This is a great movie....it's clever, nerdy, and the action is totally watchable and over the top. If you have ever sat through a crap genre movie just to laugh your guts out once or twice at how bad the movie is- watch it. Spaceman is intentionally completely packed with those moments and the low budget style is integral to the plot- for instance, the homemade looking bodysuit the Spaceman wears actually looks homemade to the other characters, and allows him to pass for a guy on his way back from a trek convention. Even the cheap sneakers worn with the ridiculous outfit are explained. The writer/director is the editor of "the Onion", so if you're a fan of Americas finest news source, you'll find a similar brand of humor, like a movie ripped right from one of the magazine's headlines. Good stuff.
18 Reviews
I wanted to like it
danwroy3 February 2002
Unless the other positive posts were sarcastic, or Dikkers' promotional campaign, or an ironic in-joke, I have no idea why anyone could be enthusiastic about this film. The budget was miniscule, yes, but that doesn't explain the sloooow pace or the misguided acting. The plot isn't funny in of itself - unless the FOW plot is new to you - and requires the director to invest the scenes with humor through acting, composition, or editing, which Dikkers is too inexperienced to accomplish. Each scene is left to drag on out FOREVER, as if he didn't want to waste any of his hard-earned footage.
David Ghilardi does a good job as Spaceman, but the character doesn't really go anywhere; by the end, he's essentially the same person. Deborah King does a decent job as Sue, although she too seems to have been left hanging by the director; her only reaction is amusement. It helps that she is extremely hot. The big surprise is the music, performed by an actual orchestra, which occasionally makes up for lost excitement.
The Onion is my favorite publication, and Dikkers' involvement there was the reason I chose renting this film over Raging Bull. But the fact that a writer for a newspaper so brilliant could come up with something so dull is salt in the wound. I only finished watching it because I was convinced it had to get better, that there would be a twist ending, or that I just hadn't figured out why this was supposed to be funny. IT GOT WORSE.
David Ghilardi does a good job as Spaceman, but the character doesn't really go anywhere; by the end, he's essentially the same person. Deborah King does a decent job as Sue, although she too seems to have been left hanging by the director; her only reaction is amusement. It helps that she is extremely hot. The big surprise is the music, performed by an actual orchestra, which occasionally makes up for lost excitement.
The Onion is my favorite publication, and Dikkers' involvement there was the reason I chose renting this film over Raging Bull. But the fact that a writer for a newspaper so brilliant could come up with something so dull is salt in the wound. I only finished watching it because I was convinced it had to get better, that there would be a twist ending, or that I just hadn't figured out why this was supposed to be funny. IT GOT WORSE.
The funniest 88 minutes in recorded human history.
BlueNeon-220 May 2001
What would you expect from a film directed by the former editor-in-chief of The Onion? Despite the budget (which might have paid for brunch at most Hollywood shoots) this film features some truly hilarious writing and perfect performances from just about everyone in the cast (even when they're not great actors, they're still perfect). If you are, by some miracle, fortunate enough to come across a copy of this film, by all means, watch. What a cruel, cruel world it is where Adam Sandler's latest piece of trash occupies approximately 1,048,576 times more space on your average video store shelf than this one would, if it appears at all.
I saw this movie and I have to say....
raslittle137 August 2006
This movie's premise was good, however, the director, writer, and actors failed to put out anything that was worth watching. I appreciate the effort of the people involved but I can not recommend this movie by any means. To the director and writer, nice try. I know nothing about making movies but in the future I would focus on dialogue. It was hard to follow the plot because every time someone spoke I just got hung up on how bad the acting and dialogue was. There was one point where I laughed in the movie. It was a sight gag when our main character "space man" or Eugene removed a senior citizen security guard in an escape attempt from the mental ward at a hospital. That gave me a chuckle. On all other accounts this movie was not very good.
