This is another under the radar gem, that I really like, yeah, it's true this isn't a sci-fi classic, but it could have been. I really like that this is a sci-fi film that gets into the future sports subgenre which I don't feel is utilized much and I'd personally love to see more of because there really is lots to explore in that subgenre.
The film is pretty much "Rocky" or "Street Fighter" in space. Personally, I think this is an awesome idea heck this could of made a really good episode for the "Power Rangers" franchise, actually makes me wonder why the heck any of the entries never did tournament episodes.
The characters and cast are pretty good, there is surprisingly a good cast a few of them are sci-fi TV alumni. Like Armin Shimerman and Marc Alaimo whom were in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and Claudia Christian from "Babylon 5" they all act well.
Paul Staterfield is solid, he kinda looks like Christopher Reeve even sounds a little like him; man, Christopher Reeve in a sci-fi sports film that would've been something. He's a solid typical underdog protagonist Steve Armstrong whom is a person with big dreams in fighting in the Arena but just having more in life in general. As we hear no human has ever or has been aloud to compete in the Arena. In the story there hasn't been any one on one fighting sports involving humans for years which I'll admit is stupid, nor has it been explained or elaborated on. But then again that makes us want his character to be in the Arena and win, prove all of them wrong; yeah, it's a common cliché in sports films but it works every time.
Also really like the guy that plays his friend Shorty played by Hamilton Camp whom is a four-armed alien. He's sort of the alien Burgess Meredith/Mickey as he looks, and sound like him. He's funny as he's got a bit of spitfire and aggression. But like Mickey he's sort of Steve's mentor/father figure toward him, helping in guiding him on the right path.
Like Quinn whom is played by Claudia Christian, she is Steve's manager. I like that she like Steve is a bit on the underdog side of things. Despite managing fighters none of them along with her company always came close but never made it. Steve is their best chance she's been looking for so long. She really has a commanding sensibility about her along with her big ambitions, but she doesn't let that cloud her judgement as she does care for what happens to Steve and his wellbeing. Which I like shows that she's not just a boss but a friend.
Despite the low budget it was used well, I really like the creature effects, each of the aliens are unique and even have a little personality which makes them stand out and a little funny. There are some interesting looking aliens like but of course my favorite and whom is the main challenge throughout the film is Horn. He almost looks like he could be one of Skelator's cronies from "He Man" as we see he is half monster half cyborg. But really like the characters persona as he's really conveys some ruthless hungry menace but just simply that he loves to inflate his ego and get attention, which sort of makes him an alien version of Apollo Creed. There is this other whom is some half humanoid half insect creature with those spider like legs and hide, he was cool despite not too mobile but he occupied lots of space in the Arena which makes sense; and really like some of the verbal taunts on Steve which made that alien kind of funny.
The fights are solid, the choreography is good it's a little more boxing action, but I didn't mind. It was cool seeing both the aliens and Steve just land those hits on one another, so it wasn't one sided. Really liked seeing Steve's fight with that giant insect alien, which was cool almost a David versus Goliath battle, like in that battle isn't so tough once you hit him in the right places. Along with that fight against Horn just seeing both pounding on one another.
The only phantom punches the film has are I don't feel there are nearly enough fights. Steve has a total of two, or should I say three if you want to count the sparing session. Also wish we had a montage scene, where we would see Steve is just knocking each alien he faces while some cool music plays, that and the lack of more fights were lost opportunities.
And the reason for this is mainly because the film is slightly hampered by a subplot that wasn't very interesting by its nature it was really a filler obstacle. Don't get me wrong the two Star Trek alumni Armin and Marc do a fine job in their roles but should have been saved for another sci-fi film.
And a little romance story that goes nowhere and was just a waste of time with Steve and some girl we don't care about and whom we know is wrong for him for so many reasons. These things don't hamper the film too much it's still fun, but still subtracting these things would have made the film even better.
I love to see a remake of this or even just simply another film with this similar concept but make it with mixed fighting styles mainly mixed martial arts so we can see both the humans and aliens execute more moves against one another. Maybe a video game based on this film or at least another fighting game based on the sci-fi genre which I feel that genre in video games needs more of.
But another proposal if possible though not likely a licensed comic book series adaptation since the Full Moon Films (which was Empire Pictures at the time) has a comic book branch and has done some licensed comic adaptations on franchises "Puppet Master" and "Trancers" so why not this one, see how much further Steve's career has gone and is going, but also see many more aliens he fights. Well it's a thought anyway.
