Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai : Across the Eighth Dimension

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I'm not quite sure when I saw the Buckaroo Bonzai film, sometime in the late 1980's. I don't think anyone is prepared for his or her first encounter with the smooth physicist, doctor, musician, inventor, philosopher, etc, etc, etc, who wanders onto the screen and promptly drives something called a jet car straight through the side of a mountain. Without a chance for a brath we are in the middle of an alien invasion led by the Mad Dr. Lizardo/John Worfin (I will warn you now that all the aliens are called John, and the good guys are always called things like 'Perfect Tommy')

It can honestly be said that, in the intervening decade and a half, I never quite figured out what was happening in this film. I just knew that I liked it. This seems to be the typical state of many of the film's fans. Of course, it was never intended to enlighten, just to please and thrill, which it did a great job of doing. In addition, the dialog was unbelievable. Lines like 'hold my thruster,' and 'no matter where you go, there you are' abound. The closest thing there was at the time to an intelligent reader's comic book.

Now I've discovered that the Buckaroo Banzai Rosetta Stone has finally been written. A new paperback containing not only the entire scintillating story, but a whole insert of color of photos and an introduction by the author himself. Suddenly, I am no longer one of the perplexed, but one of the cognoscenti. Now I understand the mystery of Penny Priddy and why a bunch of guys named John wanted to get at her overthruster. I know who in the blue blazes are the Blue Blazes, and why a scarlet cowboy in mohair chaps was called New Jersey.

Of course some questions are best left unanswered. Such as why the alien police of Planet 10 (the Adders) felt it was necessary to trigger World War III on the Earth to stop the bad guys (the Lectroids). I would have used their incredible death ray to simply blow up the interdimensional spaceship being built at Yoyodyne Enterprises. Which shows that I have yet to learn about how to think like an alien (despite the claims of my friends). One the other hand, this whole book (and the film) wouldn't have occurred if someone had thought of that earlier. And so we are treated to the entire titanic struggle of B. Banzai to save the Earth. Complete with commentary.

While the book stands quite well without the film, I think it would be scurrilous not so see the film and read the book. What order you should do this in is up to you. In retrospect, I thing you should read the book and then invite some unsuspecting friends over to see the film. During which you can make yourself popular by pointing out all the good parts and giving away the plot.

This is a fun book, and makes a worthy companion to the great cult film of the same name. That being said, there are some differences to consider, though none that warrant staying away from either the book or the film. The characters in the book are more developed, as is the plot, but they are different in some ways too. There is more violence overall from both good and evil, and there are characters who are not in the film. Hmm, it's tough to write a review without spoilers. Suffice to say if you like the film at all get the book...

To begin, I am not so much fascinated by Buckaroo Banzai as I am fascinated by the fascination! I saw the movie on tape back in '84 and was confused (the flashback scene after Dr. Lizardo gets charged up threw me off-I thought the electricity caused the flashback somehow), so after seeing so many fan-pages on the net, I decided to buy the VHS and see what the entire hubbub was about.

After five viewing, I think I understand the appeal. So I bought the book.

First of all, which is better-the book or the movie? I think that the book has the "Dune" problem, in that we are placed in a complex world with plots within plots within plots, and it is almost as if we are joining both "Dune" and "Buckaroo Banzai" in "Part Six" of a series. The book starts out very thick and layer with much of the Hong Kong Cavalier's past alluded to in the text and in the MANY footnotes. However, the book seems to loose steam in places where the movie is strongest, such as the chase scenes at the end.

In some parts of the book, we are reading a script-a la "This side of Paradise." This allows for quicker, choppier action to be presents almost as it is seen on the movie. But it also may be due Rauch getting tired of novelizing his script.

Secondly, the style. Rauch's prose was choppy and bulky at first, but I got used to his style. The story is told from the point of view of Reno, much like Doyle had Watson as Sherlock Holmes's chronicler. This allows us to share the wonder and mystery of the dominating Elvis-like figure that moves events. It supplements the enchantment, and allows us to follow the non-Banzai threads of the book.

The narrative has minimal exposition, which keeps the story punchy, but you feel that there is a whole new world with a whole new history behind it, and we are given a peek. Watson always alluded to untold Holmes cases, and Rauch does the same thing as combo parody-tribute. This complexity works well for "Dune" and "Lord of The Rings," and makes the milieu glisten and teem with life.