Only mildly amusing comedy
funkyfry7 August 2006
This was one of those comedy films where I liked all the characters, especially the young girl who befriends the Spaceman, but there just wasn't enough really funny material to make the film fly. There are some good ideas here, but the director doesn't seem to know if he's making a serious movie or a B movie or a spoor or what. If it was trying to be like the later hit "Lost Skeleton of Cadavra", I'd just have to say it failed mostly because it was too modern in some parts. I heard it was produced by the guy who does "The Onion" but I saw no satire whatsoever here. It wasn't a terrible movie and I didn't find it annoying. In fact I was quite intrigued by the story. But it didn't go in either direction, to become a self-serious B movie like "Hideous Sun Demon" or to spoof itself like Roger Corman's "Bucket of Blood". This film got lost somewhere in the middle, and a slew of decent performances from totally unknown actors went with it. Maybe it was just the very serious tone of the film, I don't know.
At any rate, this film would only be recommended for those who are seriously bored.
At any rate, this film would only be recommended for those who are seriously bored.
thumbs up
jongerstein21 May 2003
I caught this movie on the Sci-Fi channel several months ago and somehow could not change the channel. I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like it, which is one of the reasons why I enjoyed it. To make an epic sci-fi comedy love story work for under $60,000 is simply unbelievable. Special effects were pretty cool, and the use of locations to make believeable sets was ingenius. The music was absolutely incredible, and the casting was outstanding. I loved the story and all the characters. It was hilarious. Thumbs up!
one man's trash is still another man's garbage
skullduggery12 September 2001
Words can't describe just how bad this movie is. I don't care that they probably spent about a buck fifty (that isn't in thousands by the way) on actually making this movie. This movie is just bad bad bad bad. I'm not sure you could find a more tragic waste of your time than watching this movie. Well, except for maybe if you watched Lust for Frankenstein. Watching both movies as a double-header might actually incite you to serious thoughts of suicide.
A stick in the EYE would have hurt less than this movie...
peter_sheldon26 August 2001
I wonder: What the Sci-Fi channel was thinking when they put on this muck?
Was it a parody? Satire? No it was just bad. What was with the barber/mobsters? Absolutely idiotic. Then ninjas?
Unfunny, silly (but not in a funny way), stupid characters and costumes, the worst production values and a dumber plot.
Using IMDB I checked up on the mind-numbing cast, just to make sure I didn't accidently see them in any other films.
PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM.
Was it a parody? Satire? No it was just bad. What was with the barber/mobsters? Absolutely idiotic. Then ninjas?
Unfunny, silly (but not in a funny way), stupid characters and costumes, the worst production values and a dumber plot.
Using IMDB I checked up on the mind-numbing cast, just to make sure I didn't accidently see them in any other films.
PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM.
if only there were more like this
IvanX10 August 2001
It's clever, it's quirky, but the amazing thing about this movie is that it exists and it is as well made as it is. It was made for nothing -- $60K -- and yet it has smart camerawork, a solid (and funny) premise, believeable (enough) acting, good lighting, pathos, satire, romance, it's all there. It's not fall-on-the-floor funny for the most part -- it is actually more subtle and deadpan. Somehow, the movie even manages to get some emotions across without being trite or sentimental about it; when Spaceman first looks off into space, longing, hoping for a sign, as an orphan hopes for the return of his parents, it's actually moving. It's weird, and stylish, but never self-conscious. The score verges on bombast but is actually effective at setting the mood -- and the director had the good taste to go with a chamber orchestra rather than taking the easy way out and dropping in a bunch of cheesy synth like many ultra-low-budget movies. Criticisms: it is seems slow, at times, though its deliberate pace does help build atmosphere and contribute to the deadpan strangeness in a Jarmuschy kind of way. Some of the acting is below par (the mob boss and his thugs, for example), but they are minor characters and it can be easily forgiven. The editing is adequate but nothing more, and occasionally seems awkward; also, not a big deal. Be sure to hit the pause button on the DVD during the newspaper articles close-up. All in all a commendable effort for all concerned.
oh the humanity...
