Trilogy Week #40 - Silly Sci Fi

Everyone has a favorite Sci Fi movie, Star Wars, Blade Runner, etc. Being one of the most popular genres in film, it's also the most criticized by fans, for being scientifically inaccurate, historically inaccurate, or most of the time, just being plane stupid (Battlefield Earth). Just watch a Sci Fi movie from the 50's, the lunacy is very apparent. From the story line, acting, special effects, etc. So one would think, that now as our science progresses as a people, we would make better, science fiction movies. Well, not really. Even though science and technology has advanced, the stupidity of humans is still as consistent.

Title: Flash Gordon

Year: 1980

Director: Mike Hodges

Cast: Sam J. Jones, Max Von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, Melody Anderson, Topol, Ornella Muti, Brian Blessed

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1hr. 46mins.

My Review: This is my first time watching this movie. I know that's crazy. I've seen bits and pieces, knowing that this is not very good, but watching from start to finish, I didn't know how bad this really was. This is of course a "it's so bad it's good" movie. By far not in the same realm as Troll 2, or the Room. But bad in it's own good way. You can tell this movie was really rushed. No character development, no real story arch, and no emotion. No one is good in this, not even Max Von Sydow as Ming the Merciless. This movie desperately needs a re-boot. Quick little trivia note, George Lucas loved the old Flash Gordon serials so much, that he really wanted to make this movie, but couldn't get the rights, so decided to make his own Sci Fi epic instead, known as Star Wars. Take that Mike Hodges! You Douche! 3 out of 10 Hypnotic Rings

Title: Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension

Year: 1984

Director: W.D. Richter

Cast: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, Ellen Barkin

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1hr. 44mins.

My Review: This is pure and simple, stupid fun. When I was in high school, and saw this for the first time, I hated this movie with a fiery passion. But now years later, being able to appreciate the camp value, I can now enjoy it in a different way. If you don't like campy movies, then stay far far away from this movie. The story is hard to follow, big gaping plot holes, the aliens look like retarded talking fish, and everyone's acting is very boring, except for John Lithgow's performance, which I think he took a lot from this character when he went to go make 3rd Rock From the Sun. And if you are a fan of Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, then you might know that Wes Anderson took this movie's end credits almost shot for shot for his end credits. 4 out of 10 Overthrusters

Title: Howard the Duck

Year: 1980

Director: Willard Huyck

Cast: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, Ed Gale, Chip Zien

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1hr. 50mins.

My Review: This one is by far my favorite of these three movies. I grew up with this movie, but it was an edited version my mom recorded off TV. So when I first saw the duck titties scene on HBO, it blew my prepubescent mind! The isn't that bad, but the script dialogue is what ruins this movie, and the fact that it was made live action. I think this would be a lot better in animation. Lea Thompson's character is very stupid, so much so, that we're made to believe that she's got the hots for an alien duck man. uh... no. And Tim Robbins character is just embarrassing, so much in fact that he denies ever being in this movie. But what you need to see is Jeffrey Jones' transformation from an alien monster being inside him. Scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. On par with Vincent D'Onofrio's performance in Men In Black. Even though this is a really bad movie, it is still better than Star Wars the Phantom Menace, which isn't really saying much. 6 out of 10 Duck Titties