This was a film that I watched a LOT when I was about 11 or 12 (on Betamax no less). Coming back to it after some years, I was afraid that It wouldn't hold up, and I don't like it when that happens as the comfort of nostalgia is something I enjoy.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's still a hugely entertaining and very watchable ride! The premise is B-Movie schlock at its finest, but it's elevated by some solid performances and a bit of heart.
Andrew Prine is fantastically charming as the roguish boatman Harry Fontana, and his performance is probably far too good for this type of movie. It's also cool seeing a pre-Star Trek Denise Crosby, and like Prine, she gives a solid performance as the tough "no shit" robotics wiz. Patrick Reynolds is suitably morose as the amnesia stricken Mandroid, and he does a decent job of making us feel for him.
Veteran actor Roy Dotrice (Mozart's father in Amadeus) makes a surprise appearance here at the main villain. He's not given much screen time, but his delivery adds a lot of gravitas to the dialogue, and he seems to be having fun in the final battle. It's obviously a paycheque job for him, but he doesn't phone anything in which is really good.
Watching this film again, I noticed that it is strikingly similar to Robocop in some of the more humanity-searching scenes. Only this film came out a year before Robocop! Even the music is eerily similar when John the Mandroid encounters emotional circumstances, so one has to wonder if there was some thievery happening?
The potential plagiarism doesn't stop there though, as it's painfully obvious that the Borg design from Star Trek was based on the Mandroid from this film, with Eliminators being released a full FOUR years before the Borg showed up in TNG.
As a film though, it's well acted and well directed, but there's not much depth here. There's no real resolution for the main character, and we don't find much out about each person's life. Also, some of the "features" feel like they're straight of a producer's wish list. I mean, a scientist, a scallywag, and a cyborg suddenly come across a Ninja in the middle of the Mexican woods?
It's ludicrous!
However, that ludicrousness for once actually elevates the film becasue it has such as strong foundation with its cast and solid action scenes. Everyone knows a bit of cheese makes any meal taste better, so s sprinkling of shark jumping nonsense is something that brings out all the smiles!
This is 80s sci-fi nonsense at its finest! Some hugely enjoyable and silly fun, great action, good performances, and a really good synth score.
A perfect movie to watch with a few beers!
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's still a hugely entertaining and very watchable ride! The premise is B-Movie schlock at its finest, but it's elevated by some solid performances and a bit of heart.
Andrew Prine is fantastically charming as the roguish boatman Harry Fontana, and his performance is probably far too good for this type of movie. It's also cool seeing a pre-Star Trek Denise Crosby, and like Prine, she gives a solid performance as the tough "no shit" robotics wiz. Patrick Reynolds is suitably morose as the amnesia stricken Mandroid, and he does a decent job of making us feel for him.
Veteran actor Roy Dotrice (Mozart's father in Amadeus) makes a surprise appearance here at the main villain. He's not given much screen time, but his delivery adds a lot of gravitas to the dialogue, and he seems to be having fun in the final battle. It's obviously a paycheque job for him, but he doesn't phone anything in which is really good.
Watching this film again, I noticed that it is strikingly similar to Robocop in some of the more humanity-searching scenes. Only this film came out a year before Robocop! Even the music is eerily similar when John the Mandroid encounters emotional circumstances, so one has to wonder if there was some thievery happening?
The potential plagiarism doesn't stop there though, as it's painfully obvious that the Borg design from Star Trek was based on the Mandroid from this film, with Eliminators being released a full FOUR years before the Borg showed up in TNG.
As a film though, it's well acted and well directed, but there's not much depth here. There's no real resolution for the main character, and we don't find much out about each person's life. Also, some of the "features" feel like they're straight of a producer's wish list. I mean, a scientist, a scallywag, and a cyborg suddenly come across a Ninja in the middle of the Mexican woods?
It's ludicrous!
However, that ludicrousness for once actually elevates the film becasue it has such as strong foundation with its cast and solid action scenes. Everyone knows a bit of cheese makes any meal taste better, so s sprinkling of shark jumping nonsense is something that brings out all the smiles!
This is 80s sci-fi nonsense at its finest! Some hugely enjoyable and silly fun, great action, good performances, and a really good synth score.
A perfect movie to watch with a few beers!