VindiKatif23 November 2001
this movie was...horrible. just painful to watch, i'm amazed that i actually sat through the whole thing without clawing my eyes out. I'm all for silliness and aliens and kung fu, but...this just didn't work, it was a halfbaked plot that was horribly acted and just sad...really sad, i don't even want to imagine the pitch this movie had. how any studio or anyone could actually consider this script is just...beyond me. I fear many brain cells have been killed watching this movie, the humor is too narrow, it would only appeal to a certain sort of people and thankfully that type of person is few and far between. The jokes got old and the plot was contrived the acting mediocre, and my god half of the movie wasn't even imperitive, just a lot of filler time. but the last scene with the ninja was amusing...till they started talking again.
fractures
ymmotenifrepus7 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
schizophrenic delight. the fantasy of any alienated child come true. the creature in the film had the characteristics of the simian creatures which surrounded it, but itself was masked inside a dangerous facade. The mastery of the work is brilliant beyond compare portrayed as a psychoanalytic research material into the coherent understanding of dramatic theatrics. simply a wonderful film to watch at higher elevation. creepy in a familiar way.
the fractured cut scenes escalate the hesitation between the parties, each delving deeper into the story as the journey unfolds and becomes more intricate; new battles bring new techniques into play and allow more dynamic evolutions of character and director. Assimilating all aspects whilst keeping a narrow focus, the course taken in the film proceeds smoothly upon stages of psychological development, filling out nicely in the story line. Quite enjoyable, quite.
the fractured cut scenes escalate the hesitation between the parties, each delving deeper into the story as the journey unfolds and becomes more intricate; new battles bring new techniques into play and allow more dynamic evolutions of character and director. Assimilating all aspects whilst keeping a narrow focus, the course taken in the film proceeds smoothly upon stages of psychological development, filling out nicely in the story line. Quite enjoyable, quite.
Just Don't Turn It Off ...Trust Me
fwomp14 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Trying to convince you (those who choose to read this) that this movie is worth every minute of your time will be my toughest job here, as I'm going to say some things that will seem at odds with each other when referring to this film. But I'm going to give it a go anyway and hope that you bear with me for a few moments...
If you watched the TV series Batman (starring Adam West) and thought the BAM! BOOF! and CRASH! pop-ups were cool whenever he and Robin got into fights with the Riddler, the Joker or some other dastardly villain, or if you didn't mind the fact that the early rocket propulsion system of Flash Gordon was accomplished by a fourth of July sparkler, you're the right person to watch SPACEMAN. I'm not saying you need to be a simpleton in order to watch this! Quite the contrary, you just have to be the type of person who's not overly-critical of such things.
SPACEMAN is ...I'm not sure how to put this without sounding ridiculous ...um ...it's the best B-movie, low-budget, science fiction, romance, kung fu/gangster film I've ever seen.
I stumbled upon SPACEMAN when nothing else was on TV. I was looking for something different, something refreshingly out-of-the-ordinary, but I had no idea what I'd clicked onto when I found SPACEMAN. At first glance, I was ready to turn it off. The production value was obviously very low. The filming was grainy or overexposed in places and the costumes were immediately laughable. But I decided to give the story a try. I'm very glad I did.
It's the story that pulls you through and makes this film a definitive triumph. The script is sheer genius and the acting is good.
Spaceman (David Ghilardi) starts out as a four-year-old child who is abducted from his front yard by aliens. Twenty-five years later, Spaceman crash lands back on Earth and finds himself unprepared for a world he barely remembers. His brain has been altered, and he is trained for combat and submission to a "commander". Any commander will do, really. So, in order to make himself feel more comfortable, he finds a job so that he has a commander (a boss). His first job is as a stock boy at a supermarket. But problems quickly arise as Spaceman has to improvise when his commander (boss) isn't around. When he witnesses a shoplifting, he takes matters into his own deadly hands and injures the thief, thus getting himself fired. Spaceman tries other locations for possible employment, including the military, the FBI, and the Mob, but none will have him.
