![]() If you’ve seen "Big Trouble" and liked it then "Buckaroo Banzai" is most certainly your cup of tea. Richter was involved with both films may have something to do with their similarity in tone. Richter have created a comic book come to life and the only other film that comes close to approximating the dialogue, pacing, and almost outlandish seriousness of "Buckaroo Banzai" is that other mid-1980s cult classic, John Carpenter’s "Big Trouble in Little China." Of course the fact that W. For this reason, the film feels like the middle episode in a series (alas, the follow-up film promised in the end credits never came to pass) so don’t be alarmed if nothing seems to make sense the first time through. Modeled after the Saturday morning matinee serials that were a staple of the all-American childhood up until the 1950s, "Buckaroo Banzai" plays out in frenetic fashion and assumes that viewers will not only be able to keep up but that they are also in the know with regards to any background information. That’s really the best I can do by way of a plot synopsis as the storyline really defies explanation and just has to be seen to be believed. In actuality, Lizardo’s body was possessed by the leader of the Reds, Lord John Whorfin (all of the aliens are named John) who now sets out after Banzai to steal the Overthruster, release the rest of his army, and seek revenge against his home planet.Ĭan Buckaroo Banzai and his gang stop Lord Whorfin in time? Will the Black Lectroids be forced to start World War Three in order to annihilate their Red enemies? Is Penny Priddy (Ellen Barkin) really the long lost twin sister of Banzai’s departed wife? All these questions and many more you never thought to ask are answered in "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension." Emilio Lizardo (John Lithgow) who seemingly went mad in the attempt. The last man to venture into the 8th dimension was Hikita’s partner Dr. Banzai and the car both pass through a mountain relatively unharmed but this brief foray into 8D awakens the Red Lectroids who have been imprisoned there after a failed coup against their Black Lectroid brethren on Planet 10. Planting an Oscillation Overthruster in the vehicle, Banzai sets out to take the car and himself into the 8th dimension. Unbeknownst to the project’s government-appointed handlers, Buckaroo Banzai and his life-long mentor Professor Hikita (Robert Ito) are secretly planning to recreate the very test that killed Buckaroo’s parents many years earlier. Banzai rushing from his stint as a neurosurgeon just in time to pilot the first test drive of a supersonic Jet Car. I imagine that many "Buckaroo Banzai" fans followed the same path to enlightenment and those who have never seen the film in all its glory (it has never before been released in on any home video format) are certainly in for a treat with this jam-packed special edition courtesy of the Banzai Institute and the fine folks at MGM.īuckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) is a scientist/musician/surgeon/well, you get the idea by now, who finds himself engaged in numerous very important pursuits with his band (I’m talking the real music-playing kind of band here) of compatriots The Hong Kong Cavaliers. I myself missed this gem during its very limited theatrical run but I quickly fell under its sway when I later rented the VHS tape on a whim. While the film was well received by the handful of critics who "got it, " I can just imagine how the average theater-goer responded to this one-of-a-kind cinematic experience. This insanely great little film has carved out a nice little niche for itself due solely to word of mouth by the rabid fans who refuse to let a good movie die. "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" surely ranks as one of the classic cult movies of all time.
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