Conference noted::sf

961.0. "Moon 44" by RGB::REDFORD () Fri Mar 01 1991 19:06

    The things I do because of fandom.  This movie had excellent
    production, but the worst writing, acting, and plot that I've
    seen in long time.  I've been impressed by a lot of German
    movies, but not when they try to do American pulp.
    
    "Moon 44" is set in 2038, where "Multi-national corporations rule the
    universe".  Galactic Mining Corporation has been losing its
    mining outposts to raids from Pirite Corp.  The managers suspect
    sabotage, and so send one of their agents (Michael Biehn) out to
    investigate.   He goes in undercover along with a gang of
    prisoners who are to be trained as pilots for the defense of the
    station.   The pilots fly little helicopters through the canyons
    of the planet, and need navigators to get them through safely. 
    For some reason, the navigators are all teenage boys.  What with
    the heavily-muscled prisoners and the fresh-faced boys, there's
    much opportunity for homosexual byplay.  For some self-hating
    reason, the worst of the prisoners has a German accent. 
    Naturally there's intrigue on-board the station, hero-worship by
    the boys, and space battles.
    
    The movie is full of "Star Wars" and "Blade Runner" rip offs, but
    at least the sets are well-done.  Unfortunately, the dialogue is
    painfully bad, perhaps because of translation, and the characters
    are as cliched as the lumpy spaceships they fly around in.  It's
    out now on video, but you can save your two bucks.
    
    /jlr

    
    I got this at the video store a few weeks ago because I couldn't find
    anything else that looked interesting, hadn't seen already, etc.  I
    agree with your review.  It was pretty bad.  I'd say it rates along
    side YOR and Ice Pirates.  Not worth the effort it took to watch it all
    the way through.  I kept hoping it would get better.
    
    Stu

    This movie really sucked as Bart would say.
    
    Sad part is, each time I went to rent it..it was out. When I did get
    it..what a letdown. 
    

This is a perfect example of the difference between "science fiction" and 
"Sci-Fi."  There is no understanding of the makeup of a solar system, much less
"the universe."  There is little understanding of geophysics (or, given that
it's a moon, selenophysics).  If Pyrites has such a "genital hold" on Galactic
Mining, the long, involved, fifth-columnlike aqctivity of the one staffer would
have been unnecessary.

But lotsa action -- hey; it's only a movie, right?

Steve Kallis, Jr.