During all of this, there's a love story building between Spaceman and a pretty apartment neighbor named Sue (Deborah King). She's drawn to his physical nature ...even though Spaceman can't procreate without orders from his commander.
Back to the FBI and the Mob ...
The FBI find out about Spaceman and try to capture him and his family and friends, only to find that Spaceman is no one to mess around with. His deadly demeanor ends any conflicts he encounters. Trying for a job as a hit man, Spaceman is even rebuffed by the Mob ...for a while. Sound interesting? It really is.
Give SPACEMAN a try. And trust me, you're going to want to turn it off after the first fifteen minutes. Don't! Watch closely, enjoy the story and be thankful that this film isn't trying to be some big blockbuster movie on half a shoestring budget. It never tries to do that. It pays homage to a time when rocket ships didn't have blue screens with CGI and had to tell a story about people; those funny, threatening, flawed, and ridiculous people!
If you watched the TV series Batman (starring Adam West) and thought the BAM! BOOF! and CRASH! pop-ups were cool whenever he and Robin got into fights with the Riddler, the Joker or some other dastardly villain, or if you didn't mind the fact that the early rocket propulsion system of Flash Gordon was accomplished by a fourth of July sparkler, you're the right person to watch SPACEMAN. I'm not saying you need to be a simpleton in order to watch this! Quite the contrary, you just have to be the type of person who's not overly-critical of such things.
SPACEMAN is ...I'm not sure how to put this without sounding ridiculous ...um ...it's the best B-movie, low-budget, science fiction, romance, kung fu/gangster film I've ever seen.
I stumbled upon SPACEMAN when nothing else was on TV. I was looking for something different, something refreshingly out-of-the-ordinary, but I had no idea what I'd clicked onto when I found SPACEMAN. At first glance, I was ready to turn it off. The production value was obviously very low. The filming was grainy or overexposed in places and the costumes were immediately laughable. But I decided to give the story a try. I'm very glad I did.
It's the story that pulls you through and makes this film a definitive triumph. The script is sheer genius and the acting is good.
Spaceman (David Ghilardi) starts out as a four-year-old child who is abducted from his front yard by aliens. Twenty-five years later, Spaceman crash lands back on Earth and finds himself unprepared for a world he barely remembers. His brain has been altered, and he is trained for combat and submission to a "commander". Any commander will do, really. So, in order to make himself feel more comfortable, he finds a job so that he has a commander (a boss). His first job is as a stock boy at a supermarket. But problems quickly arise as Spaceman has to improvise when his commander (boss) isn't around. When he witnesses a shoplifting, he takes matters into his own deadly hands and injures the thief, thus getting himself fired. Spaceman tries other locations for possible employment, including the military, the FBI, and the Mob, but none will have him.
During all of this, there's a love story building between Spaceman and a pretty apartment neighbor named Sue (Deborah King). She's drawn to his physical nature ...even though Spaceman can't procreate without orders from his commander.
Back to the FBI and the Mob ...
The FBI find out about Spaceman and try to capture him and his family and friends, only to find that Spaceman is no one to mess around with. His deadly demeanor ends any conflicts he encounters. Trying for a job as a hit man, Spaceman is even rebuffed by the Mob ...for a while. Sound interesting? It really is.
Give SPACEMAN a try. And trust me, you're going to want to turn it off after the first fifteen minutes. Don't! Watch closely, enjoy the story and be thankful that this film isn't trying to be some big blockbuster movie on half a shoestring budget. It never tries to do that. It pays homage to a time when rocket ships didn't have blue screens with CGI and had to tell a story about people; those funny, threatening, flawed, and ridiculous people!
Sci-Fi Playful!
gattacca26 August 2001
If you liked "Clerks," you'll love this! This sci-fi flick takes the best formulization of the science fiction genre and wraps it around a layer of real life doldrum. The end result is 88 minutes of belly laughing crazines. Enjoy!
Down to Earth Superhero Comedy
Bruce-4922 May 2001
It's ironic for someone reviewing movies on the Internet to have such a predilection for low-tech films.
