Skip to main content

Le Dernier Combat (1984)


Le Dernier Combat is a 1983 French post-apocalyptic film. It was the first feature film to be directed by Luc Besson, and also features Jean Reno's first prominent role. Music for the film was composed by Γ‰ric Serra. The film was the first of many collaborations between Besson, Reno and Serra.

In a post-apocalyptic future where no one is able to speak, the few remaining humans fight over resources in order to survive.

Freddy's Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

Freddy's Back!


More than a year has passed since I last updated this blog, but now it's time for a grand comeback! My passion for movies and this old school blog can never die, no matter how many woke and bad movies Netflix and other streaming platforms throw our way. To kick things off, I’ve decided to go big and review the entire filmography of Luc Besson, to find out which of his movies is my favorite. I’m starting in chronological order and skipping the first short movie, so first up is "Le Dernier Combat," known in English as "The Last Battle."


A French Mad Max? Not Quite!


I'm always up for a good post-apocalyptic movie, one of my favorite genres. So, are we looking at the French Mad Max here? Not quite, but very interesting nevertheless! We follow a lone survivor who's building a plane in what appears to be a devastated office building. The world is now a vast desert, and everyone seems to have lost their ability to talk, which brings great pain to our main character. Initially, the movie starts a bit slow, and I feared my mind would wander, despite the beautiful and stylish shots. But I was wrong! Once our hero reaches a devastated city and the brute and doctor characters are introduced, the movie picked up and became very entertaining and intriguing. The story is simple and leaves much to the imagination, which I enjoyed. I kept wondering what had happened to the world. Nothing is explained in detail, but that's part of the charm.


Intriguing Characters and Mysterious Plot


If you're worried about it being a French movie and having to turn on subtitles, don’t be. There's only two words spoken throughout the entire movie. Plus, the movie had me giggling at times, thanks to the talented actors and their expressive gestures and faces. Now, for the big turn-off: the music. The synth, saxophone, and bass-ridden score could be enjoyable in some scenes, but overall, it just sounded weird and out of place. Despite this, I enjoyed the movie for its characters and the intriguing mysteries that unfold. It left me wondering about many things and probably holds more answers upon a rewatch. Why was that woman trapped in the hospital? What’s with the fingers and the mob? Why did everyone lose their voice? It was a surprisingly nice experience in black and white, and I'm hopeful for a good time with the next Luc Besson films. Stay tuned!


πŸŽ₯ Cinematography (7/10):

I was really impressed with the beautiful and stylish shots. The black-and-white visuals added a unique touch.

πŸ“– Story (5/10):

The story is simple but intriguing, leaving much to the imagination. I enjoyed wondering about the backstory and what led to this dystopian world.

🎬 Direction (8/10):

Luc Besson’s vision and execution were commendable, especially given the film's minimalist approach. He managed to create a compelling narrative with limited resources.

πŸ‘₯ Characters (8/10):

The characters were intriguing and well-developed. Their interactions and struggles kept me engaged.

πŸ’₯ Visual Effects (3/10):

Considering it’s a low-budget film, the visual effects were basic but functional. They served the story well enough without being distracting.

🎭 Acting (7/10):

Despite the lack of dialogue, the actors did a fantastic job with their expressive gestures and faces, conveying a lot without words.

πŸ’¬ Dialogue (7/10):

While there’s almost no spoken dialogue, the non-verbal communication was effective. It’s a unique aspect that worked well for this film.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (6/10):

The dystopian world and the atmosphere it created were engaging. It really felt like a post-apocalyptic setting.

🎡 Music (2/10):

The music was a bit of a turn-off for me. The synth, saxophone, and bass mix felt weird and out of place in most scenes.

πŸ˜„ Entertainment Value (6/10):

Despite a slow start, the movie picked up and became very entertaining and intriguing. It kept me hooked till the end.

