In 1987, NASA astronaut William "Buck" Rogers (Gil Gerard) suffers a freak accident in deep space, causing his space shuttle Ranger 3 to be launched into an orbit that returns him to Earth, more than 500 years later. Shortly after Buck's departure, Earth was devastated by a nuclear war caused by a group of renegade military officers. In 2491, after Buck survives due to frostbite, he revives and attempts to adapt to life on the post-nuclear Earth of the 24th century. The combination of gases that freezes him is close to the formula commonly used in the 25th century for preservation, and his rescuers (Henry Silva, Pamela Hensley) manage to revive him to use him for sinister aims. In 2491, when Buck awakens from the freeze, Earth is recovering from a nuclear war and is under hostile attack by the Draconian Empire. He is then tried as a traitor, found guilty, and sentenced to the maximum penalty until the commander of Earth's defenses, Wilma (Erin Gray), presents her with the opportunity to prove his innocence. A friendly but annoying robot named Twiki (voiced by Mel Blanc) will accompany him on his adventures. Buck Rogers, the world's first and greatest space hero! The trip of your life in 500 years! The original spaceman! The definitive trip! Buck Rogers returns to Earth and sets it in the 25th century! A 20th century astronaut emerges from 500 years of suspended animation into a future time where Earth is threatened by alien invaders!
Based on the classic Buck Rogers series that starred Buster Crabble, this television movie is what started the popular series of the 1970s and 1980s. This is a modern superhero in the space genre dealing with a preserved astronaut brought to life by a draconian flagship that finds and saves him for his own purposes. Colorful science fiction with emotions, noisy action, space battles with spectacular spaceships and somewhat botched special effects; in fact, the confrontations in outer space were choreographed with the help of ancient computers. And adding a peculiar humor, pure Playboy from the 50s. This is a copy of Star Wars and with many plagiarisms including the most boring robot on the screen, a design closer to the X-Wing fighters, and taking elements here and there from the famous movie, such as: various similar sets, accessories, props, dresses, vehicles and background design elements. In homage to the original comic books by Buck Rogers, the blonde Deering wears a crisp, manly uniform, while the treacherous princess wears a barbarian costume straight out of Barbarella and her henchwoman is similar to Conan. At its best, the formula works like classic Bond, explicitly in the title sequence.
Buck Rogers: The Space Adventurer is a real and sometimes spectacular pantomime, and, like most pantomimes, it is very funny and entertaining. Essentially an adventure film set in outer space, this enjoyable but somewhat silly film turns out to be an average science fiction film, without much interest, although it should be appreciated by those moviegoers who seek retro and nostalgic films. Set in the cinematic standard of the seventies, but at the same time with traditional and rudimentary special effects along with a few computer ones, including overwhelming battles and aerial scenes galore. Gil Gerald stars with sympathy and irony as the 20th century astronaut who emerges after 500 years of suspended animation into a future time. There is a sexual rivalry between the good girl and the bad girl: the competent but prim Captain Wilma Deering, commander of Earth's defenses finely played by Erin Gray, and the languid but evil Princess Ardala played erotically by Pamela Hensley.
To reduce costs, some images, settings, concept designs and various accessories from the Galactica series (1978) by Glen A. Larson were used. Buck Rogers' ground-based starfighters were originally designed as Galactica's Colonial Vipers, but Larson had opted for Star Wars (1977), then Larson employed the unused designs for Buck Rogers. The series used images of the British and French pavilions at Expo '67 in Canada to depict futuristic buildings such as Dr. Elias Huer's office tower and Buck Rogers' apartment building.
Buck Rogers: The Space Adventurer (1979) turns out to be a compendium of the first two episodes of the series, being professionally directed by Daniel Haller. It was originally intended to air as a two-hour television movie series, but NBC opted for a weekly series consisting of 32 episodes. This represents the number of two-part episodes that aired during the first season. Rating: 5.5/10. Acceptable and passable space opera.
Based on the classic Buck Rogers series that starred Buster Crabble, this television movie is what started the popular series of the 1970s and 1980s. This is a modern superhero in the space genre dealing with a preserved astronaut brought to life by a draconian flagship that finds and saves him for his own purposes. Colorful science fiction with emotions, noisy action, space battles with spectacular spaceships and somewhat botched special effects; in fact, the confrontations in outer space were choreographed with the help of ancient computers. And adding a peculiar humor, pure Playboy from the 50s. This is a copy of Star Wars and with many plagiarisms including the most boring robot on the screen, a design closer to the X-Wing fighters, and taking elements here and there from the famous movie, such as: various similar sets, accessories, props, dresses, vehicles and background design elements. In homage to the original comic books by Buck Rogers, the blonde Deering wears a crisp, manly uniform, while the treacherous princess wears a barbarian costume straight out of Barbarella and her henchwoman is similar to Conan. At its best, the formula works like classic Bond, explicitly in the title sequence.
Buck Rogers: The Space Adventurer is a real and sometimes spectacular pantomime, and, like most pantomimes, it is very funny and entertaining. Essentially an adventure film set in outer space, this enjoyable but somewhat silly film turns out to be an average science fiction film, without much interest, although it should be appreciated by those moviegoers who seek retro and nostalgic films. Set in the cinematic standard of the seventies, but at the same time with traditional and rudimentary special effects along with a few computer ones, including overwhelming battles and aerial scenes galore. Gil Gerald stars with sympathy and irony as the 20th century astronaut who emerges after 500 years of suspended animation into a future time. There is a sexual rivalry between the good girl and the bad girl: the competent but prim Captain Wilma Deering, commander of Earth's defenses finely played by Erin Gray, and the languid but evil Princess Ardala played erotically by Pamela Hensley.
To reduce costs, some images, settings, concept designs and various accessories from the Galactica series (1978) by Glen A. Larson were used. Buck Rogers' ground-based starfighters were originally designed as Galactica's Colonial Vipers, but Larson had opted for Star Wars (1977), then Larson employed the unused designs for Buck Rogers. The series used images of the British and French pavilions at Expo '67 in Canada to depict futuristic buildings such as Dr. Elias Huer's office tower and Buck Rogers' apartment building.
Buck Rogers: The Space Adventurer (1979) turns out to be a compendium of the first two episodes of the series, being professionally directed by Daniel Haller. It was originally intended to air as a two-hour television movie series, but NBC opted for a weekly series consisting of 32 episodes. This represents the number of two-part episodes that aired during the first season. Rating: 5.5/10. Acceptable and passable space opera.