Starring:
Barry Bostwick in a shiny jumpsuit
Michael Beck with a Texas accent
Persis Khambatta with hair
Edward Mulhare in a beret
Henry Silva with a cool beard
Henry Silva with a cool beard
Megaforce is a top secret elite fighting force - the best soldiers the Free World can offer, armed with the very latest high-tech weaponry and led by the flamboyant Ace Hunter.
It's never really explained why they all wear shiny jumpsuits with (apparently) nothing underneath.
It's never really explained why they all wear shiny jumpsuits with (apparently) nothing underneath.
When the Republic of Sardun is repeatedly attacked by their Gamibian neighbours, led by the dastardly Duke Guerera, Megaforce is sent into Gamibia to take out Guerera's army.
But when the mission suddenly becomes a political embarrassment, Hunter and his force find themselves in a world of trouble.
You have to feel sorry for Michael Beck. After "Xanadu" (writeup HERE) torpedoed his career, he was probably looking for something to get things back on track. "I have just the thing. " said his agent. " An action comedy with lots of cool cars and bikes. The kids will love it."
"What's it called?"
"Megaforce!"
Sadly Megaforce failed commercially and critically, earning Michael Beck another Razzie Award (Worst Supporting Actor) to sit alongside the one he earned for Xanadu. It also picked up the coveted Razzies for Worst film and Worst Director.
To be fair, this film presents a snarker with plenty to aim at. It can best be described as what "The Wild Geese" might have turned out like if it had been funded by a toy company and starred a motorcycle display team.
Bostwick, Beck and Silva ham it up like they're going for a gold medal in the Olympic Hamathon, you know you're doing something wrong when the GI Joe cartoon is a better depiction of an elite military force, and then there's the one scene everybody who's ever seen Megaforce will remember forever. (More on that later.)
The whole thing really is too daft for words.
I really shouldn't have enjoyed it so much.
I enjoyed this film when I first saw it (somewhere back in the mid 80s) and much to my amazement, quite enjoyed the experience of watching it again last night.
Once you embrace the essential silliness - and if you cope with a spandex clad Barry Bostwick throwing heroic poses at every possible opportunity - then this is a fun film. The producers didn't skimp on the toy budget (there's some countries can't field that many tanks.) and certainly didn't skimp on the "making things go bang" budget. Bros-turned-foes Bostwick and Silva turn in the most affable military commanders in the history of film and let's face it, there's a small part of even the most jaded man that thinks motorbikes with rocket launchers and machine guns are freaking awesome.
Oh wait. Motorbikes with missiles & machine guns that fly!
Megaforce. Daft but surprisingly entertaining.
I suppose I really ought to do some screenshots too.
Bostwick, Beck and Silva ham it up like they're going for a gold medal in the Olympic Hamathon, you know you're doing something wrong when the GI Joe cartoon is a better depiction of an elite military force, and then there's the one scene everybody who's ever seen Megaforce will remember forever. (More on that later.)
The whole thing really is too daft for words.
I really shouldn't have enjoyed it so much.
I enjoyed this film when I first saw it (somewhere back in the mid 80s) and much to my amazement, quite enjoyed the experience of watching it again last night.
Once you embrace the essential silliness - and if you cope with a spandex clad Barry Bostwick throwing heroic poses at every possible opportunity - then this is a fun film. The producers didn't skimp on the toy budget (there's some countries can't field that many tanks.) and certainly didn't skimp on the "making things go bang" budget. Bros-turned-foes Bostwick and Silva turn in the most affable military commanders in the history of film and let's face it, there's a small part of even the most jaded man that thinks motorbikes with rocket launchers and machine guns are freaking awesome.
Oh wait. Motorbikes with missiles & machine guns that fly!
Megaforce. Daft but surprisingly entertaining.
I suppose I really ought to do some screenshots too.
Megaforce - protecting the Free World against the evil balloon Menace.
Persis asks "What kind of movie are we in again?"
Ace and the lovely Major Zara share a touching moment
It's kinda spoilt for me by...
Oh hello there.
Megaforce break stuff.
Megaforce laugh at the idea of camouflage.
And personal weapons
And underwear.
Ace and Guerera: a beautiful bromance.
Gold spandex, wellies and headband. Not a look everybody can pull off.
Dunebuggies with fricking laser beams.
I wants one.
Well that's pretty isn't it?
For a brief period in the 80s, headbands were manly as all hell.
If the flying bike didn't convince you, here's the trailer.
That's all folks.
Yeah, those headbands were something, & I've noticed beards are making a comeback.
ReplyDeleteDid the tight suits come off? Didn't need to with no underwear???
No, no BigD; you miss my point. I mean, could they have done with flared pantsuits for some extra dash, street cred & flare?
Cheers, ic
Wow,who ever came up with the whole headband/spandex thing. On a man or woman it just looks cheesy!:) Ahhh... the 80s. Hope those trends don't return. I saw the trailer and just couldn't stop laughing. Looks funny.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this movie, Big D, but did you know that Barry Bostwick played the role of Brad in Rocky Horror Picture Show? Loved every inch of him in that!
ReplyDeleteJust found one of the buggies in longbeach
ReplyDeleteNow if somebody can just track down the flying motorbike my joy would be complete.
DeleteI kept expecting Persis Khambatta to start screaming, "Beam me up, Scottie!"
ReplyDeleteWell she effectively disappears from the entire film after the Megaforce set off. So maybe she did catch the next shuttle back to the Enterprise.
Delete