I understand that celebrated genre filmmaker Stuart Gordon and screenwriter Joe Haldeman were at odds about the precise direction to take this movie, but it doesn't really come across in the finished product or dull the experience. While some of the humor is needlessly crude (including tawdry racism and xenophobia in the dialogue), there's some noteworthy wit in the screenplay alone. Please note the pointedly sardonic, vomit-worthy name given to the American-affiliated alliance, for example, and we get just enough information about the rules of the games, and the realities of the fictional world (including emphatic sexism, and outright dehumanization of women), to let us blithely soak in everything to come our way. Moreover, the narrative and scene writing is actually very thoughtfully composed; one may well draw comparisons to other titles of one nature or another - this is a sports movie after all, after a sort - but the fact remains that 'Robot Jox' can claim some gratifyingly sharp writing. It's fun, and clever, but also dallies with bigger themes and ideas that reflect the intelligence of those participating. This is pretty great, and frankly well exceeds what one tends to assume of pictures where producer Charles Band is involved.
There's some meaningful depth and complexity to the characters, more than we tend to get in such genre fare - even mostly avoiding the heteronormative nonsense and contrived dynamics we're accustomed to when Male and Female characters are spotlighted. More important still: the tangible creations that are the robots look genuinely fantastic, recalling the work of effects artists in bigger and more prominent sci-fi flicks (specifically, Phil Tippett comes to mind). The same goes for any other practical effects on hand, special makeup, and fight choreography. Visuals added in post-production aren't top of the line, but I dare say they look far better than one might generally anticipate, at least on par with this film's contemporaries if not superior. The production design, art direction, costume design, and props are all splendid. Moreover, Gordon's direction, and Mac Ahlberg's cinematography, are wonderfully keen and attentive, doing much to enrich the viewing experience and keep one engaged. And hey, credit to the actors, including not least Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson, and Danny Kamekona - the material rather forces them into positions of overacting, but they do their very best to fight through those constraints to bring their own measure of sincerity to the proceedings.
Yes, there are instances where the feature becomes a little too over the top or overbearing, maybe a little silly or self-indulgent. In fairness, that kind of comes with the territory of a title about giant robots. For any weaknesses or faults, however, by and large this is significantly stronger, smarter, more earnestly exciting, and all around more entertaining than I'd have ever given it credit for sights unseen. (I say this not least in recognition of Band's 'Robot wars,' of a vaguely similar concept, which would follow in 1993 - itself unexpectedly solid.) Tremendous care and hard work went into the picture to make it a grandiose genre romp, but also something that distinctly rises above the ridiculousness to achieve more honest, deserving heights. The employment of practical effects is paramount, yet the crew broadly put in fantastic work, and this would be nothing without the mindful writing behind it. When all is said and done, I can understand how this has gotten passed over in the past thirty years; the name alone is a bit of a red flag. Yet as far as I'm concerned it deserves far more recognition - this is a sci-fi action flick that's easily a cut above many of its brethren, and many of its contemporaries particularly. 'Robot Jox' is a highly enjoyable, pleasant surprise, and well worth checking out!
There's some meaningful depth and complexity to the characters, more than we tend to get in such genre fare - even mostly avoiding the heteronormative nonsense and contrived dynamics we're accustomed to when Male and Female characters are spotlighted. More important still: the tangible creations that are the robots look genuinely fantastic, recalling the work of effects artists in bigger and more prominent sci-fi flicks (specifically, Phil Tippett comes to mind). The same goes for any other practical effects on hand, special makeup, and fight choreography. Visuals added in post-production aren't top of the line, but I dare say they look far better than one might generally anticipate, at least on par with this film's contemporaries if not superior. The production design, art direction, costume design, and props are all splendid. Moreover, Gordon's direction, and Mac Ahlberg's cinematography, are wonderfully keen and attentive, doing much to enrich the viewing experience and keep one engaged. And hey, credit to the actors, including not least Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson, and Danny Kamekona - the material rather forces them into positions of overacting, but they do their very best to fight through those constraints to bring their own measure of sincerity to the proceedings.
Yes, there are instances where the feature becomes a little too over the top or overbearing, maybe a little silly or self-indulgent. In fairness, that kind of comes with the territory of a title about giant robots. For any weaknesses or faults, however, by and large this is significantly stronger, smarter, more earnestly exciting, and all around more entertaining than I'd have ever given it credit for sights unseen. (I say this not least in recognition of Band's 'Robot wars,' of a vaguely similar concept, which would follow in 1993 - itself unexpectedly solid.) Tremendous care and hard work went into the picture to make it a grandiose genre romp, but also something that distinctly rises above the ridiculousness to achieve more honest, deserving heights. The employment of practical effects is paramount, yet the crew broadly put in fantastic work, and this would be nothing without the mindful writing behind it. When all is said and done, I can understand how this has gotten passed over in the past thirty years; the name alone is a bit of a red flag. Yet as far as I'm concerned it deserves far more recognition - this is a sci-fi action flick that's easily a cut above many of its brethren, and many of its contemporaries particularly. 'Robot Jox' is a highly enjoyable, pleasant surprise, and well worth checking out!