Invaders from Mars: 80's Remake

Following the success of Poltergeist in 1982, director Tobe Hooper struck a three-picture deal with Cannon films, releasing Lifeforce in 1985, then Invaders from Mars in 1986. A remake of the classic 1953 sci-fi film of the same name, Invaders from Mars didn't make much of an impact at the box office, but has since gained a following that films of this nature tend to do, and has recently been released on Blu-ray.

David Gardner is an average kid who loves his family and lives in an average rural town. One night he is awakened by a loud noise outside and goes to the window to see a gigantic spaceship descending into the valley behind his house. His parents go to investigate, and they end up having their bodies taken over by an alien force. Soon David discovers that many people that he once trusted are alien pawns. The school nurse is the one adult he can find that hasn't been affected, and they go to the military, who utilize the duo's help in infiltrating the alien ship. A battle is waged between humans and the aliens with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Invaders from Mars was neither a hit nor did it fare well with critics. It seemed to fall into the category of many an 80's film that is perceived as not for children, when it is actually geared more for the younger set. Those who revisit the film or see it for the first time may have an appreciation for the practical sets and effects, and the nostalgia for the 80's. Yes, the film is cheesy, but it is fun to watch, even though the threat of the aliens is hard to take seriously.

Most of the performances in Invaders from Mars are so perfectly over the top that they actually help give the film it's goofy tone. The actors know what type of move they're making, and they give it their all. Louise Fletcher as David's teacher and James Karen as the general are standouts. Hunter Carson as the main character is actually the weakest link within the cast, as he doesn't seem to take his role seriously and actually seems bored in some scenes.

Invaders from Mars is more fun than scary, and is a feast for 80's nostalgia fiends. It offers a crash course in practical effects and sets, and although I haven't seen the original, it seems to honor what came before it. Recommended for genre fans, especially Shout! Factory' s great Blu-ray release that boast a few very nice features that give insight into the fun that went in to the making of the film.

Avengers: Age of Ultron: In Theaters Now

With 2012's The Avengers, Marvel Studios pulled off the unprecedented feat of bringing characters together that had already been featured in their own successful films and bringing audiences one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. The formula to build a "cinematic universe" over the course of a few years paid off in spades as anticipation built for the big team-up.

"Phase 2" began in 2013 with Iron Man 3, followed by Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Avengers: Age of Ultron is actually the second to last entry in Phase 2, as Ant-Man will wrap things up in July, paving the way for Phase 3 starting with Captain America: Civil War in May of 2016. How long can the Marvel machine keep running? If Age of Ultron is any indication, for quite some time.

Tony Stark (Iron Man) has been busy developing an Artificial Intelligence program in order to create an armored robot weapon that would be a peacekeeping force worldwide. Code-named Ultron, the project takes on a life of its own when exposed to alien technology left behind from the first Avengers film. Ultron decides that the only way to truly have peace on earth is to remove mankind and start over. The Avengers are poised to stop him, running into some obstacles and also gaining new allies during their battle.

Age of Ultron starts off with a bang - an opening action sequence that gives fans more than enough of what they want until the next fight breaks out. Each action sequence easily provides fan-service as the characters play off each other and, as in the first film, each hero gets their own moment to shine. When the action is not happening, characterization remains strong, with both light and dramatic moments revealing more depth to both the heavy hitters and those who haven't had their own film. Hawkeye stands out mid-movie with some nice development and great lines. More is revealed about Black Widow' s past as well.

The best description for the film so far is that it's a five-part comic book story arc put on film, and that feels about right. Director Joss Whedon is obviously confident that the story can be faithful to the comics and still translate to film perfectly. New characters are introduced (Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Vision) without the need for too much exposition or scientific explanation. Anyone desiring more of that needs to remember they are watching a comic book movie. Ultron is a great villain, one of the best so far for Marvel films, and James Spacer does a great job giving the character an unexpected wit along with his sadistic side.

When all is said and done, The Avengers will always be remembered for being the first super hero movie to bring such popular characters together for a blockbuster like no other. Age of Ultron is a strong sequel, perhaps more enjoyable than the first now that the team has been together for a while and has a better repoor. The plot doesn't stray too far from the original film, but the action, character moments, and new heroes make it an excellent entry into the Marvel canon, and one that will be talked about and dissected by fans for years to come.

The Thing from Another World: Film Classic

Before viewing The Thing from Another World, I had never seen what would be considered a "classic" horror movie. Growing up in the 80's, Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, etc were synonymous with the genre, and I was never all that  interested in these types of movies.  Unfortunately I didn't make it through the 80's and 90's without being subjected to a few of those. I saw them as basically reasons for people to come up with new ways to kill folks, upping the ante with each sequel (the original Halloween being the only exception). After sifting through what are considered classic films of this genre, I settled on The Thing From Another World, or, The Thing, for short.

The Thing begins with a group of Air Force troops stopping by a North Pole base to check out the crash of an unknown object. They discover that it was a flying saucer that crashed, and there is an alien being of some kind that is frozen in a block of ice. They take the block inside the base, and, of course, the alien escapes. The airmen and others on the base have to survive while they figure out a way to stop the creature.

