With post-apocalyptic action (Mad Max 2, Escape from New York), gritty urban thrillers (The Warriors), and escapist adventures (Raiders of the Lost Ark) all the rage with early 80s cinema-goers, it wasn't long before the Italian movie industry jumped on the bandwagon, keen to cash in before the fads fizzled out.
Former king of of the cannibal movie, Ruggero Deodato, joined in the fun in 1983 with The Atlantis Interceptors, a decidedly silly film which is essentially an exercise in ripping off as many recent blockbusters as possible within an hour and a half.
Christopher Connelly stars as Mike Ross, a soldier of fortune who must do battle with vicious motorcycle-punks from Atlantis, after the sunken civilisation is accidentally brought to the surface by a radioactive leak from a Russian submarine (I said it was silly, didn't I?). The film also features Tony King (Cannibal Apocalypse) as Mike's sidekick Washington, Ivan Rassimov (star of several Italian cannibal films) as helicopter pilot Bill Cook, and the gorgeous Gioia Scola as token bit of totty Dr. Cathy Rollins.
With umpteen gun battles, several gruesome deaths (including a nifty beheading, a dreadful 'arrow through the head' gag, and a cannibal movie style jungle booby-trap scene), loads of explosions, a tidal wave (featuring some truly awful miniature work), and even a few lasers for good measure, The Atlantis Interceptors might never be boring, but it is still utter garbage. The action scenes are poorly choreographed, the bad-guys are laughable (they sport Mad Max style mohicans and new-wave make-up), and the plot is utter nonsense.
If you're a huge fan of Italian sci-fi action schlock, then there is a slim chance that you may find this film worth a go, but to be honest, there are better post-apocalyptic action adventure movies out thereeven Italian ones!
Former king of of the cannibal movie, Ruggero Deodato, joined in the fun in 1983 with The Atlantis Interceptors, a decidedly silly film which is essentially an exercise in ripping off as many recent blockbusters as possible within an hour and a half.
Christopher Connelly stars as Mike Ross, a soldier of fortune who must do battle with vicious motorcycle-punks from Atlantis, after the sunken civilisation is accidentally brought to the surface by a radioactive leak from a Russian submarine (I said it was silly, didn't I?). The film also features Tony King (Cannibal Apocalypse) as Mike's sidekick Washington, Ivan Rassimov (star of several Italian cannibal films) as helicopter pilot Bill Cook, and the gorgeous Gioia Scola as token bit of totty Dr. Cathy Rollins.
With umpteen gun battles, several gruesome deaths (including a nifty beheading, a dreadful 'arrow through the head' gag, and a cannibal movie style jungle booby-trap scene), loads of explosions, a tidal wave (featuring some truly awful miniature work), and even a few lasers for good measure, The Atlantis Interceptors might never be boring, but it is still utter garbage. The action scenes are poorly choreographed, the bad-guys are laughable (they sport Mad Max style mohicans and new-wave make-up), and the plot is utter nonsense.
If you're a huge fan of Italian sci-fi action schlock, then there is a slim chance that you may find this film worth a go, but to be honest, there are better post-apocalyptic action adventure movies out thereeven Italian ones!