130 Sci Fi Movies I Reviewed As a 1990’s Teenager
In 1994 I created my first website, the “WWW Science Fiction Movie Page”. It’s the kind of website name that back then registered a certain authority on a subject. The idea was to be the go to place for everyone on reviews and information on sci fi movies. Later, in the interest of giving the site a more colorful identity, I changed the name of the site to “Psychotronic Cinema”. I watched plenty of horror films too, but for some reason decided to write about science fiction, probably thinking it had more respectability and that I could more easily fill a niche at the time.
Herein I present all of the reviews that I wrote. That’s right, the contents of this single post in 2018 were what comprised a fairly large website by 1994’s standards.
Apart from some grammatical issues, I have tried herein to keep the contents authentic to the time. It’s an interesting time capsule for me to reflect on – a minor psychological snapshot of a younger me. There were a few reviews later, but most of these were written in 1994.
I was watching all of these films in the 1990’s and watching, rewatching, or simply recalling films I had seen as a child in the 1980s. It’s a mixture of experience from the movie theater, to VHS, to things I caught on television such as the “Creature Double Feature” on Boston’s WLVI, channel 56.
Before the modern easy access to virtually every movie you can think of if you want it, there was a pleasure derived from discovering something that was rare or a forgotten gem. In my thirst for such experience, I discovered and injected a higher dosage of schlock films than I should have. There are a lot of forgettable garbage direct-to video and made-for-television movies. There were other films in this category that I had seen at the time but did not write about. Gammera movies, Godzilla movies, Attack of the Mushroom People, The Killer Shrews. I shdder at the thought of what other things I could have done with that time. Only seldomly these days do I watch a film for schlock value alone. Though I had not watched them at the time of the website, I have included Liquid Sky and Sins of the Fleshapods because I am very certain would have watched them (or would have tried getting through them) if I knew about them at the time.
After twenty-four years, I believe my opinion on most of the films is roughly the same. I still love many of the minority of films I gave the highest marks. Lifeforce is still a guilty pleasure. Zardoz is amazing. There are a few that I think of differently today. The most embarrassing example of youthful foolery would be the positive review of Freejack. Watching it relatively recently, that is objectively a piece of crap (though there are still a few things to like). I did like Star Trek V at the time I saw in in the theater as a kid in 1989 and even when I was watching it on home video in the early 1990s. Yes, I’d rate it lower today because it really is poor, but anything with the original crew is better than what came after (with the exception of First Contact) and there are some good scenes in it.
I have come to have a small fondness from Scanners that I did not have upon first viewing. Blade Runner remains overrated, but I like it more than I did then. Critters was great watching it as a child in the 1980’s on the big screen. As an older adult, it still has charm, but it’s not as great as it was. Not sure why Dr. Strangelove was included here as a sci fi film, I was probably stretching it.
Keep in mind, I wrote all of these as a teenager, so if nothing else, the writing of the reviews themselves would be a lot better today.
In 2018 my favorite films on this, in no particular order, remain
Dr. Strangelove
Zardoz
The Abyss
Star Trek II,III,IV,VI
Original Star Wars Trilogy
E.T.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Sleeper
Lifeforce
Tetsuo the Iron Man
The website made the prestigious “web top 10” back in 1997 and was mentioned in the Seattle newspaper:
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Wednesday, April 2, 1997
by Daniel Bubbeo of Netguide Magazine
Page D7
Excerpt from headline
“Science-fiction fans have plenty of sites to see”
“Psychotronic Cinema may lack the multimedia pageantry
of Time’s site http://pathfinder.com/@@VzLXqgUAjog5nlul/time/scifi,
but if you’re looking for a good sci-fi movie to rent,
this site is an excellent resource. Essential a sci-fi movie database,
Psychotronic Cinema has a comprehensive alphabetical listing of just about
any sci-fi movie ever made including classics
(“2001″,”Forbidden Planet”, forgotten oldies (“Dr. Cyclops”),
cult favorites (“Blade Runner”) and bizarre baddies (“The Brain That Wouldn’t
Die”).”
The ratings were on a scale of 1 to 4 stars.
HERE ARE THE REVIEWS
1926 Metropolis
**
One of the first science fiction movies, Director Fritz Lang’s story of a world in which the rich have enslaved the working class. A young man of the elite class falls in love with one of the peasants. He leaves his high-class life to assist the oppressed workers in a revolution. The golden robot was an inspiration for the likeness of C3PO.
1933 Island of Lost Souls
***1/2
Adaptation of H.G. Wells’ story The Island of Dr Moreau. Starring Bela Lugosi as the Sayer of the Law and the uncanny Panther Woman. Dr. Moreau has created humanoids out of various types of animals. A shipwrecked individual is forced to come to his island and sees the horror of Moreau’s attempt to be God.
1940 Dr. Cyclops
**1/2
A brilliant scientist poisoned by radiation shrinks his colleagues. Excellent special effects for the time. Simple story and may not appeal to some.
1951 The Day The Earth Stood Still
***1/2
Klaatu, a civilized alien, comes to uncivilized Earth to warn its inhabitants of the threat that they are to themselves and to other worldly civilizations. Klaatu’s purpose is to get this message across to the leaders of the world, lest violent action be taken against Earth by the planets Klaatu represents.
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a true classic; a landmark sf film and one of the very few early sf movies created for an adult audience. Is also one of the first sf movies with an anti-nuclear theme. The Day the Earth Stood Still is second only to Forbidden Planet as best ’50’s sci-fi movie.
1951 The Thing (From Another World)
**
Scientists in the arctic uncover a frozen alien being. When the creature accidently thaws, they are forced to fight for their very survival. Little action and poor makeup for the Frankenstein-like creature (which is strategically only limitedly exposed). The movie won its classic status from its dark, dreary, and isolated atmosphere which likely contributed to an eerie viewing experience at its time. However, the film is a snooze by today’s standards, for the same thing has been done many times over. Not always better, but usually more entertaining. Remade in 1982.
Invaders from Mars 1953
**
Cheesy, but sometimes entertaining story of–you guessed it–invaders from Mars! A little boy discovers people aren’t behaving the way they should be. Remade in 1986.
1953 It: The Terror from Beyond Outer Space (thriller)
*
Predecessor to Alien movies in which a hostile life form is present among an isolated crew in deep space. The creature itself is simply some guy in a creature-from-the-black-lagoon-like costume.
1953 Robot Monster
Bomb **
The great leader of the inhabitants of the moon, in hopes of eliminating the typically savage human race, launches missiles at Earth which wipe out everyone save a single family. RoMan, a guy in ape-like costume fitted with deep-sea diver-like helmet, terrorizes the family to once and for all rid the universe of those pesky earth people.
Next to Plan 9 from Outer Space, Robot Monster is perhaps the most famous bad film ever. However, the film is simply terrible and so cliché that it is not nearly as entertaining. That is not to say it is isn’t entertaining. (Much more so than Planet of the Vampires for instance).
1954 Them! (thriller)
**
The original Giant ant movie. Spawned many similar giant animal, people, and thing movies.
1955 This Island Earth
**1/2
Scientist builds a new sophisticated communication device after being sent advanced technology through the mail. With it he makes contact with a strange man possessing a rather large cranium. He and two other scientists soon find themselves kidnapped to help save a race of people whose planet is being destroyed by hostile neighbors. Great special effects for its day, but somewhat weak on the plot.
