Customer Reviews

Death Sport / Battle Truck (Roger Corman's Cult Classics)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This DVD lacks all but the bare essentials as far as special features go. There's a scene index, some trailers, mini-biographies, and the movie, and that's it. The Roger Corman interview by film critic "Lenard" (sic) Maltin is listed on the case, but it is absent on the disk! Even the Corman data booklet is missing, although it too is listed on the case. I guess they just ran out of'em,

The movie itself has all the bare essentials--a bare Claudia Jennings (Playboy Playmate, Nov. `69) and a bare Valerie Rae Clark (Penthouse Pet, May `77.) Their nude scenes in Lord Zirpola's torture chamber are about all that make this film worth its price. And Claudia Jennings alone would be worth it. Her career was cut short when she died in an auto accident in 1979, at age 29.

David McLean plays the evil Lord Zirpola, in what was evidently his last movie role. He's best remembered by most as the unfortunate Marlboro Man, but I remember him for his short-lived 1960 TV series "Tate" in which he played a one-armed gunfighter!

David Carradine plays Kaz Oshay, a "Range Guide," a wanderer in the wilderness, in what is basically the same role he's played many times before and after, that of a rebel outcast fighting what little structured society there is left in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Richard Lynch is Zirpola's henchman Ankar Moor, a Range Guide, once good, but now gone bad, who serves the oppressive, corrupt city-state of Helix. Sound familiar? Everything about this movie is familiar. Except the dialog, which is ludicrous, particularly the Range Guide mantra chant. And in the escape scene Carradine says to the others "We'll fire together, one at a time!" Good trick!

The action scenes are mostly just long, confusing motorcycle chases through desert terrain, although the sword duel at the end is nicely done. The motorcycles are called "death machines." They seem to cause the deaths only of their riders. The special effects--lots of explosions, red laser blasts, mutant makeup, etc.--are pretty good for a low budget film. I recommend this DVD to all hard-core Roger Corman fans!

After the Great Neutron Wars, David Carradine stars as Kaz Oshay, leader of the nomadic Range Guides, sworn enemies of the Statemen, who live in bubble cities and ride boxy motorcycles. Technocrat Lord Zirpola gets jiggy wit 'brain disease', Claudia Jennings is fetching, the shambling mutants have ping-pong ball eyes. This is a GREAT movie, directed by Allan Arkush (ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL). It has some of the most quotable dialog since the Bible, and can be enjoyed over and over again, with no dissipation in quality. Jerry Garcia contributed a guitar solo, and the film also inspired a song by malty rockers the Lord Weird Slough Feg.

Yes my friends, it's time to review yet another one of Roger Corman's Comedy Classics. The 1978 film "Deathsport" arose from two significant incidents. One, the box office success of George Lucas's "Star Wars" virtually ensured that Corman would attempt to capitalize on that film's success. Two, Rog needed product to follow up on his "Death Race 2000" flick. Retaining the services of David Carradine and throwing in sound effects lifted directly from "Star Wars," Corman must have thought "Deathsport" would rake in millions. There's just one problem, however. "Deathsport" is an awful film. It's poorly scripted, cheesily acted, suffers from cheap production sets and lousy props, and generally runs about seventy-five minutes longer than its eighty-two minute runtime requires. I've seen many Roger Corman films thanks to the miracle of DVD technology, and have even enjoyed more than a few of them. For instance, I think "Humanoids From the Deep" is a massively entertaining movie. But "Deathsport" is in a category all its own. It's easily one of Corman's worst efforts. If you're familiar with his particular brand of low-grade sludge, you know that's saying a lot. When he misses, he misses big time. "Deathsport" is a huge miss.

The opening scenes of the film tell us that what we are about to see takes place in the future, 1000 years after an event called the Neutron Wars decimated humanity. Umm, o.k. Why not? It could happen. Then we see Carradine loping through rugged landscape clad in a cloak, a loincloth, and a few stock post-apocalyptic accoutrements. He's Kaz Oshay, a member of a rabidly individualistic sect possessing mental abilities and a tendency to speak dialogue that sounds like it came from a box of fortune cookies called the Range Guides. An evil dude by the name of Ankar Moor (Richard Lynch) sits nearby on a mountaintop, watching our hero through a scope while issuing frantic ambush orders to a bunch of hapless foot soldiers. Moor wants to capture Carradine's character at the behest of the evil Lord Zirpola (David McLean), a tyrant who rules over Helix City, so that the people in the city can watch Oshay die painfully in a spectator called...wait for it...DEATHSPORT! Predictably, Oshay falls into the hands of Moor and soon learns of a plot to wipe out as many Range Guides as possible. He teams up with one of them, Deneer (Claudia Jennings), to bring down the hegemony of Zirpola and Ankar Moor.

