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Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension! (Widescreen)
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| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension is one of the most agreeably insane movies ever made. Peter Weller stars as Buckaroo, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, particle physicist, and, of course, rock star. He travels with the Hong Kong Cavaliers, a band of hard-rocking scientists who are also really good dressers. Buckaroo's interdimensional experiments with his Operation Overthruster throw him (and the Earth) straight into the middle of an alien war, and before you know it, he's got just a few hours to save the world. Confused? Hang on, we're only 10 minutes into the movie. Buckaroo Banzai hurls you right into the middle of its comic-book universe and keeps going at a breakneck pace. It's chock-full of overlapping jokes (even as we're trying to make sense of Dr. Lizardo's hospital room, a voice calmly announces that "lithium is no longer available on credit" over the PA system), hilarious throwaway dialogue ("You're like Jerry Lewis: you give me hope to carry on."), and weirdness just for the sheer joy of it ("Why is there a watermelon there?" "I'll tell you later."). You'll want to watch it at least twice--there's just no way to catch everything the first time around. Ellen Barkin has a terrific time doing a dead-on film noir moll parody as Penny Priddy, and John Lithgow turns in a brilliant manic performance as Dr. Lizardo/John Whorfin. There is no reason not to own this movie unless you are cold and dead inside. Laugh while you can, Monkey Boys. --Ali Davis | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
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| An all time favourite - a masterpiece of its very narrow genre! | |
| | For some reason, three of my favourite science fiction "B movies" are interlinked on Amazon.ca, at least on the day of writing this review.
I hadn't planned to write a review for Buckaroo Banzai, but after having just entered reviews for two other classics (Night of the Comet and Cherry 2000), Buckaroo Banzai seemed to round out the trilogy.
Existing reviewers have covered this movie well enough for the most part, though the word "tedious" does not come to the tip of my tongue based on my personal sensibilities.
Certainly Buckaroo Banzai is probably the most "80's" of the three productions I have just named. At what other time in history could the "good aliens" have been Rastafarians (a deft touch on the part of the writers for sure)?
Who then are the bad guys? Well, here's a hint: What if, like the guy on the sample cheque at your bank, they were all named "John?" At the time of the production, besides wearing blister pack glasses (it was new then), my friends and I were mastering all the Johns of this movie, and I can still recall John Smallberries from memory over 20 years later.
What a cast - Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum - and all at the peak of their powers.
In my view, there was not one thing wrong with this movie. It was flawless, startling, quirky, crazy, brilliant, scene by scene, start to finish. Every scene worked, and each built on previous scenes to create a cinematic leaning tower of pisa that may never be equaled. (OK, only here would a simile of that kind be defensible!?!?)
The sad part, a sequel was clearly intended - but didn't materialize - when the subtle humour and deft touches flew far over the heads of the mainstream American audience (who rewarded The Terminator of the same year with two sequels).
I am a fan of The Terminator as well, and I think Schwarzenegger is under-rated both as an actor and as a governor - he is in fact a brilliant man - but this movie is much, much better than The Terminator - which does NOT need my review.
Plain and simple: This is one of the best science fiction/satirical allegories ever produced. Ever. A masterpiece.
And that's probably all I need to say here.
| | | This movie came out before Japanimation became big. If this movie was animated it would make more sense to those who don't get it. It's a parody of Japanese movies, particularly the animated ones. The bizzare costumes, the aliens, and the implied history are all aspects of these films.
| | | Like many other reviewers here, I have tried and tried to watch this film in its entirety. But it's just not possible. This movie is tedious. The entire opening home-movie sequence is incredibly laborious. There are a few funny moments in the film, but overall, this movie is painful. The folks at the School of The Americas could probably use this movie as part of their torture training program. John Lithgow's performance is excrutiating to watch. It's uncomfortably over the top. I first saw this movie when it came out in theaters and fell asleep. This movie is BAD. People say it's a cult classic, but it's nothing like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is a true cult classic.
| | One of the Best offbeat movies of the 80's | |
| | This movie is for sure one of the best wacky, yet intelligent, comedy/sci fi movies ever made. Along with some other great "offbeat" 80's sci fi/comedy movies like Repo Man and Real Genius, this is a must see
Sure the plot makes no sense, but that's the point- once you realize that, you can basically enjoy the humor which is at certain points hillarious...
I first saw this movie when I was in around 8th grade back when it came out in 84 and while I didnt understand it back then either, the highly original and unique special effects ideas (the creature stuck to the bottom of Buckaroo's car) and style stuck with me for a long time.
If you grew up in the 80's this makes for a funny flashback film in some ways. However, even with Perfect Tommy's Duran Duran style, Peter Weller's straight from '84 striped shirt, the way overdone music video-type ending sequence, and the totally 80's synthesizer soundtrack, this movie isnt just "80's cheese" by any means. The plot, special effects design, and overall style of humor of this film were so original it stands the test of time pretty well. If you like sci fi and 80's comedies, this is one of the best of both and you should check it out
| | | Buckaroo's invention is called the 'oscillation overthruster'!
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