1956 Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers
*1/2
Plot is pretty self-explanatory. Ray Harryhausen’s special effects are a plus, but an all too simple all too common story.
1956 The Day the World Ended
*
Exceedingly boring film about a handful of people that survive a nuclear war. Despite the bogey monster that hunts them during a small portion of the film, the story is primarily of the tension and conflicts between the characters making for bad drama. Roger Corman‘s first science fiction film.
1956 The Mole People (badfilm)
*
Archeologists discover a race of albino Sumerian people that live in underground taverns and are unaware of the outside world. The strangers are instantly thought of as being sent by the gods. Soon the fact that they are not divine beings becomes apparent and they find their lives threatened. In the end, they aid strange humanoid creatures that burrow in the ground to rebel against their Sumerian captors. The story that utilizes this seemingly interesting premise is a tour-de-boredom.
1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers
***
Giant alien pod-like plant sacs have settled on Earth. A city’s inhabitants seem to be losing their humanity. We soon find out that the alien plant life has been replicating people in their sleep and replacing the original people with emotionless look-a-likes.
1957 The Incredible Shrinking Man (pseudo sci-fi)
***
After coming into contact with a mysterious fog, a man shrinks until he is the size at which at house cat and tarantula are formidable adversaries. Very classic movie. Exceptional special-effects for the time and interesting existential commentary on our existence.
1957 Devil Girl from Mars (badfilm)
1/2
Film with British actors in which a woman from Mars shows off her superior powers to a group of typically stupid humans. Despite its title, this movie is not amusing in any way that I can tell.
1958 The Fly
Vincent Price stars as the brother of a scientist who successfully invents a matter transportation device. However the buzzing insect is present in the machine along with him when he tests it on himself. Unusually good acting for a sci fi -thriller of the period (of course, Price is in it). Featuring the famous line “Help me!!!”
1958 I Married a Monster From Outer Space
**
A woman marries a monster from outer space. She is shocked to discover that her husband is a monster from outer space.
1958 Attack of the 50ft Woman (badfilm)
**
The original classic of a woman who, after being exposed to the radiation of a “satellite”, wreaks havoc on a city looking to give her unfaithful husband hell. Somewhat entertaining idea with amusing special effects.
1958 Queen of Outer Space (badfilm)
Bomb ***
Three Earthmen land on Venus and meet Zsa Zsa Gabor who stars as a member of an all-female society that has disposed of its men. Absurd premise and even more absurd dialogue makes this an unforgettable classic. Much of the set, costumes, and props were ripped off the set of Forbidden Planet. Not bad if you are hankering for a slice of cheese.
1958 Plan 9 from Outer Space (badfilm)
Bomb ***1/2
Originally titled Grave Robbers from Outer Space. Strange objects appear in the sky with passengers declaring the people of Earth to be “Stupid! Stupid!” The “alien” grave robbers raise the dead (well…three of the dead) to take over planet Earth. Written, produced, and directed by Ed Wood and co-staring Bela Lugosi, this is one gem not to be missed. Winner of Golden Turkey Award as worst film of all time, it is certainly the most famous “bad film”. Wonderfully terrible premise, dialogue, acting, and special effects. Hilariously funny.
1959 Son of the Fly
*
The son of the scientist who created the matter transportation device that caused him to turn into a fly rebuilds his father’s laboratory and starts his father’s work again. You can guess what happens. Sadly enough, it ends happily this time. Vincent Price plays the brother of the original scientist (played by himself in 1958 classic The Fly.
Attack of the Crab Monsters (thriller)
**
One of the original and best of the giant-mutated-creatures-eating-people movies. Directed by Roger Corman.
1960 The Angry Red Planet
**
A crew on an expedition to Mars is subject to various perilous situations and a nifty-looking giant bat-rat-spider creature. The superior inhabitants of Mars drive off the pesky earthlings and send a warning to Earth not to mess with their planet. Cliché plot, but not too bad.
1960 The Time Machine
***
Classic H.G. Wells story adapted to film. A scientist (Rod Taylor) builds a time machine which he uses to transport himself into the near future and later into a post-nuclear future where humanity has lost its will to progress and mutant humans live in underground caverns. Slow beginning, but worth the wait for the intriguing story to unfold.
1960 Village of the Damned
**
People of a small town are mysteriously knocked unconscious. They wake to find the women have been impregnated. Uncanny, emotionless children are soon born.
1963 X-the Man with the X-ray Eyes
*1/2
Curious Dr. Xavier, feeling he is mostly blind to the world around him, invents a solution that increases the scope of the visible light spectrum. Despite his scientific breakthrough, things to not turn out well after he fails to save a little girl through surgery and accidently murders his friend. It is then that the story goes downhill as he hides from the law and further so when the law pursues the case. Directed by Roger Corman.
1964 Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
***
Parady of 1950’s Cold War hysteria. World War III is nearly caused by a crazed U.S. military general who launches a nuclear attack on the U.S.S.R. The President of the United States is forced to contend with the Soviet leaders as well as his own military and political leaders. Peter Sellers plays the President, a British Captain, and Dr. Strangelove himself (a crippled former nazi who invented the Bomb). Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
1965 Planet of the Vampires (thriller)(badfilm)
Bomb 0 Stars
No one should waste their time on this flick. (Nice caped crusader outfits though).
1965 Sins of the Fleshapoids
Unwatchable amateur film attempting to be avant gard but coming off as a high school production.
1967 Planet of the Apes
**1/2
Overrated film in which Charlton Heston and the space crew he commands land on a planet to find it ruled by a Simian race that keep human slaves. Script co-written by Rod Serling from the novel by Peter Boulle (which was better). Oscar winning make-up. Spawned many sequels and two television series, though I cannot figure out the reason.
1968 Barbarella – Queen of the Galaxy
**1/2
Jane Fonda is a comic book heroine on a quest to find the scientist, Duran Duran whom has invented the ultimate weapon. Along the way she sleeps with all manners of humanoid life (including the blind angel, Peygar) and plays with an evil queen.
1970 Colossus: The Forbin Project (suspense thriller)
****
Electronics scientist constructs a super-intelligent computer to control the U.S. nuclear arsenal. It is soon learned that the U.S.S.R. has constructed a similar system. The two systems join themselves and make an effort to enslave humanity. The creator of the U.S. supercomputer endeavors to outsmart his creation in an effort to destroy it. So realistic it is disturbing. Wonderful Twilight Zone-like ending.
1971 The Omega Man
*
Charlton Heston stars as one of the last “normal” humans on earth to survive a deadly virus. He tangles with an evil albino cult leader, and is assisted by some kids and his lover.
1971 THX 1138
*
It is amazing that the creator of the Star Wars trilogy is responsible for one of the most boring sci fi films ever made. Story takes place in sterile futuristic society where the individual has lost his identity. Sex is forbidden, everyone looks the same, dresses the same, and they have numbers instead of names. THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) is punished for mating with a woman. He eventually flees from the underground society. Scary commentary on our future, but thoroughly dull.
1973 Sleeper
***1/2
Woody Allen, at his finest, wakes from cryogenic sleep to find a world run by a totalitarian government with a deceased dictator. In an effort to overthrow the oppressive government he joins a rebellion. Parody of George Orwell’s 1984. Visual gags a plenty.