Like any fighting match "Arena" is worth a watch.
Rating: 3 stars
The film is pretty much "Rocky" or "Street Fighter" in space. Personally, I think this is an awesome idea heck this could of made a really good episode for the "Power Rangers" franchise, actually makes me wonder why the heck any of the entries never did tournament episodes.
The characters and cast are pretty good, there is surprisingly a good cast a few of them are sci-fi TV alumni. Like Armin Shimerman and Marc Alaimo whom were in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and Claudia Christian from "Babylon 5" they all act well.
Paul Staterfield is solid, he kinda looks like Christopher Reeve even sounds a little like him; man, Christopher Reeve in a sci-fi sports film that would've been something. He's a solid typical underdog protagonist Steve Armstrong whom is a person with big dreams in fighting in the Arena but just having more in life in general. As we hear no human has ever or has been aloud to compete in the Arena. In the story there hasn't been any one on one fighting sports involving humans for years which I'll admit is stupid, nor has it been explained or elaborated on. But then again that makes us want his character to be in the Arena and win, prove all of them wrong; yeah, it's a common cliché in sports films but it works every time.
Also really like the guy that plays his friend Shorty played by Hamilton Camp whom is a four-armed alien. He's sort of the alien Burgess Meredith/Mickey as he looks, and sound like him. He's funny as he's got a bit of spitfire and aggression. But like Mickey he's sort of Steve's mentor/father figure toward him, helping in guiding him on the right path.
Like Quinn whom is played by Claudia Christian, she is Steve's manager. I like that she like Steve is a bit on the underdog side of things. Despite managing fighters none of them along with her company always came close but never made it. Steve is their best chance she's been looking for so long. She really has a commanding sensibility about her along with her big ambitions, but she doesn't let that cloud her judgement as she does care for what happens to Steve and his wellbeing. Which I like shows that she's not just a boss but a friend.
Despite the low budget it was used well, I really like the creature effects, each of the aliens are unique and even have a little personality which makes them stand out and a little funny. There are some interesting looking aliens like but of course my favorite and whom is the main challenge throughout the film is Horn. He almost looks like he could be one of Skelator's cronies from "He Man" as we see he is half monster half cyborg. But really like the characters persona as he's really conveys some ruthless hungry menace but just simply that he loves to inflate his ego and get attention, which sort of makes him an alien version of Apollo Creed. There is this other whom is some half humanoid half insect creature with those spider like legs and hide, he was cool despite not too mobile but he occupied lots of space in the Arena which makes sense; and really like some of the verbal taunts on Steve which made that alien kind of funny.
The fights are solid, the choreography is good it's a little more boxing action, but I didn't mind. It was cool seeing both the aliens and Steve just land those hits on one another, so it wasn't one sided. Really liked seeing Steve's fight with that giant insect alien, which was cool almost a David versus Goliath battle, like in that battle isn't so tough once you hit him in the right places. Along with that fight against Horn just seeing both pounding on one another.
The only phantom punches the film has are I don't feel there are nearly enough fights. Steve has a total of two, or should I say three if you want to count the sparing session. Also wish we had a montage scene, where we would see Steve is just knocking each alien he faces while some cool music plays, that and the lack of more fights were lost opportunities.
And the reason for this is mainly because the film is slightly hampered by a subplot that wasn't very interesting by its nature it was really a filler obstacle. Don't get me wrong the two Star Trek alumni Armin and Marc do a fine job in their roles but should have been saved for another sci-fi film.
And a little romance story that goes nowhere and was just a waste of time with Steve and some girl we don't care about and whom we know is wrong for him for so many reasons. These things don't hamper the film too much it's still fun, but still subtracting these things would have made the film even better.
I love to see a remake of this or even just simply another film with this similar concept but make it with mixed fighting styles mainly mixed martial arts so we can see both the humans and aliens execute more moves against one another. Maybe a video game based on this film or at least another fighting game based on the sci-fi genre which I feel that genre in video games needs more of.
But another proposal if possible though not likely a licensed comic book series adaptation since the Full Moon Films (which was Empire Pictures at the time) has a comic book branch and has done some licensed comic adaptations on franchises "Puppet Master" and "Trancers" so why not this one, see how much further Steve's career has gone and is going, but also see many more aliens he fights. Well it's a thought anyway.
Like any fighting match "Arena" is worth a watch.
Rating: 3 stars