Customer Reviews

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

On paper (literally, as this was based on a short story) Overdrawn at the Memory Bank has a great premise, informing us of what can and can't be controlled, and how some can adjust to that control, but others will always try to change it, for without progress, we would all be subjucated to what Fingle frequently finds himself...bored.

Fingle is sent into an Identicub holomatrix during a compulsary rehab session, and becomes trapped there, creating his own world (or rather butchering the settings and characters of the Humphry Bogart film Cassablanca) Fingle is soon able to use his surroundings to polay havok with the coroporations that run the planet's financial and climate conditions, a one-man rebellion from within the system, against the system.

Only a woman assigned to monitor Fingle whilst hsi body is located is his sole window into the real world, the two begin feeling affection for one another, but she works on both sides of the fence, trying to keep Fingle from going too far whilst trying to appease the wrath of the Corporation president (whom Fingle refers to as "FAT MAN")

Whilst the film fails on most levels to impress, (what film produced by PUBLIC ACCESS can do that and NOT be a miracle?) the story still shows signs of promise that hopefully, one day, is broght to our screens again, only this time with a competant script, sharper acting, and better quality.

At least this film is'nt an ant-eater...

I saw this movie about a billion times...well, I guess I saw it on MST3k a billion times...I saw it once out of MST3k, and I still loved it. The fat man is awesome! This is definately one piece of sh--uurly good quality film! I love it so much!

If you liked ice-pirates or tron or dark-star then this may be for you. No its not over produced. No you won't be distracted by ridiculously professional special effects. But this movie is cool with a captial coo! If you consider yourself a computer nerd, logic designer or electronic engineer and don't like this celluloid sequence... previously know as a flick, then turn in your keyboard and become an accountant or truck driver now!! I've been a programmer and dumpster diver and biker since I was 10 and I love this flick!!! If you don't love this flick then you must live a life free of cheesyness, cheapness, and Orwellian-ness. Nothing starting chee... except for Orwellian-ness that is.

If you like King Kong, Attack of the Killer Tomatos, any Godzilla movie, or any other bad 60-70's movie, you'll love this. Honestly, if you expect serious drama, you'll be disappointed, but if you expect to giggle your way through it, then you have found a new favorite.
Personally, I'd reccommend it to anyone.

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank has got to be, without a doubt, one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. Horrible acting, horrible production values, horrible writing. Now I know it was a public television movie, but two hours of Sesame Street is more entertaining than this. To give an idea of just how bad this movie is, Mystery Science Theater 3000 even made fun of it. And if you want to be entertained by this movie, I suggest you wait until the Mystery Science Theater version is put out on VHS or DVD. Raul Julia must have been hurtin' for cash in order to star in this monstrosity. That is, if he even got paid!

After years of searching I finally found a copy of this title. Everything arrived as promised in a timely manner.

This has got to be the best film ever!! i enjoyed everylast minute of it!!! I am so glad i saw it!! 3 cheers for "the Cube!"

If you love bad movies, and I know you do, you absolutely have to see this movie. You will note that I have given this move one star. This is only because the rating of negative two stars is not available. The acting is bad, the script is wretched, and the music has been known to cause extinction in primitive civilizations. In other words, its rough. But its so bad its good. Its absolutely hilarious (unententionally of course) so pick up today, its cheap enough.

While many people know this film from it being used by MST3K, the fact is that the story is a good one, based on the short story by the same name by John Varley. Raul Julia plays a man named Fingal, a button pusher who is getting bored with doing nothing but helping the computers crunch numbers. After he is caught watching "Casablanca" he is sent to spend some time as a animal, to help calm him.
But they lose his body and things get weird.
Raul Julia, Linda Griffiths and many of the other people in this made-for-PBS movie do a very good job with their characters. The settings, the special effects, the use of nature films and everything else reminds me of a mixture of Dr. WHO? and somebody's college film. BUT that doesn't hurt it. It, in fact, gives it a interesting, unique feel that you don't get from most sci-fi films.
It is worth it if you can get it used.
Interesting note: the people at MST3K felt guilty about using this film for their show as they respect the work of the late Raul Julia.

Raul Julia is a great actor, but even he can't redeem Overdrawn at the Memory Bank. Apparently WNET was very proud of it, as they plasted their name in much larger type than the rest of the credits right at the beginning. Think about that the next time they try to guilt you into paying 100 dollars for Riverdance.

The story is basically 1984 gone horribly wrong. Raul Julia gets busted for watching Casablanca on company time, and his mind is put into a baboon for reasons the writers choose not to divulge, just as we never find out why it is illegal to watch movies. He escapes just as the baboon is killed and turns the world into Casablanca, with himself as Rick, the woman monitering him as Ilsa, and the evil ruler of the world as the fat man. If it sounds stupid, that's because it is. Also, the story gets very hard to follow, and by the end I really had no idea what was going on. I still don't believe the people on IMDb who say they've seen it 30 times and know what's happening at the end.

The special effects, even for 80s PBS, are laughable. They basically consist of rectangles that fly out from the middle of the screen and pixilate everything. Also, it doesn't help that the whole thing is shot with a regular camcorder on videotape.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the final nail is at least three derrogatory remarks about anteaters. (MST3k might have cut some out) We also never find out why everyone hates anteaters so much. My best guess is that the writers also share this prejudice, and couldn't find a way to talk about it in public.

All in all, I think if this movie was the only one Raul could watch, he would choose to keep working.