keep coming back to this. I adore the atmosphere and intimacy. I love it so much, the dialogue, the cabin, the mystical experience. I live among them even though I saw it so many times I know all the lines. *Talking with a few friends while watching a fireplace is the history of mankind.* If you liked this you will probably enjoy MindWalk, Waking Life, My Dinner With Andre, Last and First Men, Oslo 31 August, Before Sunrise, Ikiru, The Fire Within, Diary of a Country Priest, The Man Who Sleeps, Stalker (director Andrei Tarkovsky). If anyone knows movies similar to this one, please tell me. Thank you! ❤

This is a brilliant tale and a writers triumph over the thirst of hearing a good story! At first i was not sure of what a was to expect from the movie but like the characters i was drawn into the story. As the film goes on it shorter to the end, i don't under stand why it is necessary to write ten lines about the film, i just wanted to say a few words about it. I don't think it will do very well in the cinema because most people don't appreciate a good story for just that. They want to see some action in the film, but this film does not have much of that in the physical sense,but maybe in the intellectual :) grate movie....

Hi this is my first comment on any movie but i was compelled to write this. The man from earth was the best film i have seen this year in the terms of originality. It may not be action packed but it makes up for this in intrigue,it kept me watching and is a must see for genuine movie buffs.The acting at the first couple of minutes had me a little worried but after that i thought the film flowed and it soon eased my worries i am notorious to friends for giving up on movies before they begin.I would not recommend this film for kids it would be more suited to anyone over the age of 25 but hey what do i know you can make up your own mind by watching it in the cinemas

Overall i rated this film 9/10

I have to say that I feel like I'm being pretty liberal giving this movie even 6 stars. The main reason for this generosity is that I think the story behind the movie is conceptually interesting and was probably much better than the film. I wish I'd had the opportunity to read it rather than watching this movie.

Bixby scores with accurate and amusing historical perspective, which is sadly obscured by layers of uninspired, mechanical acting (the possible exception being Tony Todd's performance as Dan) and vision-less direction. The overall product is stiff and flat and comes off like a pretentious attempt at intellectualism by self-indulgent college film students.

With all due honors to the writer Jerome Bixby, for whom I have great respect, I'm shocked that it gets such high scores with the viewers.

It is a work that has a wonderful and thought-provoking conversation in the spaces within the scope of a room. Having fun with the permeables that they put together in long conversations with a topic that can be lived in a conversation in a way that is fun.

This is not my type of movie, it isn't. But I really enjoyed it ! You should give it a shot. It is a simple movie that will catch your attention from the first 10 minutes until the end, it's the type of movie that you do not see time passing, that brings you inside it.

This film has appalling picture quality, didn't seem to have a lighting cameraman and is probably a stage play - so it's to its great credit that it's a compelling, thought-provoking watch.

It's all about the idea within the central premise, and that idea is stress-tested by a group of scientists; each with expertise in their own field. The film very deftly undermines arguments and counter-arguments, confronting the skeptics with a compelling challenge to their belief systems.

And that's it. It takes a ludicrous idea and makes it credible, then pitches it to a variety of informed people who try to find the flaws in it. The script is very adept at subverting these counter-arguments.

No action, no spectacle, but as someone who throughly enjoys action and spectacle, I didn't feel the need for any and the film's smart, unpredictable script was gripping enough. A little gem.

This movie may just be the highest level of intellectual and philosophical stimulation I have ever experienced via any form of media. The writing is incredible. The characters balance each other in the group extremely well, and because of their credentials and challenges to John' story, the conversation steadily progresses towards credibility, all the while keeping you pondering the question of what if.

The layers of the conversation are brilliantly organized. I could have listened to another 3 hours of these people around that fireplace in that living room! I wanted to listen to every word John was saying. Not only is the character gripping but he also makes for a great storyteller in combination with the actor's steady and soothing voice and mimics.

Barring just a couple of moments that can easily be dismissed, this story is perfect, and the said moments only come in the form of reactions from the other characters to John's story.

After watching this movie probably for the 5th or 6th time, I still can't find any loopholes in his story. Every stage of his explanations is precise enough to pass the logic test, yet vague enough to appeal to the imagination. I stand in awe and thank the writer for this masterpiece...

As far as the production, it certainly could have been better. It is a low-budget effort, no doubt, and I certainly don't have to see the faces of the characters or the couch in the living room in high definition to enjoy this experience. It is a timeless classic as is! Only a small part of me wishes that HD was an option and better lighting was used...