1973 Soylent Green
*
This is an awful movie; one with no redeeming values. Charlton Heston stars in a gloomy near future world of dehumanization, old broken-down technology, and severe overpopulation. New York’s streets are crowded with unhealthy, hungry people. Like mice, everyone eats the same food day after day: a food company’s manufactured produced called Soylent Green. Heston’s character is a cop who is assigned to investigate the murder of a chairman of the Soylent company. The plot is minimal. Dramatic ending unveils a secret that the audience will figure out before Heston’s character does. All around unpleasant movie to watch.
1974 Zardoz (1974)
****
Zardoz is a fantasy set in the distant future of humanity. A giant floating head that proclaims that “the gun is good, the penis is evil” provides Zed with the sacred weapon. Donned with undies like that of a professional wrestler and armed with plenty of bullets, Zed, is a Brutal (a race of “savages”) in a world of genetically-advanced, forever-young intellectuals with awesome telepathic capabilities. Sean Connery stars in what is surely the strangest role of his career. Psychedelic style somewhat reminiscent of the Prisoner television series.
Zed is an exterminator class “Brutal”, a race of savages, in a world of Eternals, genetically-advanced, forever-young intellectuals with awesome telepathic capabilities. Worshipped as a deity, a giant floating head proclaims that “the gun is good, the penis is evil” and provides Zed with the sacred weapon. Donned with undies like that of a professional wrestler and plenty of bullets, Zed’s equipped. The story builds to a climax when it is discovered that “this creature is capable of spontaneous erections.” Sean Connery in a fleeting moment of glory that he will never recapture.
1976 Logan’s Run
**1/2
In the astonishing world of the twenty-third century, everyone lives in a utopian self-contained city. The only catch is that in order to retain this state of Utopia, people must be terminated at age thirty. The only chance of survival is Carousel in which contestants are given “an equal chance” to avoid what is considered fate. A small percentage of the populace, known as “runners”, try to escape premature death by seeking what is called “Sanctuary.” Logan is a Sandman, an enforcer of the societal law of termination. However, when it becomes his time to be terminated, Logan himself becomes a runner and enlists the help of a woman runner so that they may find Sanctuary. As it turns out, Sanctuary is not what they think it to be.
This is a wonderfully original movie that is worth seeing for the great first half. It really goes downhill for much of the sometimes dull second half and the discovery of an annoying old man (the likes of which Logan has never seen) before it finally gets a little better at the end. First cinematic use of holography and pioneering use of laser effects.
1976 Futureworld
*1/2
Remake of Westworld, this
1977 Island of Dr. Moreau
*
Poor adaptation of H.G. Wells story is infinitely inferior to Island of the Lost Souls.
1977 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (fantasy)
****
The first of the most successful movie series in cinema history. Seven Oscars for technical achievements and the legendary John Williams score.
1977 Demon Seed (thriller)
***
Genius computer scientist creates a self-aware super computer; an artificial mind more powerful than any other computer or human brain. After having been denied a terminal to study human emotions, Proteus IV assumes total automated control of its creator’s entire house, imprisoning the scientist’s separated wife. To insure it survives having the plug pulled on it, Proteus IV endeavors to impregnate her with its own child. A very creative story that is done well. Fine acting by Julie Christie makes her imprisonment completely believable and the Proteus IV is the most scary movie computer ever. The only major drawback is the conclusion that is left too open-ended.
1978 Parts: The Clonus Horror (thriller)
*1/2
Care-free Richard comes to a realization that his superiors constantly monitor every aspect of his life. Soon he learns the frightening truth of his existence–that he was essentially manufactured; a clone of the Clonus company. The evil company scientists treat the products of their work like specimens, keeping them locked up and unaware of the outside world. When the scientists decide their livestock is “ready” they are told that they will go to a paradise called America.
Movie with a potentially interesting premise, yet it falls far short of what it could have been (i.e. routine chase scenes, interrogations, etc). Every product of the Clonus company is to have a counterpart “either domestic or international”. It might have proved interesting had Richard sought his counterpart, but that scenario is not even attempted by the writers. A candidate for president of the United States (Peter Graves) knows of the Clonus company, yet he has no real personal gain, so the attempt at creating an atmosphere of a scary government cover-up falls flat on its face.
1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers
****
All you have to do is fall asleep…You’ll wake up a new person…
Creepy remake of the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers from 1956, is certainly more frightening than the original. The feeling of panic and the sense of futility (everyone has to go to sleep eventually!) is expressed exceptionally well. Co-starring Leonard Nimoy as an evil psychiatrist. Eerie music, wonderful tension; even better than the original. Also remade very well in Body Snatchers (1994).
1979 Alien
**1/2
After a space mining crew is awakened from hyper sleep, they receive what appears to be a planetary distress call. After responding, an alien creature with incredible strength and stealth starts killing off the crew. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) must stop the killing machine before it has a chance to reach earth.
Overated scfi fi thriller that does a great job created a claustrophobic atmosphere, but relies on a black cat to deliver too many of the “scares”. The design for the alien was created by fantasy artist H.G. Giger, Directed by Ridley Scott.
1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
**
Astronaut from 20th century wakes from freeze to find that the earth he knew has been ravaged. Assisted by a talking computer (shaped like a canteen) that is hung around robot Tweeky’s neck, Buck battles off an evil space armada resembling Battlestar Galactica. In the process Buck gets the girl, killsa whole bunch of innocent mutants, and masters all of the controls of “the most advanced fighter in the universe” in a matter of minutes.
1979 Star Trek: The Motion Picture
**
“The Human Adventure is Just Beginning.” – Movie Poster
Luckily the adventure got a lot further than this. First Star Trek feature film was written by television series creator Gene Roddenberry. Unfortunately, it is a movie only a trekker would want to watch more than once. Dull plot for most. Featuring the original sexy bald crew member.
1979 Time After Time
***
Very original film that uses the premise that H.G. Wells himself was the inventor of the time machine he wrote of in his classic novel The Time Machine. He finds out that a friend of his is known to the world as Jack the Ripper. To elude capture, The Ripper uses the time machine to transport himself to the year 1979. Wells considers it his responsibility to stop the madman in a world Wells predicted to be Utopia.
During his mission to recover The Ripper, Wells finds a planet in which such progressive ideas such as Women’s liberation have become reality. On the darker side, he learns of global wars and widespread violence that characterizes the twentieth century. At times the film resorts to Disney- like juvenile humor, but overall it’s an intriguing statement of our times. Directed by Nicholas Meyer.
1980 Altered States
*
A scientists experiment with hallucinogens and a sensory-deprivation chamber and de-evolves into a Neanderthal-like human.
1980 The Empire Strikes Back
*****
The cast of Star Wars is back in an even more epic story than before. Magnanimous. Oscar-winning special effects (of course).
1981 Escape From New York (action)
**
In the year 1997 Manhattan is a walled off prison and the President just landed in it. Within a 48 hour time period Snake Plissken (Kurt Russel) must rescue the President from a city filled with roving gangs, homicidal maniacs, and hookers with hearts of gold. Looks like New York hasn’t changed that much after all.
1981 Outland
*1/2
Sean Connery stars as a law enforcement marshal on twenty-first century mining planet. Something that causes miners to spontaneously go berserk is shrouded in mystery and Connery is the only one willing to dare to get to the bottom of the situation on this corrupt and hellish planet. Unpleasant to watch and dull at times, though the special effects are good.
