This is a prime example of Comic Book aesthetics displayed in Cinema. This odd, quirky, derivative brand of David Bowie meets Doc Savage is the heart of what Super Hero adventures are all about. Naturally, there is an audience for hero stories that explore the dark sides of human character with the necessary gravitas, but an obvious point continues to be skipped and missed.
Comic books and Comic Book movies are for FUN!
'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Fun Dimension' would have been just as appropriate a title. There is a latent chuckle behind the introduction of every character and every outrageous situation. Besides that, more Pop Culture references that you can shake a Marshall McLuhan at in any medium.
This is a visual feast calling all geeks and nerds front and center and to stand to post along with the Hong Kong Cavaliers. The plot is deliciously convoluted and complicated to the point of absurdity which is just the point. Buckaroo Banzai plays it straight while driving his Jet Car through a mountain with the aid of the 'oscillation overthruster' he and his mentor Dr. Hikita, admirably played by Robert Ito, have finally perfected. He inadvertently passes through the Eighth Dimension before coming out of the other side to Public Fanfare for his scientific breakthrough. Meanwhile, before you know it, Dr. Emilio Lizardo at the Trenton Home for the Criminally Insane becomes aware of his success and the battlefield is readied for the Red Lectroids versus the peaceful Black Lectroids.
Penny Priddy is kidnapped when the Red Lectroids invade Banzai's headquarters after being tracked down to Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey. Priddy is tortured to reveal the whereabouts of the overthruster and in the end must be revived by Banzai applying the Kiss of Life. Our hero and his men succeed to avert World War III by foiling the machinations of Dr. Lizardo and John Bigboote', while the music rises to a cheesy swell on cue thanks to the musical score of Michael Boddicker.
Peter Weller does a grand job as Buckaroo Banzai in a John Glenn sort of way, and Ellen Barkin delivers plenty of emotional fireworks as Penny Priddy. John Lithgow goes way over the top chewing the scenery as Dr. Lizardo, while Christoper Lloyd is suitably, fiendishly histrionic as John Bigboote'. Rosalind Cash makes an authoritatively hilarious John Emdall, leader of the Black Lectroids, as Carl Lumbly struts his stuff as her messenger, John Parker. The Cinematographers Fred Koenekamp and Jordan Cronenweth give the visuals a bright storybook feel, while Damon Hines as Scooter Lindley, son of Casper Lindley as played by Bill Henderson, leads the growing cast of heroes on a triumphant march through Sepulveda Dam, Martin Luther King style.
While the end credits roll, we make a mental note that next time it will be BUCKAROO BANZAI AGAINST THE WORLD CRIME LEAGUE. We cross our fingers and hope we will have earned a place by then in the march.
Comic books and Comic Book movies are for FUN!
'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Fun Dimension' would have been just as appropriate a title. There is a latent chuckle behind the introduction of every character and every outrageous situation. Besides that, more Pop Culture references that you can shake a Marshall McLuhan at in any medium.
This is a visual feast calling all geeks and nerds front and center and to stand to post along with the Hong Kong Cavaliers. The plot is deliciously convoluted and complicated to the point of absurdity which is just the point. Buckaroo Banzai plays it straight while driving his Jet Car through a mountain with the aid of the 'oscillation overthruster' he and his mentor Dr. Hikita, admirably played by Robert Ito, have finally perfected. He inadvertently passes through the Eighth Dimension before coming out of the other side to Public Fanfare for his scientific breakthrough. Meanwhile, before you know it, Dr. Emilio Lizardo at the Trenton Home for the Criminally Insane becomes aware of his success and the battlefield is readied for the Red Lectroids versus the peaceful Black Lectroids.
Penny Priddy is kidnapped when the Red Lectroids invade Banzai's headquarters after being tracked down to Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey. Priddy is tortured to reveal the whereabouts of the overthruster and in the end must be revived by Banzai applying the Kiss of Life. Our hero and his men succeed to avert World War III by foiling the machinations of Dr. Lizardo and John Bigboote', while the music rises to a cheesy swell on cue thanks to the musical score of Michael Boddicker.
Peter Weller does a grand job as Buckaroo Banzai in a John Glenn sort of way, and Ellen Barkin delivers plenty of emotional fireworks as Penny Priddy. John Lithgow goes way over the top chewing the scenery as Dr. Lizardo, while Christoper Lloyd is suitably, fiendishly histrionic as John Bigboote'. Rosalind Cash makes an authoritatively hilarious John Emdall, leader of the Black Lectroids, as Carl Lumbly struts his stuff as her messenger, John Parker. The Cinematographers Fred Koenekamp and Jordan Cronenweth give the visuals a bright storybook feel, while Damon Hines as Scooter Lindley, son of Casper Lindley as played by Bill Henderson, leads the growing cast of heroes on a triumphant march through Sepulveda Dam, Martin Luther King style.
While the end credits roll, we make a mental note that next time it will be BUCKAROO BANZAI AGAINST THE WORLD CRIME LEAGUE. We cross our fingers and hope we will have earned a place by then in the march.