ROBOWAR Blu-ray Review – Predator Too
Anthony Arrigo
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Starring Red Brown, Catherine Hickland, Massimo Vanni
Directed by Bruno Mattei (as Vincent Dawn)
Distributed by Severin Films
Italian filmmakers have never been championed for their subtlety in cribbing from internationally celebrated pictures but the unholy union of schlock simulacrum – director Bruno Mattei and writers Claudio Fragasso and Rosella Drudi – practically wave the pirate flag with their blatant “homages” to American cinema. Similar to the infamous Shocking Dark (1989), the wildly entertaining mash-up of Aliens (1986) and The Terminator (1984), Mattei and company previously got their facsimile feet wet with Robowar (a.k.a. Robot da Guerra, 1988), a straight-up rip-off amalgamation of Predator (1987) and RoboCop (1987). To be fair, if you’re going to steal from other movies it at least makes sense to pick the coolest ones out there. Robowar has plenty of “wow” factor, but it’s usually in the form of, “Wow, I can’t believe they are so clearly lifting entire scenes from Predator.” It’s astounding. At one point during the climax the group’s “Billy” decides to stay behind and fight their adversary, stripping his shirt off and pulling out a large knife… The scene is about as subtle as the knife. Hell, the font on the poster is the same used for Arnold’s alien adventure! So, you’re probably asking, “Is it at least fun?” Eh.
The tactical commando unit B.A.M. – Big Ass Motherfuckers – led by Major Marphy (yes, that is spelled correctly) Black (Reb Brown) is sent to the jungles of a small tropical island to “save some people from a band of guerillas”, which is really just government bullshit speak for “get killed by our out of control robot weapon”. Behold Omega-1, a technological terror with Predator-vision that stalks and shreds Black’s elite unit. Can the group hold off the advancing android? I dunno but they sure have enough ammo to give it the ol’ college try.
Most of this film is a bunch of guys in camo stalking around the jungle; sometimes they fire their machine guns for a long time. Like, long enough to make Mack’s (Bill Duke) mini-gun melee seem quick as a sneeze. Omega-1 is one ugly motherfucker, too, although unlike the Predator he’s ugly because he looks like a rusted soup can with legs. Look, outside of the novelty that brash Italian filmmakers are once again siphoning script ideas from American shores this is a dull picture where not a whole lot happens. I’m a fan of trashy Z-grade cinema as much as anyone else, and I’m a fellow countryman to the meatball crowd, but Robowar is a cheap production with little to offer. I love the hubris it takes to make such a film, and in an odd way I can understand what Mattei and his writers must have hoped for the film – that it would be seen as a less-than-but-good-enough “sequel/remake” because, let’s face it, most sequels are a remake of their first film.
I am all about the use of Al Festa as a composer, though. His lo-fi electronic scores are always a feast for my synth-loving ears and the work done on Robowar is no less loved than his other keyboard creations.
Featuring a “new 4K scan from the negative” the 1.85:1 1080p image is awfully grainy and the contrast sometimes leaves the picture looking washed-out but, on the plus side, the feature is clear and quite clean, with few hints of debris or damage present. I don’t expect these low-budget spaghetti schlockers to look stunning, but this is another strong effort from Severin. Colors are accurate, with much of the palette being dominated by hues of green and brown. I do suppose part of the problem is the monotony on the jungle and the men’s uniforms. Eh. You aren’t watching this for reference quality material; it does the job despite a limited visual array.
Audio is available via either an English or Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track. The Italian track has a bit more depth and seemed fuller to my ears, but since I want to watch my trash – not read it – the dub was perfectly sufficient. Al Festa’s score is a feast-a for the ears and it sounded sublimely synth-y in lossless quality. Subtitles are available in English.
Special Features:
- Robo Predator: Interview with Co-Director/Co-Writer Claudio Fragasso
- Italian Rip Off: Interview with Co-Writer Rossella Drudi
- Violence She Wrote: Career Interview with Screenwriter Rossella Drudi
- Robo-Lady: Interview with Actress Catherine Hickland
- Papa Doc’s War: Interview with Actor John P. Dulaney
- The Robowarrior: Interview with Actor Jim Gaines Jr.
- War in the Phillipines: Interview with Actor/Stuntman Massimo Vanni
- Catherine Hickland’s Behind The Scenes Home Movies
- Trailer
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Robowar
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Special Features
Summary
Bereft of originality at every turn, Robowar might’ve been a better film if it had half the capability or charisma of Predator. Instead, it’s about as lame as Jean-Claude Van Damme in that ridiculous outfit that originally was the Predator. Fun for a goof but, as an actual film, it’s pretty damn dull.
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