Customer Reviews

Futureworld [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

No sequel can be fairly measured against its predecessor, in my opinion. And 'Futureworld' is no exception. While it lacks Michael Crichton's pen - known for deftly interweaving between sci-fi and suspense - 'Futureworld' actually goes so far as to expand upon the original story, which is something few sequels, even good ones, have been able to do. While the production values do seem to indicate the studio was willing to crap this one out as a TV movie if they thought it wouldn't float their boat at the box office, there's still plenty of shock value to enjoy in 'Futureworld', even if its plot does tend to veer now and then into slightly-cartoonish realms...and even then, the film isn't afraid to remind its viewer that it's not to be taken too seriously.
The plot is as follows: it's been a couple of years since the original film's theme-park disaster - a situation not helped by the dirt dug up by investigative reporter Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda, smug and cocky as Han Solo, only in corduroys and specs) - but Delos is back up and running, better than ever, and the world entire is coming en masse through the new park's gates. But still, the Delos suits regale to Browning's media peers, attendance isn't quite as record-shattering as they'd like...so they invite a wary Browning and his ex-girlfriend, ambitious TV reporter Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner, who gives as good as she gets with a flair worthy of Lois Lane), to see for themselves that Delos has truly become the Eden it was meant to be.
Alas, with this new Eden there turns out to be a new snake lurking as well...namely, suspicious goings-on within the underground command centers of the park. Surrounding this is a bizarre tapestry of puzzle pieces - a runaway Delos worker shot dead in Browning's arms; an all-too-real nightmare of red-garbed figures carting off guests in their sleep and performing Byzantine examinations; a reclusive mechanic (Stuart Margolin in a likeable performance) who's seen more than he probably should have; and before it's all over, the horrible secret of the new Delos revealed. It's no 'Soylent Green', but then that's probably a good thing.
If 'Westworld' dealt with the dangers of relying upon corporated technology for pleasure, then 'Futureworld' is about what happens when said corporated technology threatens to overtake entire societies. While this isn't exactly prescient to the competitiveness of today's theme-park industry, it does allude to the rat-a-tat-a-tat attitude that defined much of the industry in the early 1990s (when Universal Studios moved in on Disney World and lit the fuse on a full-blown theme-park war).
Apart from all this, the movie does have some other nifty touches: an opening sequence which winks at the original with a clip from a game show of a future Delos guest receiving his vacation package from real-life game show host Allen Ludden; the new 'Futureworld' themed area with one of the neatest (if slightly low-budget) arcades ever seen; constant innuendo involving 'sex-model' robots; and, of course, a cameo by none other than Yul Brynner, once more garbed in black as the Gunslinger - only this time the tin man with the gunbelt seems to have gotten a heart, demonstrated in an erotic dream sequence where he rescues Danner's character from some more of those red-hooded fiends.
'Futureworld' may not resemble 'Westworld' too much, but that probably works to its advantage in the end, opting to take the somewhat-hackneyed 'robots-run-amok' premise in a new direction. It's worth a look.

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When I was a kid I enjoyed Futureworld much more than Westworld, mainly because I liked the coolness of the robots in Futureworld (whereas in Westworld the robots were all too human). Clark in particular left a favorable impression on me.

I think the story in Futureworld is more enjoyable than Westworld, because it revolves around world domination conspiracies. Westworld is just silly paranois about robots, whereas Futureworld is about robots being used by humans to evil purposes. Unfortunately Futureworld is poorly produced as a lot of potentially exciting scenes, like the fighting between the real and fake humans, are never fully developed, leaving the impression that the film was hastily put together.

Still, after 30 years and having been largely forgotten, this film continues to be an enjoyable sci-fi film.

Futureworld is the sequel to the equally campy Westworld. The chemistry between the main characters (played by Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner) is actually above average and probably saves the film from utter failure. However, I enjoyed myself despite the predictability, the absolutely silly premise, the lack of action (there's a sword fight and that's about it) and the anti-climactic ending.

If a sci-fi film doesn't have frequent action sequences and beautiful spaceships it MUST ask some engaging questions, present moral dilemmas, ponder on philosophical themes, etc - Futureworld, on the other hand "thinks" with the "brain" of a rather small and sickly ant. And what an unfortunate last film appearance for Yul Brynner (a campy dream sequence with Blythe Danner)...

Plot (some spoilers due to the simplicity and predictability of the plot)

Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda), a reporter who wrote about the "incident" at Westworld, and TV reporter Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner), are called to write about the newly "improved" Delos amusement part which has reopened. Previously Browning had met with an employee of Delos who promised information about the new park. However, he's killed before he can deliver it. As a result, Browning is suspicious of the motives of Delos. Tracy on the other hand is convinced that Browning is blowing everything out of proportion. Our "heros" are guided through various worlds -- Medievalworld, Romanworld, Westernworld (since abandoned), and finally, the park chosen by Tacy and Chuck, Futureworld (the one I would select!) -- and all the wonders are shown to be safe and improved.

In Futureworld, patrons are "sent up into space" in a rocket to a space station and perform various space walks and skiing on mars etc. It's revealed to our heros that most of the new theme park worlds are staffed entirely by robots.

When Tracy and Chuck return from Futureworld they are drugged and tests are run on them in order to produce clones (surprise!!!!). In the only real action sequence of the film, Chuck and Tracy accidentally trigger the clone machine which produces some wimpy samurais. They are rescued by a friendly mechanic (one of the last non-robots) who has a faceless robot pall whom he plays card games with. Eventually our heros figure out that all the important diplomats and generals asked by Delos to visit the reopening of the park are really going to be cloned in a plan to take over the world.

