Customer Reviews

Solarbabies [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Okay. First of all, you have to understand that this is an 80's flick. If you watched (and enjoyed) this movie growing up in the 80's, then it will bring you back. Maybe i'm just a die-hard fan of post-apocolyptic-ish 80's movies, but this one is definatley fun. This movie needs to be released on DVD. Its up there with movies such as The Last Starfighter, The Lost Boys, Gremlins, and other great (semi-cheezy) 80's movies. If you like any of these movies, then Solarbabies is definatley a must see. But its mostly for people who saw it in the 80's and who still love 80's stuff (transformers, pop-culture, various other nostalgic items).
I love this movie, and i recommend for anyone who saw it and liked it growing up, to find a copy and have an enjoying movie night watching it again.

Solarbabies is a futuristic movie about a group of kids (ages 7-17)living in an orphanage. None of the kids knows where they came from or what the outside world is about. That is, until they get a chance to go beyond the walls, both the walls of their captivity and the walls of their perceptions. It is a wonderful movie about the underdogs fighting against all odds and about the meek inheiriting the Earth. Whether you like sci-fi or just like movies about kids, this is a great movie for you.

First of all I was a kid in the 80's and love everything about the 80's. I am now 25 and still love everything and anything having t do with 80's. Now, with that being said...I love this movie. To this day I love this movie. As well as The Lost Boys, Gremlins, Space Camp, Ice Pirates, etc. If you love 80's movies and the music you will enjoy this movie. Im so glad to have found it again and recommend it to anyone.

I agree with the other positive reviewers that you had to have seen it in the 80's as a kid, with the idealistic view of the world and hope for humanity that does not exist in today's mainstream youth, to truly appreciate the nuances and deeper meanings of this movie and really understand what it's about. For all of you who wrote negative reviews, you just have no soul if you did not "get" this movie.
A group of orphans overcome obstacles to make their lives better, to save the earth from total destruction. A classic good vs. evil overall theme, and also survival of the fittest. Some of the meaning is lost in the ineptness of the creators of the film, but if you have any scrupples, and just a little heart and soul, you will understand it! Recommended for fans of Conan the Barbarian, Beyond Thunderdome, and those type of movies. If you like this movie, you will also like "28 Days Later".

As someone who has not seen this movie when it was first released, I can't say it gave me a nostalgic feeling when I saw it now. But, I can say that the movie has that innocent feel to it as do many movies in the past have. The technology and special effects may be outdated, but the sentiment of the movie remains. What we take for granted now (e.g. freedom, water, ecosystem, etc..) may one day cease to exist unless we learn to coexist peacefuly.

The premise has seen better days, and lots of them. It's a post-apocalyptic world, a Mad Maxian place that trades in water rather than fuel, with a giant evil corporation thrown in for fun. The major dramatice tension comes from two teen gangs, one (the bad guys) associated with EvilCorp. And, when not pressed into near-slavery, they seem to get around on roller skates with headlights. Why there are skatable roads back and forth across the desert, so conveniently paved, cleared, and maintained, is beyond me, but there it is. Including that one straight into the secret domain of the goodguy Eco-whoozis. Oh, and the evil scientist - can't forget the evil scientist.

Utterly forgettable. In fact, you could save yourself the effort of having to forget it by simply missing it in the first place. I should have.

-- wiredweird

So this was one of the weirder movies I've seen in awhile. In fact it was so weird it was kind of funny, which I guess made it worth watching. Surprisingly, being a child of the eighties, I hadn't actually watched too many movies from that time ( I was stuck on the tv shows apparently) and so I'm making up for it now by watching a few. I can definitely see why that whole decade was considered a bit odd now.

It's a post-apocalyptic future where children are gathered and sent to camps that will force them to become a part of the Eco-Protectorate (a group that controls the dwindling water supply). At this camp their main function is to roll around on roller skates it would seem, playing games. They sometimes sneak off the camps to play games though and at one such time something wonderful happens. One little boy, Daniel, finds a mysterious orb of light that he names Bodhai that can do wondrous things and he and his friends (a roller team called the Solarbabies) must protect it at all costs. They also find a new goal for themselves, to save the water from the evil Eco Protectorate. The only problem is it is near impossible to escape from the camps, and when Daniel goes missing, they have to find a way to rescue him.

Characters:
Richard Jordan as Grock
Jami Gertz as Terra
Jason Patric as Jason
Lukas Haas as Daniel
James LeGros as Metron
Claude Brooks as Rabbit
Peter DeLuise as Tug
Peter Kowanko as Gavial
Adrian Pasdar as Darstar
Sarah Douglas as Shandray
Charles Durning as The Warden
Frank Converse as Greentree
Terrence Mann as Ivor
Alexei Sayle as Malice
Bruce Payne as Dogger

The characters are very eighties in this movie. They've got the big hair, big attitude, and love to skate with a whole lot of drama mixed in. The bad guys are complete evil with no redeeming qualities and also have big hair. Throw in some weird dance scenes and that should pretty much round out the picture of this cast. None of them were particularly good actors in my opinion, but as said before the movie was so amusing I could almost ignore that.

The plot seemed fairly standard for a post-apocalyptic world. They have to save a resource and share it with the people, in this case water. The roller skates though, added a whole new dimension. There wasn't anywhere these kids couldn't skate. Made me want to go put on a pair myself and roll through my lawn just to see if it was skate-able. Probably a good thing I didn't though because I don't think it would have gone as smoothly as their skating. Since its a kids movie it is appropriate for all ages and I can see younger viewers identifying with Daniel pretty easy as he was a cute kid who gets to play with the mysterious ball of light.

Definitely a weird movie but if you haven't seen it, give it a watch just for a giggle. It is average in all ways, but highly amusing.

Review by M. Reynard 2011

This movie is one of my all time Favs. I wish MGM would re-realease it on DVD so I can add it to my collection of Awesome 80's movies.

Solarbabies is an excellent example of the films of the 80's. The cast does a great job and the special effects are magnificent for their time. The movie is an awesome depiction of a controlled future for society and the power of the independent spirit that will overcome anything. Great plot.

Length:: 0:24 Mins