udragon2010 Reviews

Buck Rogers (1939)

A true serial classic!

[8/10 · 20 November 2010]

A must see for any fan of retro-futurism or of Buster Crabbe. This serial epic is truly one of the best examples from an era when people went to the movies on Saturday afternoon,spending only a dime for a day of cartoons, movies and adventure serials based on popular comics strips and funny books.

This serial, based on the 30s comic strip of the same name, pulls out all the stops to entertain and wow it's audience. Although the FX will seem dated by todays Hollywood standards, they were state of the art when the serial debuted in the 30s.

This is a good family film to watch, and far more culturally significant than another Saturday morning with spongebob. Parents note that the film is spread out into chapters, or episodes, so an episode a day will keep your kids entertained. It's also fun for the parent who is fed up with the schlock kids are forced to watch now... any parents wishing Thundercats were still around?

Ever wonder where George Lucas got his ideas for Star Wars? Well look no farther, this Buck Rogers serial was one of at least two inspirations for the galaxy, far, far away (the other being Flash Gordon Conqures the Universe, another comic based sci fi serial starring the immortal Buster Crabbe.) For fans of the original comic hero, it's a little disappointing to see some minor changes to the story. Like Bucks sidekick Buddy not being Col. Wilma Deerings little brother, or Wilma, Bucks main love interest, demoted to a lieutenant, darn Hollywood making women all helpless again, not to mention the fact that she is barely in the serial at all.

Don't expect Buck to be a frozen fish like the 70s TV version, Buck Rogers was a WW1 pilot who was preserved in a caved in mine who awoke 500 years into the future. In this serial he's still a pilot, only now he is preserved in an Airship along with Buddy.

The cliffhangers are still fun to this day and the space ships Buck rides around in are pretty cool. This serial stands the test of time, much like it's hero.

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)

A surprisingly fun space adventure gem

[10/10 · 19 November 2010]

For a movie I never heard of before, I was shocked to discover how much fun I had watching it. I have seen a lot of forgotten and B rated movies, but I never saw one I enjoyed so much.

The cast, I believe, is fantastic. Seeing an 80s movie star like Molly Ringwald in a pretty cool and imaginative movie like this was very refreshing. Peter Strauss plays the typical space dog, aloof in what many of us would think is a cool day job, kicks-ass and looks cool doing it as he rescues three beauties from an evil tyrant after they crash land on a very cool, Mad Max themed planet.

Michael Ironside plays the villain, with his usual flair for the dramatic and adds to the all-round coolness of the film. One of the best scenes, that isn't one of the great action scenes, is Strauss's character Wolff, forcing Molly Ringwald to take a bath. Truly pleasant to see Ernie Hudson in anything, and it was great to see him in this.

I recommend this movie to anyone who is still young at heart and needs to see a fun sci fi adventure.

The Lost Future (2010 TV Movie)

A fun, imaginative romp that rocks.

[10/10 · 19 November 2010]

A stunning and creative fantasy movie set in the distant future where prehistoric beasts once again roam the wilderness and man has reverted back to a stone age society.

Sean Bean is excellent and the rest of the cast is surprisingly good compared to most other Sci Fi channel projects. The FX is top notch for a made for TV film and the plot is entertaining and keeps you hooked.

The use of many different genres of the post-apocalyptic fair will make any fan squeal with joy. Evil zombie like mutants prowl the forests and evil tyrants rule in the remains of our long dead civilization.

The use of how religion can be mans greatest Achilles heel is used very well in the opening half of the movie as our heroes tribe is attacked by a mutant horde. The elder convinces the survivors that reading and defending oneself is against gods will. It is a chilling depiction of what happens if man chooses to ignore his intelligence and chooses to follow someone else's interpretation of how to live.

Sean Bean is fantastic as a type of knight from an Arthurian like league of champions who must protect our heroes as they quest for a cure to the mutants bite.

This movie is one of the best films of the genre, a well rounded and well conceived look into a lost world of mans making.

The Pumaman (1980)

Puuuuu Ma Man, He flies like a Moor Ron!!!!

[1/10 · 19 November 2010]

Wow, just wow. Never see this film without Mike Nelson and and his robot pals, because it is BAD. After re-watching every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, I decided to start watching some of the movies without the fantastic commentary, and I started with this, the worst superhero movie ever! Catwoman was better than this piece of giant dino dung.

It is a story of love, revenge, mysticism, aliens and a guy named Pumayman...excuse me, Pumaman. A lame and useless professor of paleontology who is the descendant of aliens that protected the Aztecs centuries ago, is chosen by a massive Aztec man to become Pumaman, a lame and useless defender of justice who flies with his butt in the air.

Pumaman must retrieve a golden mask from the kinda, sort-of, menacing Donald Pleasence. Pumaman is equipped with his brains, with which he is in short supply, and the incredible powers of a puma, like super strength, teleportation and flight, because we all know pumas can fly. The aforementioned hulking Aztec guy does more heroic acts protecting Pumaman than Pumaman does in the whole film.

This movie has a lame plot about an evil madman(Pleasence) trying to take over the world, something we all know he would do. Pleasence uses an attractive woman to seduce Pumaman, not realizing he hangs out with a beefy Aztec giant.

Pumayman's Costume: Every Superhero needs a cool costume, and boy, does Pumaman have a great costume. He has a red poncho for a cape, a black horse blanket for a shirt, and what is surely going to become all the rage in superhero uniforms, Kahkis and Tennis Sneakers.

The music of the film seems to have been done using a budget of $8, which was spent wisely on something else. The Fx is better or the same as the FX used in the Indian Superman movie. I cannot begin to tell you how bad this film is. Characters randomly appear and disappear to further drag this film along. You should only watch this film as an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, if you don't, your a glutton for punishment.

Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988)

Mad Max: American Style, Mean and..Green?

[10/10 · 18 November 2010]

One of the coolest B-Movies ever made, Hell Comes to Frogtown should be on the list of any post-apocalyptic movie fan.

No, this movie has nothing to do with France, shame on you for thinking that. Frogtown is about Sam Hell, played by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who is a super virile man in a post-apocalyptic world where women rule, mutant frog people terrorize the wasteland and fertile men are like gold.

The Fantastic Sandahl Bergman, of Conan The Barbarian fame, plays a special agent assigned to keep Sam Hell and his family jewels safe as he ventures to Frogtown, a city ruled by the frog people in order to save a group of extremely fertile women from the frogs ruler and his right hand...frog Commander Toty.

This movie pacts humor, action, sexy women and sometimes sexy frog women all into one enjoyable film. It's worth it to see "Rowdy" Roddy Piper kick frog butt while traveling around in a pink armored car. This movie is for any action movie fan who has a wacky side.

Prisoners of the Lost Universe (1983)

Fun Fantasy Flick!

[7/10 · 18 November 2010]

If it weren't for the bizarre sound FX, this movie would have gotten a 9 out of 10 stars, but alas, the crazy sounds that come from things and people falling and from the picking of giant red peas will make you laugh extremely hard.

It's always fun to see Richard Hatch in movies and roles when he dodges something other than a Cylon, not that I'm knocking Classic or New BSG(Battlestar Galactica.)Hatch delivers a believable performance as the everyman caught up in a fantasy adventure with Kay Lenz. Lenz role in the film, unfortunately, reminds me of what would happen if Richard Hatch when on an adventure with his friends mother.

The two play a handyman and a reporter who are trapped in a strange parallel Earth and they must find a Dr. Hartman, no relation to Mary, in order to return to their Earth. This is a fun ride for anyone trying to escape boredom. I recommend this to anyone who needs to watch a good B-movie.

Barbarella (1968)

Ehhh, not all impressive....

[5/10 · 17 November 2010]

It is indeed a cult classic, but a cult classic that has aged badly. The concept of a sexy space babe and her eroticesque adventures seems old, because it's been done better over the years. If your a fan of Jane Fonda , who does a great job being eye candy, thats about all you can look forward to. The FX seem pretty solid for the era, Pre ILM, and is a typical De Laurentiis fop. De Laurentiis is of course well known for killing science fiction films with his insistence on not taking Sci Fi seriously, like the 1980 Flash Gordon. This is no different,Barbarella, is a typical space heroine whom must contend with forces beyond her control.Fonda may play the original space vixen, but she leaves much to be desired. If you want a great, sexy lady, fighting off aliens and flying through space movie or show, let me suggest Galaxina. Or even watch the great, although little weird, German/Canadian Sci Fi show Lexx. Only watch Barbarella if you are researching the history of women in science fiction, Don't watch it for fun.

Gorno: An American Tragedy (2004)

This movie should be banned

[1/10 · 29 October 2010]

i was surprised to see that this guy had made another movie. the lack of imagination in this film can be seen in the title. gorno is nothing more than gore and porno put together. like flogging margaret, this is a bad movie. not a good-bad movie, just utterly bad. the director tries to use the murders as a metaphor for what the writers/directors want to do in reality.

i wanted a scary movie and i got one. its very scary to think that movies like this are made and that people are willing to produce this garbage. its a snuff film that has an anti-semitic overtones and violence for violence sake.

if you are looking for good-bad scary movies, watch hell comes to frogtown or maniac cop. stay away from this American tragedy.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)

Funny as if Richard Basehart ran naked through Washington yelling "I'm Richard Basehart!"

[10/10 · 22 October 2010]

As always, the guys at MST3K make a bad movie watchable. I giggled and guffawed from the minute it started. The guys are forced to watch "This Island Earth" and riff on its stupidness. The bots are just as nutty as they are in the show and good old Mike Nelson is the glue that keeps the zaniness from getting too much. This is a great jumping on point for those who have not yet been blessed by the goodness that is Mystery Science Theater 3000. People who have complained about this movie riffing on a classic movie should repeat to themselves "its just a movie and I should really just relax." It's great for the kids, family and the dog, but not for grandpa and grandma. Watch this flick and you'll wish for movie sign for the rest of your life.

Superman (1978)

Still best Super Hero movie Ever!

[10/10 · 22 October 2010]

The combination of action, romance and comedy make for a fantastic film. Fans of the comic book would love the accurate and mature portrayal of Richard Donners Superman. Casting is superb with Gene Hackman as the funniest, ruthless Lex Luthor of all time. Hackmans Luthor plots to sink the west coast into the sea and delivers excellent one liners to his on screen nemesis. The immortal Christoper Reeve is by far the best actor ever to play the man of tomorrow, his strut and looks as well as his intelligent portrayal of Clark Kent make for a fangirls dream. Margot Kidder plays a believable Lois Lane who looks like a schoolgirl in love when standing next to Superman. The script is fantastic, another score for Puzo.

Flogging Margaret (2008)

Read between the lines!!!!

[1/10 · 20 October 2010]

Many reviews of this movie have already pointed out the homophobic and anti-woman attitude this film conveys, but none have mentioned the anti-semitic rants that some of the characters in the film go on. It is repulsive that in this day and age that a movie like this can be made.

It is a pro-conservative, anti-semitic manifesto that hopes to create a division within Americas minorities and youths. The fact that the director had the guts to put it in Philly,a city well known for its openness and acceptance of minorities, is the only thing impressive about this film. The film also portrays the city in a less than negative light. The makers of this film seemed to deliberately choose bad and dirty parts of the city to further convey the message that Jewish people are the cause of Americas problems.