1982 Blade Runner (action)
**
Cult film in which Harrison Ford stars as a “blade runner”, a sort of exterminator of constructed and programmed semi-humans. Dark, dingy, and gothic cyberpunk setting and atmosphere are primarily responsible for its cult status. Directed by Ridley Scott.
Perhaps the most overrated science fiction film ever (by sci fi fans), Blade Runner’s plot is weak at best. Ridiculous premises such like the movie’s suggestion that by 2019, humanity has colonized worlds outside of our solar system. It all ends with a rooftop chase from a dozen other movies. The one redeeming value of the film (which won its cult following) is its attention to portraying the future in great detail. Intriguing Vangelis score has become a classic.
1982 Cafe Flesh
**1/2
In the future, humanity has been mutated to the point at which most people are sex-negative, meaning that the touch of another makes them violently ill. The remaining one percent who can have sex (the sex-positives), do so often at Cafe Flesh for the entertainment of those who cannot.
Entirely original and probably the most creative pornographic movie ever made, (not very difficult to do) but Cafe Flesh is by all means science-fiction. The atmosphere is much like that of Bladerunner (dark, dingy, and punk-oriented), yet it almost has qualities of a musical like The Rocky Horror Picture Show or perhaps some deranged rock video. At any rate, it is guaranteed that you have never seen anything like Cafe Flesh.
1980 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Khan, (Ricardo Montalban) Kirk’s adversary from the Classic Trek episode “Space Seed”, returns with a vendetta against him. An experiment known as “Genesis” which has the ability to create “life from lifelessness” can also cause catastrophic destruction. The Crew of the U.S.S. Reliant investigate its effects on a desert world on which they encounter Khan and his disciples. They proceed to gain control of the starship by means of mind-controlling eels. It is then that Khan (a control freak) endeavors to steal the Genesis device and murder Admiral Kirk for banishing him to the desolate world and (in his mind) causing his wife’s death. All the likable aspects of Star Trek are presented extremely well. Quite possibly the best Trek ever. Powerful acting performances, heart-pounding space battles, great special effects, and an incredible score are some of the elements that mark this great Star Trek film. Directed by Nicholas Meyer.
1982 [John Carpenter’s] The Thing
**1/2
Freaky remake of the classic 1956 The Thing from Another World. The monster takes on several grotesque forms of the creatures it victimizes.
1982 Liquid Sky
0 Stars
A complete unwatchable piece of crap.
1983 The Day After
****
1983 ET: The Extra Terrestrial
****
Young boy Eliot discovers a “spaceman” who crashed near his home. He has to find ways to keep the alien secret from his parents and the government and help him to “phone home”. One of the highest grossing films of all time, ET is an American icon. Directed by Steven Spielberg.
1983 Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (fantasy)(badfilm)
Bomb **
Leather covered hunter meets the love of his life, watches souls get sucked into red crystals, and fights off monsters (including Cyclopeans and Richard Moll). You have not seen nonsensical until you have seen Metalstorm. Mad Max-like setting with Gibson character rip-off seeking out Jared-Syn, the bad guy who wants to rule the planet. Directed by Charles Band.
1983 Return of the Jedi
*****
One of the best movies of all-time perhaps the most epic production ever to come out of Hollywood. Oscar-winning special effects (of course).
1983 Scanners
**
Patrick McGoohan, of Prisoner (television series) fame, stars as a scientist who creates a variety of people with telekinetic and telepathic abilities. These individuals are referred to as “scanners” and they rage war against humanity. One renegade scanner tries to stop them. Story with rather silly use of telekinesis that is watchable, but not particularly original or interesting.
1983 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
****
Picking up where Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan left off, the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise is away from danger thanks to Captain Spock’s sacrifice of his own life. Soon we find Doctor McCoy to apparently be going mad before it is learned that Spock’s consciousness resides within him. Admiral Kirk and his faithful former senior officers hijack the Enterprise to save Spock’s katra (life essence). A science team led by Kirks’ son, David and Vulcan Lt. Savik, discover that Spock’s body regenerated as a result of the “Genesis Effect”, the result of an experiment explained in Star Trek II. The crew’s mission becomes rejoining Spock’s mind with his body. Along the way, the badly damaged Enterprise and her skeleton crew encounter a Klingon warship whose Captain Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) is determined to obtain the Genesis torpedo which has the power to destroy a planet.
Following perhaps the greatest Star Trek movie ever, the film may have gotten harsher criticism than it deserved. Major drawback is of course the absence of Spock throughout the majority of the film. Also, many Star Trek fans find the Vulcan mysticism in bad taste for a series that is generally based on scientific theory, but it is all in good fun. Besides, did anyone complain that Spock was brought back? Powerful scenes such as the destruction of the Enterprise and the death of Kirk’s son (with top notch acting by William Shatner). The friendship of the characters whom we have known for years is put to the ultimate test, and the manner in which they stick by one another might bring tears to a Star Trek fan’s eyes. Best of the odd-numbered treks. Directed and co-written by Leonard Nimoy.
1984 2010 The Year We Make Contact
Very well-done, though less metaphorical sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Mysteries pertaining to the Discovery mission to Jupiter remain unanswered and the decaying orbit of Discovery into Jupiter’s atmosphere prompts the U.S.S.R. and United States governments to solve those unanswered questions before it is too late. Scientists from both countries hesitantly team up to do just that as the world braces for World War III. Excellent acting and great special effects. Story by Arthur C. Clarke (who also makes a cameo appearance).
1984 Futuropolis (comedy)
Unratable
Blending traditional animation with stop-motion animation and live actors, this highly bizarre tour-de-farce is allegedly a comedy. Wildly strange, the humor is parody of science fiction and super hero movies and television. Unique beyond compare.
1984 The Last Starfighter (children)
**
Video game turns out to be a test for intergalactic star fighters. Has all the aspects of a “real” sci-fi movie, but with a juvenile plot.
1985 Critters
***
Great fun!
1985 Cocoon (drama)
***1/2
Elderly people bathe in alien cocoon-infested pool and suddenly feel young and horny. This fountain of youth allows them to revamp their lives, but the beings whom are responsible for it happening have a terrible price to pay. Very touching film with great acting performances. Directed by Ron Howard.
1985 Enemy Mine
***
Member of the Earth military space fleet crash lands on a planet with another member of an enemy alien race. Together they must overcome their differences in order to survive.
1985 Lifeforce
***
Lifeforce uses the premise that the vampire legend has some root in reality. Three beings that survive by sucking out another’s life energy are discovered in a space expedition. They come to earth to feed upon the life force of human beings. Features a nude woman blowing up a city. The very same seduces a man who is forced to choose between her and allowing the world to be destroyed (and of course he makes the wrong decision). Lots of great action and eroticism, plus a small role for Patrick Stewart. Lifeforce is not quite like anything you have seen before.
Not only features a nude space vampire woman blowing up a city, but it is really good! The vamp seduces a man who is forced to choose between her and immortality or the world being destroyed (I would have picked the former).
1985 Max Headroom (tvm)
*
Dead man’s consciousness is transplanted into a computer and outfitted with a digitally animated head. Weak. Short Coke commercials were quite enough.
1985 Trancers
**1/2
In this science fiction satire, a super-villain known as Whistler vows to take revenge on the counsel whom foiled his attempt to become supreme dictator of New Angel City. His scheme is to travel three-hundred years back in time (via means of a “time travel serum”!) to 1985 Los Angeles and assassinate the ancestors of the members of the counsel, that they might never come to being. A cop with a vendetta against Whistler is sent back in time by the counsel to inhabit the body of one of his ancestors. Along the way he contends with Trancers (weak minded individuals transformed into mindless drones by Whistler’s psychic ability). Entertaining film with some effective comedy and visuals.
