Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Disneyland it ain't..., November 7, 2002
"Westworld" is Michael Crichton's first foray into the theme-park-as-hell genre which he followed up more successfully in "Jurassic Park", but it's a very good film on its own. Here we have James Brolin and Richard Benjamin, two bored yuppies, starting their holiday in Delos, billed as the ultimate theme park, "where nothing can go wrong". Yeah, right. Customers pay through their noses to spend a vacation in one of three areas of the park: Romanworld, Medievalworld, and Westworld, where they can live out their fantasies and it's fun for all. Brolin and Benjamin choose Westworld (what American boy has never played cowboy at some time in his childhood?) and for a few days they have the time of their lives shooting up bad guys, starting barfights, and drawing a bead on deadly rattlesnakes. But it's all harmless fun and games -- everything's computerized, the bad guys, the ladies of easy virtue, even the rattlesnakes; and there's a state-of-the-art computer lab to keep everything running smoothly. Nothing to worry about......until the computers develop a virus that sends them off into a learning curve that screws everything up. The first hint that something might be amiss happens over in Medievalworld, when a robot harlot decides she is tired of being a sex object and smacks a customer across the face when he tries to seduce her. Meanwhile, back in Westworld, the bad-guy-in-black robot challenges Brolin and Benjamin to a gunfight, but instead of being shot dead as he is every night, the bad guy decides to turn the tables. Oh boy, maybe it's time to cut this vacation short... but that's easier said than done when all of the robots have gone berserk and start whacking not only the customers, but their programmers as well. Murphy's Law has proved itself once again with a vengeance. Is there any way out of this mess? See for yourself. Brolin and Benjamin are fairly good in their respective roles, nothing to write home about; but what makes this movie special is Yul Brynner's terrific portrayal of the bad-guy-in-black; a soulless robot with the dead eyes of a killer. The special effects are interesting in that they show us how far special effects have come since this movie was made; this was strictly a low-budget film, but it's a lot of fun for all that. It's pure Crichtonian escapism.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Real Science Fantasy Trek Into Horror, October 29, 2004
I picked this film up about a week ago. I hadn't seen it since it premiered back in the 1970's. It made no impression on me whatsoever on that first viewing. Boy has time and its simplicity improved it, the second time around! This is a very timely film and I think people of all ages should take a look at it.
This film moves from humour to fantasy to horror almost seamlessly. And the funny thing is- the fact that Crichton didn't get caught up in atmosphere or look; he concentrated on two characters simply going to a future resort, however fantastic the idea seems, to release and experience what in fact become examples of some of the darkest pleasures or most violent impulses inside of all of us. It really presses the right buttons and asks questions about what we find fun or entertaining.
I don't want any review I write to spoil the films for the people yet to see the work so, let's just say- when the tables turn and 'we're on the receiving end ', there's a real numbing truth to what this film drives home. More so today then when it was released. Think of some of the 'reality based darkness' that now litters our airwaves and the unfortunate numbers who seem to be tuning in to watch it.
James Brolin really nails the 'who cares' feel his character needs. Richard Benjamin has to be the one who feels silly at first, then joins in with a sort of reckless abandon. And Yul Brynner is an example to everybody today (in acting, directing, effects and make-up ), of how you can scare the hell out of someone with a look, a smile and two small silver contact lens. (You'll know what I mean when you get to the scene). Benjamin really balances him from that point, having to portray the fear the new reality hits him with.
I won't do the Jurassic comparisons. I thought it when Jurassic came out but Jurassic was a rollercoaster ride. Westworld is the tale with the real bite.
I highly recommend this movie. It's an entertainment that quickly turns to a truth I think we all need to keep thinking about. What do we really find entertaining? Or more to the point... why?
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible Movie, March 18, 2000
This could have only come out of the mind of Michael Crichton. The movie is one of the best sci-fi films that I have ever seen. The possibility of going to a place where robots look human and are there to satisfy your every need is a thrilling concept even today. This movie has a stellar cast with Richard Benjamin and James Brolin turning in stellar performances. The best part of it all though is the chilling portrayal of the gunslinger by Yul Brenner. Just to see him playing this role makes owning this movie worth it. A must movie for fans of great imaginative filmmaking.
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