One thing that I've noticed when watching classic films from the 30's through the 50's is that so many movies that come after them are heavily influenced by them. So much so that it makes the original source seem cliche, even though it isn't. Example: The scientist at the base wants to preserve the alien and study it, to the point that he seems "mad" by the story's end. Mad scientists are old hat these days, but back then they were few and far between. This film's influence has been so great that it has been remade twice (John Carpenter's 1982 gorefest and 2011's poorly received prequel/remake).

All in all I found The Thing to be refreshing. Instead of focusing on multiple killings and gross-out scenes, the film's pace is slow and steady as it introduces the characters, they find "The Thing", it escapes, and suspense builds. It's a simple cat and mouse game in a unique setting, and it was a precedent-setter.

Anyone looking for a classic staple in the sci-fi/horror genre need look no further than The Thing. It is available on DVD at a fairly inexpensive price, and should get a Blu-ray release before too long.

WarGames: Shall We Play a Game?

 
WarGames ended up as the number 5 box-office film of 1983, one of only two sci-fi films in the top 10 (the other being Return of the Jedi). The movie's depiction of computers seemed quite far fetched over thirty years ago, but now it doesn't seem so far removed from reality.

As David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) attempts to hack into a video game company's database, he inadvertently gains access to a NORAD computer control system known as WOPR (War Operation Plan Response). David thinks he's playing a game, but he is in fact toying with the computer that controls the nation's nuclear weapons systems.

It's a blast seeing the old technology David uses in his computer setup, from the modem and old school telephone to the giant floppy disks. The robot voice is reminiscent of a Speak & Spell, and the WOPR itself takes up an entire room. The NORAD control center still impresses with its large monitors and bustling atmosphere, and is loosely based on a real facility.

Performances in Wargames are solid all around, from Broderick and Ally Sheedy to John Wood, Dabney Coleman and Barry Corbin. The opening scene is one of the best in cinema, and sets the stage for the thriller that is to come. Wargames still holds up well all these years later due to the believability of the story (especially today), the characters' ability to make the viewer care about them, and the quick pace set by director John Badham.

Wargames remains popular today and is still quoted often. "Shall we play a game?" is commonly heard as a pop culture reference, most recently in last year's Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The film is a must-see for any 80's fan waxing nostalgic over the decade, or anyone looking for a good, solid entertaining thriller.

Enemy Mine: Rediscovered Gem

Some argue that science-fiction movies fell by the wayside after the conclusion of the Star Wars trilogy with Return of the Jedi in 1983. That was, however, not the case. In 1985, two of the top ten movies of the year were sci-fi: Back to the Future, one of the biggest films ever, and Cocoon. One such film that didn't fare so well that year was Enemy Mine.

Back in elementary school, my best friend threw epic sleepover birthday parties where he invited all the boys from our class to come over. He lived in the country, so we did cool things like go-cart riding, shooting guns (supervised, of course) and playing war games in the woods behind his house with water guns. We would also watch a movie late at night. One year the movie was Enemy Mine. It started with a pretty cool spaceship battle, then meandered into a tale of a human and an alien that crash-land on a planet and have to learn to get along. We all enjoyed the movie, talked about it for some time after seeing it, and imitated the alien's gurgle-ish voice for weeks. I have always had fond memories of those parties, including Enemy Mine. I thought it was time to revisit the film after 25 years or so.

Enemy Mine endured a troubled production, as it went through two directors and went way over budget. It was expected to be a big hit, but instead did quite poorly at the box office. It seemed to have done well on VHS and pay TV channels, however, as most adolescent boys in the 80's were familiar with the movie. The intent of the film is clear, as it sets out to be a big movie, but not just a sci-fi movie. It's character driven, and covers themes such as reconciliation, self-sacrifice, friendship, and loving your enemy. One of the most interesting scenes in the film has the main protagonist, Davidge (Dennis Quaid), reading from his new found alien friend's (Louis Gossett, Jr) book of sacred writings. He reads a passage about loving your enemies and forgiving them, then replies that he has read it before, in his world's sacred book. The alien responds with something along the lines of "truth is truth", and that it is universal. It's an obvious reference to Matthew 5:44 - "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you". Great lesson found from an unlikely source.

Enemy Mine was ambitious. The sets are impressive and still hold up quite well. Many of the special effects still look good (the space battle scene), others not so much (some of the alien creatures on the planet). The makeup job on Louis Gossett, Jr is pretty amazing, and his portrayal of the alien, as well as Dennis Quaid's acting, are excellent. The first act of the movie seems a bit rushed, as the two characters are dumped on the planet together, begin to form a friendship, and learn each others' language very quickly, even though a long passage of time is implied. It just would have made the bond between the two a bit more powerful if they had taken a little longer to get along. The movie pushes the boundaries of sci-fi weirdness when the alien is revealed to be pregnant (the aliens are genderless and asexual) and later has a baby. Once the climax of the film is reached it is basically a rescue story, and quite an exciting one at that.

