This is a loving tribute to those joyously bad science fiction films churned out by Japan in the 1960s and 70s. The film takes place in a distant future when all global disagreements are settled in an arena. A combatant (known as a "jock") from each warring nation inhabits a heavily
armed robot and battles representatives of other nations to the death. As the film opens, the US is about to do battle with the Soviet Union. As the combatants battle, the US robot is hit and falls into a viewing stand, killing thousands of spectators. The US jock, Achilles (Gary Graham), is
injured and taken to a hospital to recover, while the government begins developing cyborgs to serve as robot jox. When the Soviets demand a rematch, a female cyborg, Athena (Anne-Marie Johnson) is chosen to serve as the Americans' robot jock. The battle begins and is not going well for the
Americans, until Achilles arrives and decides to take control of the struggle.
While this is not as well made as director Stuart Gordon's previous films such as RE-ANIMATOR and FROM BEYOND, it is still an entertaining movie. It seems to have been made to appeal to those who enjoy "Godzilla" movies and the "Transformer" TV series. The battle sequences feature many of the same
elements and cheesy special effects found in those Japanese efforts. Huge robots stomp across the desert wiping out machinery and firing missiles from their arms, while super-imposed spectators cheer from the stands. The film is great for kids since it's not very violent and evokes a spirit of
innocence. The performers all ham it up, the pacing is sharp, and the music appropriately corny. Though Gordon is obviously coasting here, it's all in fun and those who have a fondness for Godzilla, Mothra, Ghidrah, and the other Japanese monster superstars might find this to be enjoyable mindless
fun. (Profanity, violence.) leave a comment
