Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone Movie Download

7 / 10

An absolute hoot.
Peter Strauss plays bounty hunter Wolff – a definite Han Solo type – who takes on the job of rescuing three lovely young women who crash landed on a barren planet. There, they were taken captive by the minions of vicious, omnipotent mutant villain Overdog (Michael Ironside). Wolff acquires some initially unwanted companions on his adventure. Washington (Ernie Hudson) is a former associate with whom he butts heads. And Niki (Molly Ringwald) is a feisty teen aged orphan who brags that her tracking skills can lead Wolff to the lair of Overdog and company.

Minor but diverting 3-D sci-fi just gets better and better – well, so to speak – as it goes along, throwing everything *and* the kitchen sink at the viewer for the sake of a good time. The sets are the most impressive element. The makeup effects and costumes are also pretty good; get a load of the outfit that Ironside is obliged to wear. The music by old pro composer Elmer Bernstein is suitably rousing. The screenplay itself is nothing special – with overuse of goofy jargon – but director Lamont Johnson (“The Last American Hero”, “Lipstick”) handles the proceedings capably, if not stylishly.

The supporting characters are really more engaging than the leads. Ironside once again proves himself a great movie villain. Andrea Marcovicci is so damn sexy and appealing in her brief screen time that you really miss her once she’s written out of the story. Hudson is rock solid as always. Strauss is okay, but his character is rather smug and not terribly likable. He takes a while to grow on you, as does Ringwald, who will probably strike many viewers as being overly whiny.

The best bit: Niki being forced by Overdog to run through an incredibly elaborate, extremely lethal maze.

Among the “Ghost Busters” connections: Hudson, executive producer Ivan Reitman, Bernstein, and casting director Karen Rea.

Seven out of 10.Read More