World Famous Comics: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension
Starring: Peter Weller, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Robert Ito, James Keane Directed By: W. D. Richter Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: January 01, 2002 Running Time: 102 minutes Studio: MGM (Video & DVD) Theatrical Release Date: 1984
Product Description: "The very oddest good movie in many a full moon" Buckaroo Banzai combines "humor imagination a little oriental mysticism and a passel of sharp performances [into] very chic sci-fi" (Time)! Oscar® nominees* Peter Weller and John Lithgow team with Emmy® winners Ellen Barkin and Christopher Lloyd for a fiendishly clever action-packed adventure in an outlandish world you'll want to visit again and again!Brilliant brain surgeon Banzai (Weller) just made scientific history. Shifting his Oscillation Overthruster into warp speed he's the first man ever to travel to the Eighth Dimension and come back sane! But when his sworn enemy the demented Dr. Lizardo (Lithgow) devises a plot to steal the Overthruster and bring an evil army of aliens back to destroy Earth Buckaroo goes cranium to cranium with the madman in an extra-dimensional battle that could result in total annihilation of the universe!*1993: Short Film/Live Action Partners (Weller); 1983: Supporting Actor Terms Of Endearment (Lithgow)System Requirements:Running Time: 102 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG UPC: 027616862785 Manufacturer No: 1002040
Amazon.com essential video: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension is one of the most agreeably insane movies ever made. Peter Weller stars as Buckaroo, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, particle physicist, and, of course, rock star. He travels with the Hong Kong Cavaliers, a band of hard-rocking scientists who are also really good dressers. Buckaroo's interdimensional experiments with his Operation Overthruster throw him (and the Earth) straight into the middle of an alien war, and before you know it, he's got just a few hours to save the world. Confused? Hang on, we're only 10 minutes into the movie. Buckaroo Banzai hurls you right into the middle of its comic-book universe and keeps going at a breakneck pace. It's chock-full of overlapping jokes (even as we're trying to make sense of Dr. Lizardo's hospital room, a voice calmly announces that "lithium is no longer available on credit" over the PA system), hilarious throwaway dialogue ("You're like Jerry Lewis: you give me hope to carry on."), and weirdness just for the sheer joy of it ("Why is there a watermelon there?" "I'll tell you later."). You'll want to watch it at least twice--there's just no way to catch everything the first time around. Ellen Barkin has a terrific time doing a dead-on film noir moll parody as Penny Priddy, and John Lithgow turns in a brilliant manic performance as Dr. Lizardo/John Whorfin. There is no reason not to own this movie unless you are cold and dead inside. Laugh while you can, Monkey Boys. --Ali Davis
Amazon.com: Peter Weller plays that Renaissance Man, Buckaroo Banzai, a neurosurgeon, car racer, rock singer, and alien chaser in this overdone sci-fi adventure from 1984. After crashing his nuclear-fueled race car and causing a disturbance in the eighth dimension, Banzai releases some extremely unappealing aliens into our atmosphere. First-time director W.D. Richter (Late for Dinner) pulls out all the stops, resulting in a manic dash that is often incoherent. The intent may have been to re-create old-time serials with a pulp-fiction bent, but the screenplay, full of macho dialogue and cool poses, tries too hard. We could have done with a less complicated story and more character development. Still, consider this flawed fun, because it may be silly, but it is also clever. Originally released as The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension. -- Rochelle O'Gorman
The deuce you say! ^ Buckaroo, Perfect Tommy, Rawhide, Reno, Sydney, Penny, and the rest of the Hong Kong Cavaliers, Team Banzai, and Blue Blazers do brain surgery, race cars, fight Lectroids from the eigth dimension, play some serious rock, and reveal the truth about the "War of the Worlds" broadcast. All while sporting the... most fashionable threads of the eighties (nineteen eighties, although there is some similarity to the most stylish attire of the eighteen eighties).
The special effects are thirty years out of date, the plot is ridiculous, the acting is over the top, and this movie rocks. The villains couldn't be more villainous, the heroes couldn't be more heroic, and the distressed damsel, well, she's pretty superlative too. Peter Weller leads a brilliant cast that pulls all this together.
First rate, mindless fun as the most modest and brilliant hero of the twentieth century defeats Dr. Lizardo (AKA John Worfin, played by John Lithgow) and the rest of the Lectroids from planet 10 by way of the eighth dimension.
E. M. Van Court
Buckaroo Banzai Rules! ^ Peter Weller (before Robocop) plays the lead character. This movie seems like its going all over the place, but it is all about an eclectic genius with many talents and cohorts. No profanity, so this movie is great for everyone!
I've been ionized, but I'm okay now ^ 'Buckaroo Banzai' is a cult film, and with good reason. In spite of cheap and cheesy special effects it is very entertaining. In fact, the cheapness and cheesiness contribute greatly to the overall effect and create a comic book world, with a great action hero, Buckaroo, who is quite the Renaissance Man: doctor, inventor, speed racer, martial artist, rock star, who is battling aliens from another dimension to save our planet. Ensuring its place in the cult film cannon, it presents this preposterous premise with the proper wit, camp, parody, and panache it so richly deserves.
