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From: Isdale.es@XEROX.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Buckeroo Banzai  (book/movie) and Dreamscape (movie)
Message-ID: <12933@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-Aug-84 13:37:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.12933
Posted: Tue Aug 28 13:37:09 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Aug-84 11:39:53 EDT
Lines: 52

From:  Jerry <Isdale.es@XEROX.ARPA>

I have recently seen both Buckeroo Banzai and Dreamscape and would
recommend both.

Non Spoiler Reviews:

Buckeroo Banzai: Book & Movie
	Read/see in either order (slight preference for movie first)
	A great adventure film. Indian Jones updated for the 80's (more
intellectual, humanist less macho bigot). However the film does lack a
few things. At some points the dialog is difficult to understand
(generally when the aliens are speaking english). there was also a
continuity problem where the action doesnt flow smoothly. The main
character could have used some more development. The effects are minimal
and barely up to 80's standards. 
	The BOOK is also good. It has some odd stylistic devices. It is written
from the point of view of one of Buckeroo's buddies as a cronicle of
events. The writer expects that the reader already knows the basic story
(because its been on the news, etc.). The foreshadowing bears more
likeness to spoilers. I think the book may have been a rush job since
many scenes look like they were lifted right out of the script word for
word, without even changing the format.
	(ie Buckeroo: "...."
	    General XYZ: "..."
	    Penny: "....."
	    etc.)
	The background info supplied by the book does fill in many gaps left by
the movie. It contains some great explainations of Buckeroo Banzai's
theoretical physics. In a few short paragraphs he manages to tie
particle physics, brain theory, extra dimensionality, and consiousness
together and admit that there is probably a rational physical
explanation for most events generally dismissed as magic (ie not real:
telepathy, etc.). It is most believable and might even be valid.
	
Dreamscape: (slight spoiler)
	While the effects were hardly spectacular (or even interesting), the
movie as a whole was decent. I wont rate it as high as Ghostbusters
(rolicking good fun) or BBanzai (good intellectual adventure), but it is
worth seeing. Contary to info previously published in this list only
short segments of DoD atom bomb detonations are used. They did most of
the stuff with new matte paintings. (note that the matte lines are very
visible in some sequences but this tended to enhance the dream effect).
Also the Snake man is done with BOTH stop motion models and a man in a
rubber suit. It works ok.
	 The treatment of the main idea (psychic projection into someonelse's
dreams) is pretty good. The main characters were well portrayed. It is
good  entertainment. (there is a rumor in the industry that Dreamscape
may soon be appearing as part of a double feature, it might pay to wait
a week or two).

~ Jerry