1986 Aliens (horror)
***
Ripley, the sole survivor of the victimized crew of a mining scout awakens from hyper sleep fifty-two years later her nightmarish ordeal. The Company convinces Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) to accompany a group of marines to investigate the disappearance of an entire planetary colony–apparently due to alien the alien creatures responsible for killing Ripley’s former crew. Best of the “Alien” series. Offers more action and special effects than the others, an interesting character in the android Bishop, and the now famous quote, “Get away from her YOU BITCH!”
1986 Class of Nuke ‘Em High
Bomb **1/2
Irreverent zaniness marks this intentionally low-brow humor movie of a high school situated next to a nuclear power plant. Its teachers and its students (like those of the Honor Society who have turned into punk kids called the Cretins that terrorize the school) have been experiencing adverse affects . Pure trash, but entertaining nonetheless.
1986 Eliminators (badfilm)
* (** for entertainment value)
An evil scientist creates a cyborg (called a Mandroid!) from a nearly dead airplane pilot. Cybernetics scientist (Denise Crosby) discovers the half-man half-machine person dubbed John Doe and learns that her work is being used for evil purposes. Together they embark on an adventure to destroy the bad guy. They enlist the help of a jungle guide in Mexico and a Japanese ninja who also has a vendetta against the madman for killing his father. Oh, and by the way, the bad guy can time travel. When they finally reach his outpost, he himself is a powerful Mandroid force to be reckoned with.
Awful dialogue, joke acting, childish storyline, incredibly poor production values, this is a flick of the lowest quality. It is amazing that Crosby, who started out this badly, was discontent with her role on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
1986 Flight of the Navigator (family)
***1/2
Boy is abducted by a UFO travels through space for several years at light-speed. Davy is then dropped back on earth years by the seven years later and hasn’t aged a day since his abduction. He becomes the subject of government surveillance and later meets the intelligence that abducted him the (voice of Paul Rueben a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman). The being, who Davy comes to know as Max, allows Davy to be “navigator” of the sleek silver saucer.
This is a great children’s movie that could even appeal to many adults. An exciting storyline (not to mention one of the very first examples of digital morphing in film) make this a fantastic movie.
The Fly (1986)
***
The movie, directed by David Croenenberg, that launched Jeff Goldblum into superfreakdom.
A scientist who invents a molecular transportation system falls victim to it when his atoms are accidentally mixed up with that of a –you guessed it. This remake of the classic 1958 film, has considerably more violence plus gore and sex. (Geena Davis!). It does get a bit disgusting when he takes her new boyfriend’s head by each side and vomits an egg-like substance on his face.
Anyone who doesn’t know that Jeff Goldblum is one of the coolest freaks around will undoubtedly be convinced after seeing this flick. Very stylistic and genuinely creepy.
1986 Invaders from Mars (thriller)
***
Story of boy’s terrible experience when aliens land near his home and take control of the minds of his parents and teacher. This remake of the classic is excellent and has some nifty effects.
1986 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
*****
The former crew of the Enterprise must save Earth from a dangerous probe that is trying to communicate with language of an extinct Earth species–humpback whales. They go back in time to 1986 Earth to retrieve the humpbacks and bring them into the future to save the planet. The most humorous of the series and many would argue the best. Directed and co-written by Leonard Nimoy. Every even casual Star Trek fan has seen this one.
’86 Terminator (action)
**
The ultimate in sci-fi stalker movies. A nearly invincible cybor (Arnold Schwarzenegger) travels back in time in order to kill a woman whose son will lead the human resistance against the Terminators. Luckily for Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) a human protector also travels back in time with a special connection to her. One of the few movies that actually lets you enjoy having an indestructible bad guy, as opposed to being sick of it
1987 Batteries Not Included
***
1987 Robocop
***
ED-209, a scary law enforcement droid built by Omni Consumer Products and sponsored by its President turns out to be a bit buggy and goes berserk, pumping several hundred rounds of ammunition into businessman during its unveiling at an OCP business conference. In the meantime, Police officer Alex Murphy is brutally shot while on duty, his body mutilated. Luckily, for an OCP senior member this is exactly what he needs to build what he calls the ultimate crime fighting machine, a cyborg called Robocop. ED-209, however, would have raked in more profit for OCP. What’s a evil corporate president to do, but hire the gang that originally murdered Murphy to off Robocop? Fun and inventive, don’t let the gore prevent you from seeing this fine movie.
1988 Light Years (animated fantasy)
**
Animated story in which a prince time travels into the future to find a strange universe of wordy language and bizarre creatures . Plot very unmemorable. Story by Asaac Asimov.
1988 Tetsuo: The Iron Man
****
Nightmarish vision of what can be the affect of living in modern day Tokyo. People turn into metal monsters. Your dead girlfriend tries to rape you, your penis turns into a sewer drill.
1988 They Live
***
1989 Alien Nation
**
An alien slave ship makes an emergency landing on Earth in California. Its passengers must learn to integrate into 1990’s Los Angeles. L.A. cop Caan is joined by one of the “newcomers” as a partner investigate the murder of Caan’s former police partner. A fairly thoughtful idea that made a considerably better television series.
1989 Communion (allegedly true acct)
*1/2
Loving father and devoted husband (Cristopher Walken) believes he is the victim of hallucinations of alien abduction. However, his disturbing visions appear to be more than bad dreams as he finds unexplainable wounds and paranoia overtakes him. With the help of a hypnotist, he is able to recall some of his experiences. Film is very well acted, but it lacks the eeriness the subject of the film demands. Also the film devotes far too much time to simple family situations.
Earth Girls Are Easy (1989)
****
Earth Girls Are Easy is too much fun to ignore. Jeff Goldblum, in top-freakish form is the leader of the three hairy, space drifting aliens whom crash land into the pool of gorgeous Geena Davis. The others played by are played by Damon Wayans, and Jim Carey (!) with virtually no speaking parts. After a “makeover” takes care of their “non-local” appearance, they are prepared to party with and charm the women of Los Angeles.
The jokes, visual gags, and comical situations are extremely effective. The sets, one step removed from reality, add nicely to the style of the film. Though comical, the relationship between Mac (Goldblum’s character) and Davis is endearing. Earth Girls even has peppy music by Julie Brown and wonderfully choreographed, energetic dance routines. Indeed this movie seems to have everything. Fun, sexy, wild, hilarious, and genuinely romantic, Earth Girls Are Easy is a rare gem.
If you are a gorgeous Geena Davis, whom other than Jeff Goldblum, in top-freakish form, would you want to crash land in your pool and save your love life?
1989 Leviathan
*1/2
Cross between Alien and The Abyss, ripping off and inferior to both.
1989 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
***
People still ask themselves what the hell this movie was all about. Sybok, an emotional Vulcan, and half-brother of Spock emerges from banishment (for trying to lead a revolution against the “Vulcan way”). With a small cult following, Sybok hijacks the Enterprise in search of God! Many Star Trek fans are in denial of the events in this film having ever happened in the Star Trek universe. Too many problems to mention. It is a bad trek film, but it is entertaining. Did Spock kill God?