Much of the charm of Scott Dikkers' B-movie comedy SPACEMAN is its nostalgia for the days when sci-fi was made on the cheap. When I was a kid watching Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon on Saturday morning TV, it didn't bother me that his rocket was powered by a 4th of July sparkler!
SPACEMAN'S writer/director Scott Dikkers created THE ONION, which proclaims itself America's Finest News Source. With branches in several major cities, it's the largest circulation humor publication in the country. The paper's satirical take on the major and minuscule events of the day is certainly more frank than your average daily rag.
One of the driving forces behind THE ONION'S success was Scott's uncanny media savvy. In additon to editing the newspaper, he has created radio, TV, the Web, and edited a couple of best selling books.
SPACEMAN is the tale of a young boy who is abducted by aliens only to crash land on earth twenty-five years later with powers pretty far beyond those of mortal men. Spaceman's (David Ghilardi) commanders have inserted an electrode in his brain that stimulates his taste for violence and obedience. On this planet, however, he finds little demand for his work experience as a ceremonial combatant. Given the way TV is trending he's slightly ahead of his time.
He makes a reliable but intense grocery clerk until a series of culture clashes lead him to an inevitable brush with the law and commitment to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. When a fellow patient mentions that he'd rather hire a hitman for himself than go through another drinking binge, Spaceman stumbles upon a line of work for which he's suited.
Along the way, he meets a young woman (Deborah King) who is turned on by the fact that he kills people, is stalked by a pair of X-File government agents who LOVE to dissect aliens, and seeks employment with a sorry excuse for a Chicago mob based in a rundown barber shop.
It's all a pleasant departure from Hollywood's current love affair with gross out comedies. The commentary track by director Scott Dikkers (who claims to have gone insane during this Quixotic no-budget enterprise) is a shot by shot lesson in why you shouldn't try this at home!
For all of its budgetary constraints (two of the actors were homeless men, one of whom had to be reached through his parole officer) it is sharply written and performed and boasts an unexpected original symphonic score (by Edward Pearsall).
Much of the charm of Scott Dikkers' B-movie comedy SPACEMAN is its nostalgia for the days when sci-fi was made on the cheap. When I was a kid watching Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon on Saturday morning TV, it didn't bother me that his rocket was powered by a 4th of July sparkler!
SPACEMAN'S writer/director Scott Dikkers created THE ONION, which proclaims itself America's Finest News Source. With branches in several major cities, it's the largest circulation humor publication in the country. The paper's satirical take on the major and minuscule events of the day is certainly more frank than your average daily rag.
One of the driving forces behind THE ONION'S success was Scott's uncanny media savvy. In additon to editing the newspaper, he has created radio, TV, the Web, and edited a couple of best selling books.
SPACEMAN is the tale of a young boy who is abducted by aliens only to crash land on earth twenty-five years later with powers pretty far beyond those of mortal men. Spaceman's (David Ghilardi) commanders have inserted an electrode in his brain that stimulates his taste for violence and obedience. On this planet, however, he finds little demand for his work experience as a ceremonial combatant. Given the way TV is trending he's slightly ahead of his time.
He makes a reliable but intense grocery clerk until a series of culture clashes lead him to an inevitable brush with the law and commitment to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. When a fellow patient mentions that he'd rather hire a hitman for himself than go through another drinking binge, Spaceman stumbles upon a line of work for which he's suited.
Along the way, he meets a young woman (Deborah King) who is turned on by the fact that he kills people, is stalked by a pair of X-File government agents who LOVE to dissect aliens, and seeks employment with a sorry excuse for a Chicago mob based in a rundown barber shop.
It's all a pleasant departure from Hollywood's current love affair with gross out comedies. The commentary track by director Scott Dikkers (who claims to have gone insane during this Quixotic no-budget enterprise) is a shot by shot lesson in why you shouldn't try this at home!