--------------------- Lord John Whorfin: May I pass along my congratulations for your great interdimensional breakthrough. I am sure, in the miserable annals of the Earth, you will be duly enshrined. ==========================
Peter Weller, who plays Buckaroo Banzai, is quite a Renaissance Man himself. In the film he leads a band called the Hong Kong Cavaliers. He caps off his electric guitar solo with a piccolo trumpet solo. In real life, he plays trumpet in a jazz band with Jeff Goldblum, who played New Jersey, the newest member of the Hong Kong Caviliers in the film. Peter Weller holds a master's degree in Roman and Renaissance art and is working toward a Ph.D. He teaches at Syracuse University. He was Robocop in the first two, but not the third, Robocop movies. He couldn't do the last sequel due to a prior commitment to "Naked Lunch." [Let's do "Naked Lunch." I'll have my people call your people.] In "Mighty Aphrodite" he plays Jerry Bender, who is another Renaissance Man who is seducing Lenny Weinrib's (Woody Allen) wife, Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter). Peter Weller was the perfect actor to portray Buckaroo Banzai, who was not only all of the previously mentioned things, but also a philosopher:
----------------------- Buckaroo Banzai: Hey, hey, hey, hey-now. Don't be mean; we don't have to be mean, cuz, remember, no matter where you go, there you are. =================================
Jeff Goldblum really shines as New Jersey, a doctor who works with Buckaroo and is asked to join the Hong Kong Caviliers. He shows up for what he thinks is the audition dressed in a red cowboy suit. Goldblum's offbeat humor is really perfect for the Cavaliers, who haze the newcomer and rib him about his outfit. Soon he is off on their latest adventure: saving the world from aliens from another dimension:
-------------------------------- New Jersey: Why is there a watermelon there? Reno: I'll tell you later. ======================================
John Lithgow is totally over the top, and loving every minute of it, as the criminally insane Dr. Emilio Lizardo, alias Lord John Whorfin.
------------------------- Lord John Whorfin: Home... home is where you wear your hat... I feel so breakup, I wanna go home. ===============================
Christopher Lloyd is instantly recognizable even though he plays alien John Bigboote behind a cheap and cheesy rubber mask. How is that pronounced? "BigbooTAY!" he keeps repeating, to no avail. [screaming] "BIG-BOO-TAY! TAY! TAY!"
Dan Hedaya, Vincent Schiavelli, and Clancy Brown are just of few of the talented character actors who add so much to the festivities.
Bottom line is Buckaroo Banzai is a unique film that has to be seen to be believed -- and enjoyed. It has built up a richly deserved cult audience, and I heartily recommend it to fans of bizarre, and funny -- if you have a weird sense of humor -- films.
Mulholland Drive (2001) Dan Hedaya was Vincenzo Castigliane Man on the Moon (1999) (uncredited) Christopher Lloyd was Actor in Taxi Recreation; and Vincent Schiavelli was Maynard Smith - ABC Executive Starship Troopers (1997) Clancy Brown was Sgt. Zim Mighty Aphrodite (1995) Peter Weller was Jerry Bender The Addams Family (1991) Christopher Lloyd was Uncle Fester / Gordon Craven; and Dan Hedaya was Tully Alford, Addams' Attorney Sea of Love (1989) Ellen Barkin was Helen Cruger The Fly (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (1986) Jeff Goldblum was Seth Brundle Back to the Future (1985) Christopher Lloyd was Dr. Emmett Brown Footloose (1984) John Lithgow was Reverend Shaw Moore One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) Christopher Lloyd was Taber; and Vincent Schiavelli was Fredrickson
-------------------- Buckaroo Banzai: I've been ionized, but I'm okay now. =======================
Disappointed and then satisfied ^ I was a little miffed at receiving a DVD that I could not watch! I was very happy however that a label was put on the outside warning me not to open unless I was sure that my DVD player could actually Play DVDs from Zone 2 - who knew? Alas, mine could not and I emailed and received direction on how to return the DVD. I did that and have yet to receive a refund but I am patient.
I went back to Amazon.com and found a new The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai in the Eighth Dimension that was for Zone 1 and I played it and loved it! It brings back great memories - haven't seen it since the late 80's! So nice to see Peter Weller playing intelligent, tender-hearted, rock star!! =) John Lithgow is "crazy" good and John Big Boote!!!! My kids love Cyberchase and I love telling them that "the Hacker" has been in many TV and movie shows - they've never seen Back to the Future - I do love Christopher Lloyd!!!!
THE biggest waste of time EVER! ^ Can't believe I sat through this CRAP!!!!
Complete and utter waste of time... I want my 2 hours of life back.....
I only write this so you can avoid wasting your precious time watching this horrible and BORING piece of feces....
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