1989 Total Recall (action)
**1/2
Schwarzenegger stars and Sharon Stone co-stars in this shoot-em-up in space. Schwarzenegger learns that he has been the subject of mind experimentation. After discovering his identity he travels to Mars to bring down a madman. Non-stop action and intriguing premise. More an action movie than sci-fi. Heavy on the violence.
1989 Xtro 2: The Second Encounter
*
The most obvious Alien rip-off ever. The young hostile life form even busts out of its hosts’ chests.
1990 The Abyss
****
Members of a commercial underwater base on the floor of the Pacific are called upon to rescue a sunken nuclear submarine. In their endeavor, they make contact with extra-terrestrials. Fantastic story is well done and entirely believable. Beautiful underwater photography, powerful acting performances, and magnificent Oscar-winning special effects make this a great film. Story makes more sense in the special uncut version of the film. Directed by James Cameron.
1991 The Lawnmower Man (semi-horror thriller)
***1/2
Pseudo-Stephen King story in which a semi-retarded man is transformed into a super genius after being the subject of a scientist’s experiments in virtual reality. Groundbreaking special effects and original story.
1991 Eve of Destruction (action)
*1/2
Government-created android woman goes haywire and must be stopped by her creator and the leader of a military assault team. Whatever you do, DON’T CALL HER BITCH! Very few would find this worth while.
1991 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
****1/2
Final trek to star all of the major Classic Star Trek crew. On the verge of a peace agreement between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, the ship of Chancellor of the Klingon High Council is fired upon and he is assassinated. Kirk and McCoy are framed and sentenced to life in a penal colony on a remote frozen asteroid for the crime. Spock, in command of the Enterprise, must solve the murder, uncover a conspiracy, and prevent an assassination of the President of the United Federation of Planets. Great handling of the prejudice Kirk feels towards Klingons, an obvious statement about prejudice of all types. The classic crew of the Enterprise prove able to still entertain us. Great post-cold war analogy. Far superior to the latest Star Trek movie, Star Trek: Generations. Co-written by Leonard Nimoy. Directed by Nicholas Meyer.
’91 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (action)
***
While Terminator 2 might not be on every serious science fiction fans top ten list, its success with movie audiences is undeniable. The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time, reprogrammed with orders to protect instead of to kill. Sarah Conner, the Terminator’s original target, is now locked away in a mental institute, believed to be insane for warning of the future holocaust she knows is destined to take place. A new more advanced Terminator, made of liquid-metal is sent back as well with a mission to kill Conner’s son, who in the future will lead the human resistance against the supercomputer that created the Terminators. Now with a more human side, Schwarzenegger spouts catch phrases and no longer kills people…he only maims them a bit.
Directed by James Cameron. Pioneering morphing effects were largely responsible in making this movie one the highest grossing films ever.
1992 Alien 3
**1/2
Ripley is the only one to survive the hyper sleep. Her escape vessel lands on a dingy penal planet whose inhabitants are murderers and rapists. And guess what? An alien is with her. Disappointing (supposed) conclusion to the Alien series, but still worth watching. Maybe.
1992 Freejack
***
Race car driver is transported into the future before a fatal car crash so that a dead corporate owner (Anthony Hopkins) can implant his own consciousness into his body. Mick Jagger stars as the main antagonist whose mission is to seek out the owner of his boss’s new body. Some great action and an interesting story, Freejack offers a lot of fun.
1992 Stephen King’s Golden Years (action thriller)(tvm)
**
Janitor accidentally exposed to scientific experiment begins to become younger. Some very exciting action and an interesting story that always seems to be going somewhere. Alas, it ends up nowhere with an appallingly disappointing and abrupt ending that ruins what could have been an excellent film (actually a mini-series). King probably got a burst of idea and didn’t know where to take it. Note: the original ending shown on television was scrapped and a new one was created. Apparently this was to make it a less bitter finale, but it is not any better.
1991 Robot Jox (mf home video)
**1/2
In the future territorial disputes are settled by one on one competition. Gladiator-like athletes from different countries do so while controlling colossal robotic machines. Fun popcorn movie, if somewhat cheesy. Entertaining stop motion animation during the robotic battle scenes. Directed by the direct-to-video king Charles Band. Do not even touch the sequel, Robot Wars.
1992 Knight Rider 2010 (action)(tvm)
**
Action packed movie fails to recapture the feel of the television series.
1993 Babylon 5 (tvm)
*
Thoroughly dull movie that copies elements of Star Trek, yet haphazardly attempts to retain some originality. After a war between Earth and the people of Membaree(sp?) a space station dubbed Babylon 5 (the other four were either destroyed or never heard from again) is created in hopes of maintaining interstellar peace among the world’s represented by the diplomats that reside upon it. However, a terrorists is plotting to destroy the B5 with a bomb. Stiff, one-dimensional characters are part of a plot that is severely lacking. The one positive element of this movie is extensive use of Video Toaster to digitally render the space station and vessels that come into contact with it. Even most of the fans of the television show that spawned from this pilot do no hold it in high regard.
1993 Fire in the Sky (allegedly true acct)
***
Recreation of the famous Travis Walton alien abduction case. Magnificent special effects. Very creepy.
1993 Fortress (action)
**1/2
Husband and wife imprisoned for having more than one child (illegal in the future) are placed in a nightmarish corporate prison ruled by an evil “enhanced human” where their every thought is monitored. Disturbing futuristic hell. Excessively violent, particularly towards the end.
1993 Jurassic Park (action thriller)
***1/2
Dinosaurs are genetically engineered for a theme park from DNA extracted from mosquitos of the Jurassic Age. The beasties do not remain in confinement for long. Very interesting premise that is done alright, though there are a few silly things about the plot like raptors turning doorknobs. Mind-blowing special effects unlike anything seen before are the real reason to see this movie. Based on Michael Crichton novel and directed by Steven Spielberg.
1993 Robot Wars (mf home video)
Bomb 1/2 Star
Sequel to Robot Jox offers little action and a lot of non-amusing cheese. The director of this movie directed it because his “son never showed up.” Lucky him.
1994 Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (tvm)
**1/2
Reunites the original cast of the brilliant Alien Nation series. A virus that only affects newcomers is developed by “purists” (those who hate newcomers) and George Francisco’s family is its first victim. More trouble is in store for the newcomers when the Overseers have sent one of their own to recapture their former slaves and their children, and to enslave the humans they now live among. The movie seems to be disconnected from itself as if two or three left over television scripts were combined into a final product. It partially succeeds in recapturing the feel of the Alien Nation television series and tells us a bit about what becomes of the characters.
1994 Body Snatchers
****
Excellent second remake of the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This film keeps the freakish scream added by the brilliant 1978 version.
1994 Hardware (action)
*1/2
Nonsensical, odd movie takes place in desert setting after a nuclear war. The remains of a robot piece themselves together and go on a homicidal frenzy. The atmosphere of the film is like some nightmarish heavy metal video. This is what you get when sci-fi is crossed with goth and soft porn.
1994 No Escape (action)
*1/2
Soldier trained above all else, to survive is sent to secret government maximum security island prison. There he faces many life-threatening circumstances. Guess what? He escapes in the end. Lots of senseless violence and a poor plot.
1994 Stargate
**1/2
Egyptian historian and linguistic specialist is recruited to solve a mystery regarding the discovery of an Egyptian artifact. He does so and a “Stargate” is formed through which he and a band of military personnel discover a planet of humans enslaved by Ra, an alien in the form of a human being whom ancient Egyptians had revered as a god. Interesting and original, though having a shallow story. Great special effects, but the premise of such a being with light speed capability needing ignorant and weak human slaves is absurd.
