ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 13, 1996 TAG: 9601160002
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: It Came From the Video Store
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO
This week, we've got science fiction: new and old, good and not so hot, simple pleasures and time-wasters. First up is the new laserdisc edition of a 1987 film that's become something of a cult favorite.
When it was released, "The Hidden" was dismissed by many reviewers - this one included - as a "Terminator''/``Robocop" ripoff. But the wild tale of an alien life form that lives for fast cars and loud rock music has aged well. It's still violent, but the humor and fine performances all around, particularly from Kyle McLachlan and Michael Nouri in the leads, make it worth another look for fans.
The wide-screen transfer captures the image and sound with sharp clarity, and director Jack Sholder provides commentary on a secondary audio track.
"Death Machine" is a new video original that puts lots of big-budget big-screen sci-fi to shame. It, too, is solidly in the "Terminator" tradition of hard-edged action with a satiric side.
In a near-future setting, corporate executive Hayden Cale (Ely Pouget) tries to fire mad scientist Jack Donte (Brad Dourif, at his inspired, inimitable best). Seems Jack has invented a killer gizmo, and when he learns that his services are no longer wanted, he lets it loose in the headquarters building.
This monster is essentially Robo-Raptor, an impressive collection of razor-sharp hardware and loud metallic sound effects. Writer-director Stephen Norrington and his effects crew do really nice work, keeping the action inventive and quick with a fair degree of suspense. Norrington tips his hat to his cinematic predecessors with characters named John Carpenter, Sam Raimi and Scott Ridley.
Great stuff for fans.
"Cyberzone," on the other hand, revels and glories in its own inadequacies. It's a futuristic shoot-'em-up from the always reliable Roger Corman organization.
In 2077, 50 years after the big quake turned Phoenix into a beach town, New Angeles is an underwater city that's run by the 21st-century equivalent of the Christian Coalition - no alcohol, no gambling, no drugs, in short ... no sin. That's why smuggler Burt Hawks (Matthias Hues) is trying to bring in four "pleasure droids," female robots programmed to please and padded with silicone.
Grungy bounty hunter Jack Ford (Marc Singer) is hired to bring them back, and he's teamed up with the fastidious Beth Enright (Rochelle Swanson).
Prolific producer-director Fred Olen Ray quotes liberally from "For a Few Dollars More," particularly at the end. This is strictly tongue-in-cheek material and possibly the first of a series.
The Corman organization doesn't fare nearly as well with "Alien Terminator." Despite the title, it's a simple low-budget rip-off of "Alien" about "scientists" who have been locked in an underground experimental facility for two years. One of them invents a new killer species and promptly lets it escape. There's nothing to recommend this one beyond some gross-out effects that have been done better in many other flicks.
"Star Quest" is competently told science-fiction with a good cast and a nice O. Henry ending.
In an opening lifted straight from "Planet of the Apes," astronauts en route to the planet Trion are awakened from hibernation. Familiar faces Brenda Bakke, Steven Bauer, Cliff DeYoung, Gregory McKinney, Alan Rachins, Emma Samms and Ming-Na Wen find that their captain is dead and someone is after them. As they settle on a chain of command, their numbers dwindle and they're forced to face the question that pops up in so many sci-fi flicks these days: Which of us is the robot?
Like his cast, director Rick Jacobson is an old hand with this stuff. The film moves right along with good effects, sets and characters who have some depth to go along with their funny accents.
Next week: Strong women, weak men!
New releases this week:
Nine Months **
Starring Hugh Grant, Julianne Moore, Tom Arnold, Joan Cusack, Robin Williams. Directed by Chris Columbus. FoxVideo. 98 min. Rated PG-13 for subject matter, a lot of very strong language and some mild violence.
The story of Grant's growth from happy bachelor to happy dad is marked by flagrant overacting, contrived emotions and sticky sentimentality. Though this romantic comedy was a box office hit, it's not going to make anyone forget "Four Weddings and a Funeral."
Lords of Illusion *
Starring Scott Bakula, Famke Jannsen. Written and directed by Clive Barker. MGM/UA 92 min. Rated R for violence, brief nudity, subject matter, strong language.
Clive Barker delivers the particular kind of horror that his fans seem to love in this horror movie about dueling magicians and supernatural detective Harry D'Amour. It's based on sadomasochism, torture and self-mutilation with a strong undercurrent of kinky homosexuality. Is that entertainment or what? Also available in a longer un-rated and presumably more violent version.
The Essentials:
The Hidden *** Lumivision. 98 min. Rated R for graphic violence, strong language, drug use.
Death Machine *** Vidmark. 99 min. Rated R for violence, strong language.
Cyberzone ** 1/2 Concorde-New Horizon. 90 min. Rated R for nudity, violence, strong language, sexual content.
Alien Terminator * Concorde-Horizons. 78 min. Rated R for nudity, violence, strong language, mild sexual content, drug use.
Star Quest ** 1/2 Concorde-New Horizons. 95 min. Rated R for violence, brief nudity, drug use.
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ``Alien Terminator'' is a simple, low-budget ripoff ofby CNB``Alien.''