Our blog is currently being updated regularly!
More from Cine It

πŸš€ Sci-Fi Movies List

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Plot Summary: In 1940s Shanghai, a wannabe gangster named Sing aspires to join the notorious Axe Gang. His bungled attempt to extort the residents of Pig Sty Alley inadvertently leads to a gang war that gradually reveals surprising martial arts masters hiding among the slum's humble residents. Directors: Stephen Chow Writers: Stephen Chow, Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, Tsang Kan-cheung Story by: Stephen Chow Cinematography: Poon Hang-sang Edited by: Angie Lam Music by: Raymond Wong Starring: Stephen Chow as Sing Danny Chan as Brother Sum Yuen Qiu as Landlady Yuen Wah as Landlord Leung Siu-lung as Beast Xing Yu as Coolie Chiu Chi-ling as Tailor Dong Zhihua as Donut Lam Chi-chung as Bone Huang Shengyi as Fong Tin Kai-man as Adviser Gar Hong-hay and Fung Hak-on as Harpists Introduction: A ...

Sentimental Value (2025)

Plot Summary: A film director wants to make a movie. His family has feelings about it. Two hours and thirteen minutes pass. Acclaimed by everyone except me. Norwegian Title: Affeksjonsverdi Director: Joachim Trier Writers: Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier Producers: Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar Cinematography: Kasper Tuxen Editing: Olivier Bugge CouttΓ© Music: Hania Rani Starring: Renate Reinsve as Nora Borg Stellan SkarsgΓ₯rd as Gustav Borg Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Agnes Borg Pettersen Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp Anders Danielsen Lie as Jakob Jesper Christensen as Michael   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ A Universally Acclaimed Snoozefest Today I bring you the movie... let me check my notes again. Ah, right: Sentimental Value. What a boooooring movie. That's it, thank you for reading. But seriously, le...

The Idiots (1998)

Plot Summary: A group of able-bodied adults living in a commune on the outskirts of Copenhagen spend their days pretending to be mentally disabled in public, a practice they call "spazzing." When a quiet, reserved woman named Karen wanders into their world, the group's provocations begin to unravel into something far more raw and devastating. Danish Title: Idioterne Director: Lars von Trier (uncredited; under Dogme 95 rules) Writer: Lars von Trier Producer: Vibeke WindelΓΈv Starring: Bodil JΓΈrgensen as Karen Jens Albinus as Stoffer Anne Louise Hassing as Susanne Troels Lyby as Henrik Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Jeppe Louise Mieritz as Josephine Henrik Prip as Ped   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ Diving into the Dogma (and the Depravity) Hello dear reader! Today I found some time to write a review on last night's movie, The Idiots (1998...

The Gambler (1974)

The Gambler is a 1974 American crime drama film written by James Toback and directed by Karel Reisz. It stars James Caan, Paul Sorvino and Lauren Hutton. Caan's performance was widely lauded and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Some see the film as a loose adaptation of the short 1866 novel The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gambler_(1974_film) Axel Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice. When he has lost all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, then his mother, and finally some bad guys that chase him. Despite all of this, he cannot stop gambling. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071532/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Sharp Character Study of Self-Destruction KRASNAYA: Fourth in line in our tribute to James Caan is The Gambler, a 1974 crime drama filmed by Karel Reisz. The screenplay for the film was written by James Toback. He wrote his own story...

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart (2026)

Plot Summary: In June 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by self-proclaimed prophet Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee. Held captive and repeatedly assaulted for nine months, Elizabeth was finally recognized and rescued in March 2003. This documentary chronicles the kidnapping, the botched investigation, the Richard Ricci detour, and Elizabeth's extraordinary road to becoming a survivor and advocate. Director: Benedict Sanderson Platform: Netflix Genre: Documentary / True Crime Year: 2026 Featured: Elizabeth Smart as herself Ed Smart as himself (Elizabeth's father) Brian David Mitchell (subject) Wanda Barzee (subject)   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ A Powerful Survivor Trapped in a Draggy Documentary So I decided it was time to watch a documentary since it's been a while sin...

Kpop Demon Hunters (2025)

Plot Summary: Three talented young K-pop trainees discover they have supernatural abilities to battle ancient demons lurking in modern-day Korea. They must balance their demanding training for a much-anticipated debut with their secret mission to protect the world. Directors: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Screenplay: Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Producer: Michelle Wong Music: Marcelo Zarvos Starring: Arden Cho as Rumi May Hong as Mira Ji-young Yoo as Zoey Ahn Hyo-seop as Jinu Yunjin Kim as Celine Ken Jeong as Bobby Lee Byung-hun as Gwi-Ma   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Peer Pressure & Pleasant Surprises My daughter came home from school the other day looking like she'd been left out of the cool kids' club because she was the only one who hadn't seen Kpop Demon Hunters. I knew right then my Satur...