1994 Star Trek: Generations
**1/2
The first feature film to star the Next Generation cast met with mixed opinions by critics and Star Trek fans alike. Generations is disappointingly based almost entirely on the script distributed around the Net. In fact, a few of the scenes that were actually good from the script are missing in the final cut of the movie! (Hopefully some of these will be put back in the LD version). The film begins with legendary Captain James Kirk (along with Scotty and Chekov) attending the launch of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B. Something goes wrong and Kirk takes the initiative to save the ship from a perilous situation. He is apparently sucked out into space as a result of doing so. The film then warps ahead to the twenty-fourth century in which the crew of the Enterpise-D resides. A madman named Soran will stop at nothing to get back to a paradise referred to as the “Nexus”, even if it means destroying an inhabited planet. Captain Picard finds Kirk in the Nexus and convinces him to aid him in thwarting Soron’s plans.
Generations is a movie worth watching only if you are a Star Trek fan, for as far as trek goes, it should have been considerably better than this. The idea of a Nexus in which all your dreams can come true and you can be “bathed in joy” is rather absurd and obviously unscientific (note: not much explanation was given). The plot is very cliche trek. Soran, played by Malcolm McDowell makes the weakest villain in the history of trek. Captain Kirk is in the movie for no particular reason, except to symbolically “pass on the torch.” His death scene is weak and unmoving (at least they didn’t keep the original scene shot in which he is shot behind to back by a phaser!). The directing of this movie leaves much to be desired. As simple an aspect as lighting is completely botched causing the Enterprise to look like it is hosting a Halloween party.
The android Data is given an emotion chip (first introduced in a television episode which was supposed to have been rendered unusable due to damage during a fight scene). Many think that in doing so, the character was ruined. Quite the contrary, the Data character was already ruined before the film. The character of Data became too “human” in the television series it was an interesting idea to give him emotions (supposedly making him more human). In fact, doing so revamps the character, accentuating the fact that Data is not human since he has had no experience with emotions and does not know how to deal with them (he makes that quite clear in the film). In a way, this serves as one of the few redeeming values of Generations, yet it seemed out of place; another one of the several side plots that appear in the film. All in all, if you have the talent of Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, ILM, and the Star Trek mythos behind you, plus Captain Kirk and you cannot come up with something better than this, it is disgraceful.
As long as we are on the subject of shitty Rick Berman produced Star Trek properties:
For those if you who do not know, Deep Space Nine and Voyager are cash-ins to the first two Star Trek series. The difference is mainly that both shows suck and are devoid of originality. Watch them if you wish to suffer through mostly annoying or at best exceedingly boring characters and excessive heaps of crappy techno-babble so that they can call themselves “Star Trek”.
Here are some other…
Reasons I hate Deep Space Nine and Voyager
- Kate Mulgrew’s voice.
2. Julian Bashir’s voice.
3. Kate Mulgrew’s acting.
4. Avery Brook’s acting.
5. The rest of the acting.
6. Avery Brooks is sometimes shirtless.
7. Kate Mulgrew is never topless.
8. Miles O’brien, Jake Sisko, Nog, and all the other characters
9. Worf’s character is now a sensitive, caring wuss.
10. Gratuitous crossover stories.
11. The fact that they don’t realize they can solve every problem they ever encounter with the time travel they use in every 5 episodes.
12. There are no Jadzia Dax lesbian scenes.
13. Never a good Klingon mating ritual.
14. Shapeshifters that cannot change shape.
15. A space station that “treks” nowhere.
16. A holographic character that not only has emotions, but can be projected in solid form in any part of the ship or on any planet.
17. Though Voyager is often set to self destruct they never give me relief by blowing themselves up.
1994 Timecop (action)
**
Politician wants a monopoly on time travel to advance himself to the office of President of the United States. Some mindless violence in the form of routine Jean Claude Van Damme kick-boxing action. Plot holes are abundant, but with clever and sometimes surprising use of time travel ideas.
1995 Ghost in the Shell
**1/2
Ghost in the Shell is a manga-based movie of a futuristic world in which the electronic net and cities are as one and cyberneticly enhanced people are the norm. The story revolves around Major Motoko Kusanagi, a woman cyborg agent of the Internal Bureau whose mission is to track down the mysterious hacker known as “The Puppet Master.” She and her colleagues learn that the Puppet Master is in fact a creation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, the MFA’s Project 2501 (aka The Puppet Master) claims to be self aware and its objective becomes to find a host body in order to have physical existence. The Internal Bureau agents question their own existence and Motoko is forced to decide between fulfilling her mission or aiding Project 2501 in accomplishing its own goal.
More important to an anime feature than its story is its animation. The innovative use of computer rendered graphics is integrated well into the hand-drawn animated action of the story. Blending traditional anime style people in an environment (that sometimes resembles photorealism) as vast as the world it portrays. Thus, the animation of Ghost in the Shell serves the purpose in immersing the audience into a completely different environment. The one aspect in which the animation fell short was the coloring; the shades of Ghost in the Shell are just too gloomy. This does not serve to enhance the story or the setting. Some more brightness would have made this feature a more pleasant experience.
The wonderful exaggerated dramatization of portions of the action (such as the opening in which we see the formation of our heroine’s artificial body) serve as the most delightful scenes.
Since animation of Ghost in the Shell is of very high caliber, the rating would have been higher had it not taken its plot so seriously. The fact is that nothing is new about the technological, sociological, or philosophical ideas that Ghost in the Shell calls upon to give itself drama. The feature manages to use them without making them appear as tired as they might be in other science fiction stories, but it does not give the profound impact it would pretend to deserve.
Like a lot of anime, the story is grand in scope and so it is written in a manner that gives it false complexity. What results is often nonsensical. The problem is perhaps worsened in the English version by some translation problems. This disregard for conventional methods of storytelling is nothing new to anime, but in Ghost in the Shell. There are unnecessary scenes making the feature drag at times and overall the feature is too long. The ending of Ghost in the Shell is pretty silly.
In conclusion, Ghost in the Shell has plenty of ups and downs to it. Overall Ghost is an enjoyable experience and for anime fans, it is a must see.
1995 Judge Dredd (action)
**
Sylvester Stallone stars as a comic book hero known as Judge Dredd (a member of a neo-fascist elite force of police, juries, and executioners known as the “Judges”) in a futuristic society plagued by chaos. Very impressive special effects are immediately demonstrated in the opening sequence in which Mega City is shown as a realistic living organism with great detail. The main plot of the story commences when Dredd is framed for murder. As it turns out, the DNA evidence used against him was made possible through the fact that Dredd has a genetically similar brother, who like Dredd, was created as a product of modern science. Dredd was created to be the perfect Judge, but his brother whose cells mutated, became “the perfect criminal”(!) The rest of the film involves Dredd’s escape from captivity and his effort to stop his brother from taking over the city with the help of a legion of self-clones. The low point in the movie and most juvenile is when Dredd is the captive of religious cannibals, one of whom can be programmed to sit or be angry with the turn of a dial on his forehead. Some great action scenes and consistent state-of-the-art special effects characterize Judge Dredd including an air motorcycle chase (obviously ripped off of the speed biker chase from Return of the Jedi, in fact much of the tone of the film seems reminiscent of the Star Wars films). The showdown scene has been done a hundred times before.
