Friday, December 10, 2010
Michael Allen
Director: Sam Irvin.
Writers: Charles Band, John Rheaume, Greg Suddeth, Mark Goldstein, and Peter David.
Oblivion is a sci-fi re-release of Full Moon Features original 1994 production. This picture spawned a sequel in 1996 and both films have a good selection of stars. Andrew Divoff stars as a snaked skinned villain, while South African born Musetta Vander adds an uncontainable and appealing sexuality. Both stars lay waste to a western town, set over a thousand years in the future.
The film begins with a this town is too small for the two of us type scenario and the winner is not the local sheriff, but a scaly creature known as Red Eye (Divoff). Things turn from bad to worse for the locals, as the villains turn prim and calm to sin and harm. The sheriff is cursed with a pacifist son, who finds a more violent way to save his friends and the town from complete destruction.
This release was originally distributed on VHS and now the show is available for the first time on DVD. Full Moon Features is known for their cult classic franchises like Killjoy, Puppet Master and Gingerdeadman. Oblivion is an alien series that really did not get off the ground as well as these other films. However, the original is mostly a good time spent, with some of the writing best suited for those escaping Junior High. This is a simple good vs evil story, with some unmoving moral dilemmas of pacifism and heroism thrown in for fun.
One thing that sets the film apart from others is the ensemble cast. Andrew Divoff has been involved in film and television for dozens of years and he might be best known for his appearance in Stephen King's Graveyard Shift. Julie Newmar plays a brothel owner named Miss Kitty and Newmar has been a stage actress for fifty plus years. George Takei from "Star Trek" fame plays a Doc Holliday copy, while Jimmie F. Skaggs (Cutthroat Island) and Musetta Vander round a mostly B movie cast. The acting is not the problem, but the writing is.
The plot follows a universally known, and Greek originated tale of a hero taking his father's place e.g. Oedipus the King. It also puts Zack Stone (Richard Joseph Paul) on the hero's journey e.g. Jason and the Argonauts or Aeneas. Viewers have been here before and if you are going to repeat the past, add in a new take. Otherwise, all you get is the usual hero rescuing the girl type story. Sci-fi viewers expect more than that!
This title released August 31st and the title shows a good transfer, from the previous format. The film is recommendable for those looking for some light, slightly adventurous musings of cowboys and aliens, in the far distant future. Others looking for deeper tones, and themes will be in Takei's boots saying: "beam me up Scotty!"
Acting/characterizations/believability: 7 (no problems here).
Writing/story/plot: 6.5 (blending sci-fi with western is an interesting combo).
Overall: 6.75 out of 10.
The film is available here through Amazon:
Or at Full Moon Direct:
Oblivion Purchasable at Full Moon Direct
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Posted in: 2010,andrew divoff,Charles Band,dvd,dvd artwork,full moon features,movie review,musetta vander,sam irvin,science fiction western movie review
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