Customer Reviews

Gunhed [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

High-concept Sci-Fi adventure about an island that actually is a computer called Kyron 5, itself created to design and manufacture super-advanced robots to be used as slaves for the rest of the world. One day Kyron decides that human beings are unnecessary, so it declares war on the world. But Kyron cannot be tamed, and after many lives are lost in the attempt, mankind decides to leave Kyron to its own devices. Ahhh, but Kyron is up to something, something big! We pick up the story 13 years after the "Robot Wars" on the island have ended, and a scavenger crew visits the island in order to try and scoop up some Gunhed parts which are extremely valuable on the black market. These "Gunhed" units are actually gigantic, transformer-styled tanks with individual personalities that were used in the war against Kyron, but their burnt-out carcasses were left to rust on the island. A little bit "Terminator 2," a little bit "Blade Runner," a little bit "Alien," this Japanese import totally delivers the goods. Superior story and production design.

Set in the not to distant future, Gunhed is somewhat reminisent of the cult classic Robot Jocks, and is one hell of a movie. If you want non stop action and adventure, well this is for you.

If you love Anime, you'll really love Gunhed.

This cult smash is a little-known piece of rare, live-action fare which delivers action and intrigue.

The hero is a young, Japanese "Yankee Fan" and techno-geek, who must wind his way through an island fortress in the last known working "battle tank", Gunhed.

There is an underlying sensuality set by the female lead, the "brawn" of the movie.

Gunhed is one for your library, if you're an anime nut.

Interesting giant robot film that has some good SPFX,and an unique storyline.It can get boring at a few times,but still,it's a good film.

They relied on alot of scaled models when it probably would have been better to use CG, but the interaction between Brooklyn and his robot counterpart as they battle the evil super computer was intriguing. Some of the "costume that looks like a robot" effects weren't as pleasing as the manga (comic book) that came out the same time as the movie (illustrated by the same author as Silent Moebius) but it's a definate must for people looking to suppliment their collection of robo-anime genre films. If you like Gundam, Gunbuster, Robotech or Dangaio, this is a pleaser.

This is a rather interesting movie.If my research and memory is correct this movie started out as an entry into Japan's version of the canned film festival. It was made by a creative group of friends and the movie was liked well enouph to be picked up by a larger corporation and got touched up and marketed. If you look closely as you watch you can see the relationships these characters (friends) have off screen in there real life. Once you know these things and understand that it isnt a product of bug corperations but just that of some comon and creative friends this movie takes on a hole new shape and is much more satisfying to behold.

This could have been a great movie - it has a unique premise and wonderful sets. A really spooky atmosphere. But who made this thing? A bunch of 10-year olds? In the beginning, we see a group of fortune hunters going to an island to scavenge computer parts. They talk like cartoon characters out of some children's Godzilla movie - saying silly things with annoying enthusiasm. Then they arrive on the island, and I don't have a clue what happens after that. All of a sudden they start shooting at people. Some other characters that weren't introduced? Themselves? Robots? Who knows. A character gets killed by a glowing spike rising out of the floor, but we only get a glimpse of his face, so you don't even know who it is. They meet an American woman, and knock her out by lightly bumping into her. Then she's their friend. They walk around some cool sets saying things like "Come out, dammit" but you don't have any idea who or what they're referring to. Then all of a sudden there's some character who's mute, and most of the original characters don't seem to be around anymore. Then after one scene the mute guy disappears for the rest of the film. I mean, what the??? There's a couple of little kids with those grating high-pitched voices yelling every word they say. They drop bombs that just happened to be hanging from the ceiling, while yelling loudly and constantly in those shriekish voices.

Then somebody finds a wrecked mech and tells the other survivors (Are there two or ten of them? Who knows.) to stay put for 20 hours while he fixes it. That's kind of funny since most everybody was killed in the first ten minutes of arriving. Anyhow, then there's a battle between two mechs that consumes some screen time. You know the drill: mech A shoots mech B about a thousand times, which results in mech B losing a headlight. Mech B shoots mech A about a thousand times, which results in some sparks and jiggling of the camera inside mech A. Repeat a couple of times. This has nothing to do with any plot of any sort - anything resembling a plot was forgotten about ten minutes into this thing.

I mean, what the...??? This movie is just a complete joke. It's edited together in such a way that you can never tell what's happening, or who it's happening to. It's directed in such a way that it can't decide if it wants to be a serious Alien type movie or a silly Godzilla movie for the kiddies. The two definitely don't mix well.

All in all, a real waste of some great sets and a neat premise. Brenda Bakke, as Texas Air Ranger Sgt. Nim (the American who gets knocked out so easily) is a really good character, surrounded by a huge load of utter nonsense.

So sad.