For some reason, movie goers didn't latch on to this film. Maybe it was the familiar theme of two enemies stranded together, which wasn't exactly new. It could have been the alien baby weirdness. Maybe it was the awful movie poster. Since the 80's the movie has fallen into obscurity and is only appreciated by die-hard fans. It's worth a look and offers something unique in the genre. Enemy Mine is available on DVD, as well as an out-of-print limited edition Blu-Ray that fetches astronomical prices on auction sites.

Space Raiders: Star Wars Cash Grab

1983. The year of Return of the Jedi. The Star Wars trilogy was complete, and sci-fi films had been enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Some films released during this era are classics of the genre (Alien, Close Encounters, Star Trek II). Others have enjoyed  a smaller cult status (Tron, The Last Starfighter). Then there are films like Space Raiders.

Infamous B-movie king Roger Corman saw the opportunity to quickly get a science-fiction kids movie released to piggyback on the success of Star Wars. Scenes from previous films of his, mainly Battle Beyond the Stars from 1980, were cobbled together with new footage to create Space Raiders. A story about a young boy who stows away on a ship full of space pirates is surrounded by footage of space battles from the previous films.

Space Raiders was cheap to make, and it shows. The opening scene takes place in a warehouse that is supposed to be futuristic, yet it looks like a plain old warehouse from 1983. The space battles show the same ships exploding several times over. The dialogue is dreadful. Space Raiders is a terrible movie, but is it so bad that it's good? Most casual movie watchers wouldn't get very far with this one, but those who enjoy 1980's cheese will find something to enjoy here.

Yes, the movie is cheap. Yes it's a blatant Star Wars rip-off, right down to a cantina scene with musical aliens. Still, there's a charm about it. In a way it's fun to watch what the film makers did with what little they had and still try to produce something entertaining. The actors give their all despite a lousy script, especially Vince Edwards as gruff space pirate Hawk. The film also features the debut of David Mendenhall, who would later co-star with Sylvester Stallone in another 80's cheese-fest, Over the Top.

Space Raiders recently released on limited-edition Blu-ray, limited no doubt to the little interest the film still generates. A nice interview with David Mendenhall is included, who fondly remembers making the film and respects its fans, yet still knows what type of film was made. Recommended only for die hard fans of the genre or sci-fi completists.

Labyrinth: A Fresh Perspective

 

1986 saw the release of several memorable movies from the decade: Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, Karate Kid Part II, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Aliens, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. As a kid growing up in the 80's it was hard to miss seeing most, if not all, of these movies, whether at the theater, on home video, or on TV. One film that released to much less acclaim and attention at the time was Labyrinth, which came out during the summer of '86. Labyrinth was a Jim Henson film that featured David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly along with a host of puppets of all shapes and sizes. I remember the movie being promoted and then releasing on video. I'm not sure why I never saw it. Maybe it was David Bowie in the fright wig, or maybe I thought it would be too scary.

Labyrinth wasn't a success upon release, and it was a source of vast disappointment for Jim Henson, which is understandable considering all the painstaking hard work that must have gone into the making of the film.
Over the years since its release, Labyrinth has maintained an ever growing and loyal following. It has remained popular on home video formats and there is even an annual gathering of fans in California.
After all the talk surrounding this movie and its status as a cult classic, I finally decided to visit it for the first time recently. It's always interesting to see a film like this that I haven't seen before and evaluate it based on what I would have thought about it as a kid and what I think of it now.

Labyrinth is the story of teenage Sarah (Connelly) who is whisked away to a magical realm in order to search for her infant stepbrother, who has been kidnapped by Jareth, the Goblin King (Bowie). Sarah has to find her way through a labyrinth filled with obstacles, creatures both friendly and villainous, and strange landscapes. Along the way she learns a thing or two about responsibility and selflessness.

What makes the film so memorable is its use of imagination, no doubt due to Jim Henson and so many other contributors, including George Lucas. The Labyrinth itself is full of weird and interesting creatures such as the Fire Gang who can switch their extremities, or Ludo, who appears like a vicious beast but is actually kind and gentle. There is also the pit of helping hands and the talking door knockers. The musical numbers are bizarre, but then again, it is David Bowie. The most noticeable song is "Magic Dance", which was stuck in my head the rest of the day after viewing the movie. There is definitely an appreciation for all of the puppet work that has the viewer believing that the characters are real, and they are much more effective than today's overused CG characters.

What doesn't work is the film's ending, which feels anticlimactic. Sarah confronts Jareth, simply tells him he doesn't have power over her, and he turns into an owl and flies away. Why doesn't he have power over her? Is it because she is an adult now? Is it because she isn't frightened of him? It is unclear. Not enough to ruin the film, but not satisfying.

Overall, Labyrinth is indeed an '80s gem to be treasured. Its uniqueness garners it classic status and it deserves its following. It's available for viewing right now on Netflix Instant and is also offered at a low price point on Blu-ray.