Stallone’s pompous portrayal of the Dredd character comes across as comical, yet irksome at the same time. The criminal sidekick who resides with him used for comical relief is likewise comical, yet annoying at the same time. Judge Dredd can be fun if you do not expect that much from it.
1995 Species
*
Yet another addition to a seemingly endless series of Alien rip-off films, and perhaps the worst yet. In Species, government scientists cross alien DNA with human DNA resulting in a creature called Sil. The incubated Sil grows at a phenomenal rate and escapes (in the growth stage of a little girl) when the scientists attempt to abort the experiment. Soon a full- grown woman, Sil’s goal is to mate and she will not hesitate to kill if things do not go her way. There are several relatively gory sights from the people Sil victimizes (always unnecessarily).
A team including one of the scientists who created Sil, an empath, a psychiatrist, a molecular biologist, and a professional killer are responsible for- you guessed it–protecting humanity against the ultimate human predator. Ben Kingsley plays the scientist with no enthusiasm. The empath played by Forest Whitaker (who can, by the way, sense empathically even from videotape) constantly says brilliant things about Sil like “she’s angry”. The relationship between the biologist and professional killer is entirely gratuitous and reminds one of similar occurrences in every old low budget sci-fi movie. After thinking they have killed the monster, the psychiatrist is seduced by a woman who turns out to be Sil, but he finds out only after impregnating her. The final effort to kill Sil (now on the threshold of giving birth) takes place underground.
You know it is a bad film when Gandi takes to the sewers with an assault rifle. If you are looking for a less-than-top-notch movie that provides top-notch entertainment, Species is not it. The special effects are good and Sil’s alien look is creepy enough (it was designed by Alien designer H.R. Giger), but that is about the only positive thing that can be said of this movie. Unoriginal, unsatisfying, and quite frankly, stupid. One might think that a movie with a killer-looking woman (often topless) who can change into a horrible murderous alien threat would be better than this.
1995 Village of the Damned
**
A mysterious dark fog settles over a remote area knocking out all of its small population for four hours. The citizens wake to find that all of the women have been impregnated. Soon it becomes apparent that the children are as abnormal as the circumstances under which they were conceived. Their behavior is peculiar, their intelligence unexplained, and their lack of emotion frightening. “Accidents” and alleged suicides begin to take place apparently during the presence of these bleach blond kids from hell. It is made apparent that they are of extra-terrestrial origin.
Surprisingly simplistic film that offers far less action than one might expect. Also, there are too many things left unanswered about the little hellspawns. They don’t kill for pleasure or out of necessity (until the town turns against them) and they don’t seem to have any real goal. Repeated use of the same glowing eye effect (used when the children forces people to harm themselves or others) gets tiring and is close to the only major special effect that is shown. Directed by John Carpenter. Slightly inferior to the original Village of the Damned.
1996 The Arrival
***
The Arrival stars Charlie Sheen, a SETI researcher whose job is to monitor signals from space. When discovers what appears to be an extra- terrestrial transmission, strange things begin to occur. The project is suddenly discontinued due to lack of funds. His research associate is sacked, and he begins to distrust everything and everyone around him. Our hero then flees town and attempts to locate the site where the signal was echoed from earth. Along the way he manages to avoid getting killed and discovers a creepy conspiracy.
The Arrival is good entertainment. The story is interesting even if the characters are not. Perhaps the main character is supposed to be common so that the audience can better relate to him. In the end, the movie has all been done before, but The Arrival does it pretty well.
1996 Dr. Who (tvm)
Fox Broadcasting has presented a disappointing Dr. Who movie. Though produced by veteran Dr. Who producers, this version of Dr. Who has been given the Hollywood treatment. To be truthful, this was an opportunity for improvement yet in only a few ways do we see any.
There are some important improvements. Finally we see a production actually shot on film instead of video. The effects of course, are vastly superior and more lavish than those of the past. Dr. Who fans will be pleased to see Sylvester McCoy reprise his role as Doctor Number Seven for the last time. Paul McGann, the newest Doctor brings life and humanity to the Doctor Who character; traits that were not always apparent in the Doctor’s previous incarnations. His portrayal of the Doctor is fresh and convincing.
The plot makes little sense, even for a Dr. Who show. The shallow storyline involves an evil rival timelord: the long time Dr. Who adversary, The Master. On his thirteenth and final life, The Master wants to take over the Doctor’s body and steal the TARDIS (the Doctor’s time machine). And of course, being the evil guy that he is, The Master cares nothing of the fate of planet Earth whose existence he threatens. The Master enlists the help of Li, a naive young gang member who makes for a non-essential uninteresting character. The Li character is simply annoying for his level of gullibility in believing everything The Master tells him until the very end (of course).
Erich Roberts, who makes a good scummy mafia-like bad guy, is completely miscast as The Master. There is nothing convincing about his poor attempt to be the persona of evil that The Master character is all about. This role should have been played a British actor.
Grace, the woman the Doctor meets becomes while in the hospital becomes his love interest and his alley in stopping the destruction of the world. Her character is of little interest as well and one hardly cares that she chooses not to go with him in the end. This is about the only unpredictable event in Dr. Who.
In short, Fox’s Dr. Who is a rehash of numerous other movies with the familiar Dr. Who elements worked in. Aside from a very likable new Doctor, this new production is not worth seeing unless you are a die hard Doctor Who fan.
1996 Mars Attacks! (comedy)
***
Mars Attacks! which directed by one of the coolest around, Tim Burton, is based on a sixties trading card series depicting sadistic little green men who want to take over the world. The plot is pretty simple: aliens come to earth, aliens say they come in piece, aliens turn out to have neato rayguns that they quickly eliminate disgusting looking humans, the human race is at war with the invaders.
There is quite a cast of stars including Jack Nicholson as the President, Annette Benning as a spaced out citizen, Pierce Brosnan as the Professor, and Danny Devito who is just rather annoying. Michael J. Fox is in the picture for a short time, but is thankfully incinerated by a ray gun early on. Martin Short, is actually likeable for once as a pseudo Dick Morris character. Lisa Marie is great as an alien who, in the guise of a human female, infiltrates the White House.
The comedy in Mars Attacks! not everyone’s cup of tea. It is often slapstick and the actors all deliver their lines way over the top. This is completely to appropriate to film which tries to be more like comic book than a film like Invaders from Mars and similar invasion movies. There are also some truly bizarre scenes in this movie that only someone like Tim Burton would create.
The look of the computer generated aliens are true to the original designs. They are a riot to see and are the center of the film.
1996 Independence Day (action)
***1/2
Surprisingly, Independence Day lives up to being the biggest hyped movie of the summer of 1996. Decent performances all around with exception of Brent Spiner who is great as the eccentric scientist of area 51 and of Bill Pullman who is merely adequate as the President of the United States. The three days that shake the planet Earth are told through the lives of various families. Jeff Goldblum, a computer whiz, and Will Smith, an Air Force pilot, find themselves responsible for saving the world.
Independence Day has many of the elements that are important in making a good movie work. It has great action, great special effects, human drama, and a nice touch of humor. You want explosions? You got explosions. You want creepy evil aliens? You got them too. Best of all, the scale to which the alien invasion is brought to the screen is big and bad. The director does a terrific job making the audience believe that a world wide crisis takes place. Independence Day is truly a lot of fun. A dramatic improvement for the writers who were also responsible for the so-so Stargate.