Rauch also peppers his book with oddball, quirky humor. If you are not careful you can miss the gags and one-liners that are so apparent in the movie. With this mulligan soup is a peppering of philosophy-some of it quite observant, some of the philosophy reminds me of my thoughts as 14-year old thinking I was unusually profound. Orson Scott Card once described this type of thinking as "undergraduate level philosophy." (Children of the Mind). Then again, this may be part of the humor, a sort of hyper-irony that is prevalent in "The Simpsons."

As far as novelizations go, this one has merit. I always prefer it when the scriptwriters novelize their own stories, since the authors are telling their own story, instead of having a distant hack try to elusively capture the writer's passion and dream.

I think the cover is an improvement over the original book-it is more eye-catching, more engaging. Among the original book cover, the original VHS cover, the VHS reissue cover, and the DVD cover, I think the book ahs the best composition. It would have been nice to have some continuity between the covers so we are not confused. But then again, how do you package the #2 cult film of all time. I will sell itself by reputation.

For any hard-core fan of the film, I endorse this book, since so many jokes in the movie now make sense. In one scene, New Jersey mistakes Reno for Pecos-well, Pecos is a woman! The casual fan would also be interested, or anyone wanting a quick read. By the way, you need to read the last page VERY carefully!

Reno: Buckaroo, the President's calling you.
Buckaroo: Which President?
Reno: The President of the United States.

It's rare that I ever read the novelization of a movie, and it's
extremely rare for me to read a book more than once, but Buckaroo
Banzai is the exception to the rule.

The novel contains less humor than the equally wonderful movie of the same title, but makes up for it by expanding on the mythos that makes up the Banzai Universe. New characters (do you know who Hanoi Xan is? You should!), loads of background information
(how did Buckaroo's wife die?), and further subplots take a single book/film and make it feel like an ongoing series; complete with footnote references to "previous" novels.

With the promise of future novels and the hope of a TV series on the horizon you owe it to yourself to pick up the book (and get the DVD while you're at it).

My memory for past events in my life are usually vague and hazy. However, I can remember with vivid clarity purchasing this book over 20 years ago (at the age of 15). I was on vacation, looking for something to read, and so I grabbed this book off a rack at the grocery store. I have never read anything quite like it. How to classify it? A sci-fi comic existenialist romantic action thriller? But that leaves so much out . . . so I will just quote the book: "if it's not one thing, it's another."

It has remained my favorite book ever since. But I would recommend this book only to quirky, odd people like me. I'm thrilled to see the other reviews - - for the first time in 20 years, I know I am not alone.

This is not an adaptation of the cult film. While the movie spotlighted some of the more entertaining aspects (and an outstanding cast), the novel itself draws life from the thoughts and experiences of its diverse characters.

The story is told in the first person by Reno, Team Banzai's chonographer, who relates events, back-story, witness accounts and even a few science lessons in order to give the reader as complete a picture as possible. The side-bars may seem to complicate things, but the deeper one reads into this book, the more often you begin to wonder if it is a true story. So effective and all-consuming is the narrative--At times like a documentary.

To be certain, there are villains and heros... incredible scientific devices... outlandish individuals who are more colourful than the spectrum. But throughout, we are exposed to profound philosophy, socio-political commentary and even a few rules for living.

Witness the principals promoted by Buckaroo through radio and comic books: "The Five Stresses ... decorum, courtesy, public health, discipline, and morals. The Four Beauties ... beauties of mind, language, behavior, and environment. The Three Loves ... love of others, justice, and love of freedom." [p.20]

Or Buckaroo's paradox: "A scientist, like a warrior, must cherish no view... A 'view' is the outcome of intellectual processes, whereas creativity, like swordsmanship, requires not neutrality, or indifference, but to be of no mind whatever." [p.133]

And some fun with alien names: "...some Lectroids carried regular last names taken at random from a Manhattan telephone book, whereas others ... were evidently translations of Lectroid pictographs... (John Icicle Boy, John Repeat Dance, John Careful Walker, John Thorny Stick, John Mud Head, John Small Berries, John Ya Ya, John Take Cover, John Many Jars) [p.148]

Granted, there is a level of idealism present. But is it so terrible to imagine an organization that strives for "a better world" and is made strong by its many and varied members representing every walk of life? So powerful was this novel that it inspired me to create an electronic public forum for discussion, debate and information exchange in the days before the "World Wide Web."