For all of its budgetary constraints (two of the actors were homeless men, one of whom had to be reached through his parole officer) it is sharply written and performed and boasts an unexpected original symphonic score (by Edward Pearsall).
Ridiculous. Hilarious. Intentionally so!
etzool19 February 2008
I started this thinking it'd be about a 4, just something stupid to watch because I didn't feel like going to bed.
Well, it is stupid. It's incredibly stupid, and if it weren't painfully obvious that this is a parody and/or a comedy, I don't think I could've watched it all the way to the end.
It gets progressively funnier as you near the ending, which is non-traditional to say the least, absolutely hilarious and utterly perfect for the film. I was floored by the comedic value.
If you love science fiction and can manage not to take it too seriously, you will LOVE this movie!
Well, it is stupid. It's incredibly stupid, and if it weren't painfully obvious that this is a parody and/or a comedy, I don't think I could've watched it all the way to the end.
It gets progressively funnier as you near the ending, which is non-traditional to say the least, absolutely hilarious and utterly perfect for the film. I was floored by the comedic value.
If you love science fiction and can manage not to take it too seriously, you will LOVE this movie!
'Spaceman' is the consummate low-budget film...
WWingate3 December 2001
'Spaceman' is the consummate low-budget film despite the bad acting, writing, directing, editing, and dubbing. After being drawn into this silly movie I soon realized that it's not bad at all. It takes so many professional shortcuts it actually enhances the humor of this Indie/Hollywood satire. It's the funniest sci-fi, fish-out-of-water, gangster, kung-fu, love story I have ever seen. The entire film revolves around a nerdy-but-deadly, severely obedient, warrior savvy, alien-trained human, who crashes back to earth years after being abducted by aliens as a boy. Watch and laugh as Spaceman searches for a new commander to take orders from while working as a stock-boy and escaping the FBI. Think 'Starman' meets 'The Terminator' meets 'The Sopranos' and you barely come close to describing this wonderfully original and funny film.
Easily one of the greatest movies of all time
oedekerk15 October 2005
I laughed, I cried, and I used 85 diapers in the process of watching this film. Why? Because the sheer brilliance of this film paralyzed all my vital organs.
This blew my mind. I mean, there are so many countless quotes and classic scenes that the first time you see this, say goodbye to being able to control your bladder movements.
Here's just one of the mind boggling genius scenes. The spaceman knocks the gun out of the goon's hand into the air and whilst the gun is in the air, the spaceman (real name Eugene) hits the goon, spins around and fakes the goon out and thusly knocking the goon down, and then catches the gun.
No words come to my mind. I can't describe it. No wait I can...BADASS.
This blew my mind. I mean, there are so many countless quotes and classic scenes that the first time you see this, say goodbye to being able to control your bladder movements.
Here's just one of the mind boggling genius scenes. The spaceman knocks the gun out of the goon's hand into the air and whilst the gun is in the air, the spaceman (real name Eugene) hits the goon, spins around and fakes the goon out and thusly knocking the goon down, and then catches the gun.
No words come to my mind. I can't describe it. No wait I can...BADASS.
This Movie Is Unreal
realguy763 October 2010
There is no movie that everyone will like. That said, Spaceman comes within shouting distance among those who are willing to give 91 minutes of attention to a low budget film. It is entertaining. It is fresh. It is has a lot of humor that stems situational comedy and it has a touch of dark comedy. There is a romance plot, but it is not at the forefront of the show. The Movie itself is a creation of Scott Dikkers, famous from 'The Onion'. I doubt that Dikkers knew how enjoyable the film was after he finished shooting it, purely because one gets the sensation that the film was not what it was imagined to be. Viewers will be surprised in a positive fashion to see that the finished product does indeed keep a lot of its character and charm of a well done independent comedy film production. Spaceman will never be critically acclaimed. However, the cast of this movie, including Spaceman (David Ghilardi) and the more minor characters make a relatively simple plot very enjoyable to watch. All in all, there will be naysayers but this movie is better than somewhere between 90% - 100% of what you'll be able to find at the box offices.
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