Along the way we're treated to one ham-fisted scene after another. Geez, where to start? How about with Ankar Moor's obvious comparisons to Darth Vader. He dresses in black, was once a Range Guide himself, and now works for an evil emperor...I mean Lord. Then there's the Deathsport itself. Set in a huge coliseum surrounded by cheering crowds--it's all created with canned sound effects and large paintings--the actual game is so lame I hesitate to describe it. Contestants drive fearsome death machines that shoot lasers that vaporize their enemies. Sounds great, doesn't it? It is until you realize these "death machines" are simply dirt bikes covered in molded plastic. Moreover, all they do is drive around popping wheelies and jumping over dirt ramps. Oshay and Deneer compete by running around this dirt obstacle course knocking the bad guys off the bikes, which then explode with big blooming fireballs. We even see one of the riders stumbling around on fire in slow motion. The subsequent escape, and thus the rest of the film, consists of endless chase scenes, explosions, and dialogue so dumb it'll lower your IQ score by fifty points. Will Oshay battle Ankar Moor in the end? Who will win? Who cares?

Whew. You'd have to check out "The Shape of Things to Come" or any of the Italian post-apocalyptic actioners to find a movie that compares with the mind-numbing banality of "Deathsport." Every actor associated with this boilerplate ought to have his or her SAG card seized and burned. It's been awhile since I've seen a film fail on so many levels. Ripping off sound effects and plot points from "Star Wars" is only the tip of the iceberg. Witness, for example, the over the top shenanigans from David McLean as Lord Zirpola. The actor who plays the character, David McLean, looks like a low rent Vic Morrow. His performance consists of threatening underlings when he's not clutching his head and roaring in pain from the "radiation poisoning" that's threatening his sanity. Then there is Claudia Jennings's sultry dance in her birthday suit. O.k., I really liked that part, but I couldn't help suppress a chuckle and a groan when I noticed that her dance was part of a torture devised by Lord Zirpola. The method of torture, you ask? Deneer must sashay through a bunch of dangling Christmas lights encased in plastic. When Zirpola flicks a switch, they cause immense pain. At least that's what I gathered from the ominous music and sound effects. Speaking of the music, the score consists of random synth noises slapped together. It's utter garbage.

Extras on the disc consist of trailers for "Big Bad Mama," "The Capitol Conspiracy," "Knocking on Death's Door," and "Death Race 2000." There's also a talk that lasts for roughly five seconds, long enough for David Carradine to punch out an interviewer who has the temerity to mention the word "Deathsport" to him. I'm kidding. There is no interview, but one could imagine such an incident occurring since the film is so incredibly awful. Still, I'm going to give the movie two stars because of the lovely Jennings and because I can't get enough of these terrible post-apocalyptic flicks. Avoid "Deathsport" like the plague unless you have similar interests.

Entertaining cheerful low budget crap, that is strangely less dated than the bile of sword & sorcery films that came in the next decade.
Looking at this film now it is basically an adult version of Battlestar Gallatica, with violence and female nudity
David Carradine sleepwalks through this and he is still superb.
However this not in the same league as the brilliant satire DeathRace 2000. Still it's fun to see films like this, that would
not have a pray of being made in this day and age.

I'm very upset because the release of BATTLE TRUCK is cut. Here in Germany our version have more gore scences but we have only a VHS release in letterboxed 1.66:1. I only bought the double feature for BATTLE TRUCK to get better picture quality then a VHS cassette but it was a bad surprise with cuts. In Germany the movie is named DER KAMPF-KOLOSS.

Shout factory states that they had to splice various elements of the TV version and the theatrical version of "Deathsport" together to present it for this double feature DVD. The widescreen transfer is riddled with speckling, debris and some very noticeable grain and green lines that definitely detract from the viewing experience; at least it did for me. Included in the special features is audio commentary, still gallery, trailers and TV spots.

Welcome to the gladiator ring and the "Deathsport" Do you have what it takes to survive Lord Zirpola's death machines and the Deathsport? In the post-apocalyptic future Lord Zirpola captures desert rangers to participate in his barbaric ring of death. Legendary B movie king Roger Corman and Shout Factory present us with this low budget poorly acted and very boring movie, but all is not lost.

There are a few things that saved this movie for me like the fiery crashes, motorcycle stunts, David Carradine and the Beautiful Claudia Jennings. Once again Carradine goes Kung Fu and Sword crazy and Claudia Jennings takes it all off in some very wild and erotic torture scenes. Veteran bad guy Richard Lynch is at his best once again as the villain, he's great in these roles.


BATTLETRUCK/ Warlords of the Twenty-First Century

Shout Factory has presented this film in full screen format and it's definitely the better looking film in regards to picture & sound quality. The video transfer is much cleaner than Deathsport even though it contains some minor speckling here and there. There isn't much in the way of special features for "BATTLETRUCK" It has an audio commentary and a still Gallery, that's it.

Welcome back to the post-apocalyptic future after the destruction from the great oil wars where gasoline is now the most valuable resource and human life means nothing; at least for one man named Straker. Colonel Straker roams the desolate landscape with his band of killers in search of every ounce of gas he can find; he needs the fuel to power his iron war machine, the "BATTLETRUCK"

After Straker's daughter flees her ruthless fathers grasp she finds help from a mysterious stranger on a motorcycle named Hunter. Straker continues to search for his daughter and comes across a small community he believes is hiding her. Will Straker succeed in retrieving his daughter? Will Hunter, the man on the motorcycle let the BATTLETRUCK destroy everything in its path or will he come to the rescue and destroy Straker? You'll have to buy your own copy to find out.