Not for those seeking light reading, "Buckaroo Banzai" delivers a world and people so real and sincere that you cannot help but ponder the source. I was left feeling empowered and eager to snatch up my chances to make a difference.


[Please note, the text above was originally posted February 11, 1998. It was written based on the first publication of this book (ISBN 0671540580) which accompanied the 1984 film. I have not verified the citation page #s for the 2001 printing. I am the original author. Back then Amazon allowed anonymous reviews.]

This is one of my favorite books, it's hilarious!
That being said Earl Mac Rauch's work is a fun filled romp through the Universe of the famous Dr. Banzai, emanate brain surgeon, physicist, and rock star whose band doubles as a science team and tactical strike force. I have to say the book is a masterpiece; this book is up there with the Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy (Douglas Adams). Just read it for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

When I first came on the pulp paperback of this film some years back, I thought it was too dense to read and passed on it. Having since seen the film more than twenty times (It's my favorite movie) I decided to read this reissued version. The story is told from the point of view of Reno in the first person, which kills any dramatic action since it's all after the fact. It's very unevenly written and also very intriguing. Although I figured that Earl Mac Rauch wrote this book first and then adapted it to the film script, I think now that it's a novelization tie-in made after the film.

But that doesn't explain why certain parts are so different from the movie. In the film, there's a conflict (to oversimplify) between the (good) black lectroids and the (bad) red lectroids. In the book there are only bad lectroids, the good ones instead being called Adders. The book also continually refers to another book or episode of B. Banzai and friends called Extradition from Hell, another evocatively named pulp-fiction adventure which begs to hit the screen. Viewers of the film are aware that it ends with an ad for the next serial as it were, Buckaroo Banzai and the World Crime League, of which there is no mention in this book. The introduction seems to say that another volume of stories is forthcoming, and hopefully some sort of cinematic sequel.

This is one of two books I can think of where the film is better than the book based on what it chose to leave out. The other is Forrest Gump, drawn from the book by Winston Groom. But for one exception, I think the Buckaroo Banzai film is very well edited in relation to this book. For instance, the gruesome torture scene of Penny Priddy in the book is replaced in the movie with a nearly comic one, and the intriguing philosophies given all through the book are worked implicitly into the movie rather than being discussed at length.

The real miracle is the film's tone, which is why I think people keep watching it. It's light without being flippant, about real things without being weighty, fantastic but not randomly so, moving without being sentimental. The book doesn't have this light tone, but it does delve into ideas that are mind-boggling and mind-expanding. It starts out almost unreadably bad, with an odd kind of stilted syntax and deliberately archaic language, but it ends up excitingly well.

The one exception where the book could improve on the film is in an alternate (longer) beginning which shows rather than tells the Buckaroo backstory. I had the Special Edition DVD which includes an alternate beginning in the Special Features section. But I highly recommend instead the Special Collector's Edition DVD which allows you to select a longer edition of the entire film with the new beginning. In my opinion this makes the film a lot better. It's the definitive The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension, and it's truly an amazing film.

This edition of the book says it's being released to coincide with the Special Collector's Edition DVD of the film, and this DVD really is that much better. But even on the Special Edition there's an interview with director W.D. Richter and a pilot for a TV show done in CGI that even now would find a huge audience. I join with about a million fans of this film asking why not more Buckaroo now?

I'm a sucker for nostalgia. During the 80s, a lot of us in our early teens were bombarded by things that were both great and horrible and being teens, we were unable to distinguish between the two most of the time. I did not understand most of what was going on in Buckaroo Banzai when I saw it back then but it had a lot of what I liked. Weird science, cool hardware, eccentric characters, memorable lines.... Really, thinking back, B.B. sort of fit into an 80s movie mini-genre- Rock n' Roll Scientists. That would include let's see... Back To The Future, Weird Science, Real Genius, My Science Project... I'm sure there's more I can't remember... but it was wittier, more subtle AND more over-the-top than the rest. It gave me the feeling that there was a whole lot more to these character's world than what we saw during the movie. Anyway, this is a stand-out movie from my past that really captivated me the first time around and I'm glad to see it's been given the glossy treatment to carry it into the future.

Great book. Fills in quite a few of the blanks left by the movie - adds some color and depth to the Hong Kong Cavaliers. Written from the point of view of Reno, B.B.'s historian. A quick and enjoyable read.

Oh, and the picture of Jeff Goldblum (New Jersey) wearing mohair chaps is priceless.