Final thoughts

In short, don't expect anything unexpected. Don't expect any revolutionary sci-fi elements (I did discover that this as the first feature film to use 3D CGI!). Don't expect particularly good acting. Oh, and watch for the campy dream sequence -- it has absolutely no plot value and apparently, Blythe Danner trotting around with Yul Brynner was a fantasy that many women had at this time.... I dunno.

However, this is a really fun film which commits all the sins of B-film sci-fi. It might be better than Westworld...

This review is for the region 2 pal optimum releases edition of Futureworld.
It's anamorphic widescreen roughly 16:9 single layer disc and it looked great upconverted to 1080i on a widescreen hd tv.
I hadn't seen this film since it was in theaters. That being said it was as good as I remember and I enjoyed it even more this time around because of the plot.

Duplicates dedicated to Delos are killing and replacing their human counterparts in high places in order to create a new order, controlled by Delos. That theme is as current as it gets. We see the fruition of this devious plot now a days in governments full of inhuman people who are beholden only to the interests of large corporations and monolithic religious institutions which put them there in the first place. Its really chilling, and creepy.

The dream sequence is one of the best I have ever seen in film as it really captures the fragmented narrative of actual dreams.

WESTWORLD was -- and remains -- a classic. FUTUREWORLD is one of the few sequels that does the original proud. Terrific performances by Peter Fonda (was any actor as underappreciated as this guy?) and a spunky Blythe Danner. Full of twists and turns, and a single finger salute finale. I wish I could add this to my collection.

Films buffs will want to know that the Spanish R2 'Mundo Futuro' DVD is missing footage. There are four cuts totaling 2.5 minutes of missing footage:

1. The pre-credit sequence is missing.
2. Some dialoge during the press invite, round table scene.
3. When Peter Fonda explores the remains of Westworld.
4. Dialogue at the very end.

Until a better version is released, your best bet is to pick up the R2 UK full frame edition which includes all of the above cuts.

"Westworld" was a great movie that was highly acclaimed, but there has been much criticism over its sequel "Futureworld", and I can't see why - it's a great movie! Okay maybe the androids aren't malfunctioning this time, but they are replacing people in an attempt to take over the world - a good plot if you ask me. The first film was just a suspense movie, but this one is not only suspenseful, it's a political thriller with a lot of mystery in it as well.

The Delos company is trying to recover from the deadly events of Westworld. Assuring people that they have corrected their mistakes, and that their amusement park is now completely safe. To try and attract new customers they now have a Futureworld setting. Everything seems normal until a reporter gets a mysterious call from somebody who warns him that something strange is going on at Delos, but when he goes to meet the man, he finds him dead. Now as he begins to investigate Delos, he uncovers a shocking revelation. The androids have replaced everybody at Delos and they intend to take over the world. But as the reporter tries to get the information out to the public, he soon finds himself being hunted by his own android duplicate.

A great film with a great plot and great actors. Highly recommended!

peter fonda is a very underrated actor,all through the 70's he stared in some of the best low-buget movies ever made. futureworld starts some years after the westworld disaster. delos is back and running and the bugs that caused the first mishap are taken care of but still people aren't coming back as fast as delos would like so among others peter fonda and blythe danner go to take a tour. fonda wants to find out what a friend ment when he said delos after being stabed.
well as you can guess something is up but not what you think,they take a different corse and the it becomes a political thriller that works quite well.fonda has a natural charm like his father but much more of an everyday charm than henry had, and he never rubs you the wrong way like jane does. his career needs to be looked at again,he really is much better than they give him credit for>

American International Pictures' mostly successful sequel to MGM's Westworld finds ex-lover journalists Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner following a murdered informant's tip to look into suspicious activities inside the recently reopened robot theme park, Delos. Everything appears kosher on the surface - the homicidal programming flaw which cost a few former Delos guests their lives has long since been removed and safeguarded against - but something still just isn't quite right. The pair pretty quickly find out that the robots have become so advanced, they now build and repair themselves - and even run Delos, with only a minimum of human assistance. In fact, the robots think they might even run the world, if their clandestinely manufactured duplicates of several visiting media personalities and heads of state pass muster...

The filmmaking is average, about the level of a T.V. movie of the time, but the script is pretty snappy (even if the basic story is a bit hackneyed), and the chemistry and repartee between Danner and Fonda is terrific. Danner, especially, has rarely been more adorable - Yul Brynner makes a cameo appearance reprising his no-longer-murderous robot gunslinger, to do a sexy little dream ballet sequence with her. There are some odd bits of business in the film more appropriate to a fantasy than a sci-fi flick - holographic robot ninjas, with all-too-real swords, come immediately to mind - and the movie spends more time on titillation than actual plot development for far too long, but overall this movie delivers. The suspense is good, the direction loose but effective. The best sequences involve the drugged nocturnal abduction of Fonda and Danner and the duo's subsequent confrontation with their lethal robot duplicates - who must eliminate them, in order to take their place.

Could have been better, but still well worth watching.

This sequel to "Westworld" focuses upon a futuristic amusement park's attempts to take over the world with the power of the androids. Meanwhile, reporters Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner try to stop them at their own death_producing plan. But the only problem is that they made duplicates of them with the robots and they're are put in danger when they try to "destroy their original". A suspenseful entry in the "Westworld" trilogY (THE OTHER BEING A TV MADE PRODUCTION).