What you get here is two so called Drive-in classics on a single sided disc with great packaging and disc artwork. Enjoy!

This would have to be one of the most under-rated films ever made!

Set in a post-apocalypic rural Detroit area (actually filmed
in rural New Zealand in 1981), a renegade Colonel has built
an armoured vehicle and is roaming the countryside raiding
villages for fuel. The direction, acting and all technical
aspects of this film are spot on with tight pacing and a
brilliant music score by Kevin Peek - when will this be
released as a soundtrack album!!

Many "Lord of the Rings" fans will recognise the New Zealand
scenary as it was filmed in Central Otago.

This DVD package from Roger Corman also contains Death Sport,
a film I haven't as yet watched.

I absolutely love that the Corman vaults are being emptied and given the DVD treatment. Some titles have been available before, but others are now making their debut. In this case Deathsport has returned and Battletruck is making it's debut. As much as I love Shout Factory for doing this, some films are probably better off in the vault. Not that I feel these two films are as terrible as some others do, no. Hell, I'd rather watch a lackluster Corman film any day over the so called "good" obscenely budgeted Hollywood films of recent years. But it is easy to see why this DVD is lower priced than the rest.
Deathsport was made to cash in on the success of Death Race 2000, though it's in no way a sequel. About 1000 years into the future(after the Neutron Wars of course)David Carradine is a Conan-esque lone wolf type who is captured by the always reliable Richard Lynch and his goons to compete in the "Deathsport", a gladiatorial type of battle using "death machines"(or motorcycles as we know them). Carradine and his female companion prove to be a cut above the usual buffoon criminal types to play the game(Hey, I just though of something-This sounds a lot like The Running Man) as they are a special breed of warriors called "Range Guides". Well, after busting out of the game, Carradine and his small crew spend most of the time on motorcycles running from Lynch and his henchmen.
Not the most interesting or exciting of films, though it has it's good points. The sound effects are great! The swords made a great video game type beep when drawn from and returned to their sheaths(and they're clear like glass), and the motorcycles also made a goofy cartoony noise whenever you see them(at one point they sound exactly like the tie-fighters in Star Wars). Lynch, as always, is a great and evil looking villain, and the disintegrating blaster guns are a hoot.
Now, Warlords of the 21st Century(here called Battletruck) is about a power hungry schmuck named Straker and his band of chowderheads who roam the post-apocalyptic wasteland(after the Oil Wars of course) looking for diesel fuel and people to terrorize. He does this in his armored semi truck-THE BATTLETRUCK!!! Straker's daughter escapes his clutches and into the arms of motorcycle riding badazz hero, Hunter(Michael Beck, "Swan" from The Warriors). He dumps her off at a small commune called Clearwater. Soon Clearwater is under attack and takeover by Straker. Now Hunter must don his suit and cycle and help the poor folks of Clearwater from the motorized terror of the BATTLETRUCK!!!!
Once again, it has it's moments, but is rather dull overall.
Post-Apocalyptic films are good for low budget film makers as you can shoot in mountains and empty planes and quarries. Plus, you can use what ever junk is lying around and it will seem authentic. I liked the Mad Max/Escape from New York ripoffs the Italians did, but these two films don't do too much for me. I'm still glad I own them though.

P.S. Silly me, I almost forgot-both films are full screen and don't seem to have the snazzy remastering that the other Corman Collection DVDs have. Both have commentaries, but extras are pretty scarce here.

after "deathrace 2000" hit it big they quickly got david carradine together with the lovely and talanted claudia jennings(sadly not long after this movie she would die in a car wreck at 29,and never get to show the world her talent in bigger movies) to play "range guides" future "trail guides" for people moving around after the great "neturon wars". taken prisoners of the evil lord zipora(going mad as the brain tummor he has is killing him)and put into the "deathsport" where they are to be killed by his new motercycles that he plans to use to fight new wars . of corse these two warriors escape and the chase is on.
like i said not as great as deathrace but as a pure action movie it's pretty good. give it a chance and you'll like it i think.

WTF! WTF! WTF! WHY? WHY IN GOD'S NAME IS THAT STUPID US TITLE WARLORDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY STILL THE ONSCREEN TITLE? I HAVE NEVER HAD A FILM I HAVE WAITED IN SUCH ANTICIPATION FOR THEN BATTLETRUCK. JUST THE TITLE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST RUSH I'VE EVER FELT. NOW I CAN'T EVEN WATCH IT. BECAUSE THE BUZZ WAS DESTROYED BY THAT STPID US TITLE. WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THE TIME TO RELEASE IT IF YOUR NOT GONNA DO IT RIGHT? WHY? I HATE CRAPPY TITLE AND I HATE CRAPPY ENDINGS. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS. IT'S FALSE ADVERTISING! ILLEGAL! I SHOULD PURSUE LEGAL ACTION! AND I AM THINKING ABOUT DOING SO! SOMEBODY IS GONNA MAKE THIS RIGHT!