BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY

US, 1979, 98 minutes, Colour.
Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Pamela Hensley, Joseph Wiseman, Tim O’ Connor, Henry Silva.
Directed by Daniel Haller.

From the same production team that made the Battle Star Galacticas series. This film is not quite so spectacular and seems to be on a small budget and smaller in scale. The story, using the old comic strip and adventure material, is also tongue-in-cheek parody of James Bond style material.

1. An enjoyable space adventure? The trend of the seventies? The serious space exploration films? This tongue-in-cheek presentation? The quality of space exploration, space adventure?

2. Colour photography, space, space ships, earth and the contrast of the 25th century with 20th? Interiors and exteriors? Battle sequences? Special effects? The score and the song?

3. The parody of James Bond style adventure, for example Moonraker and its use of space? The Battle Star Galactica-style space ships? The planets? The Star Wars? Omega?

4. The quality of the parody, the style of the acting, tongue-in-cheek screenplay - how serious, how comic? The spoofing of space adventures and adventurers? The use of conventions, the predictable style? The language, the dance, the basic situations? In comparison with more serious adventures?

5. The presentation of Earth in the 25th century and its similarities with the 20th - looking at the future through present eyes? the effect of the pre-credits sequence, Buck in space, out of time? The effect on him?

6. The Draconian Empire - Ardala as the evil princess, Kane as the minister and power of evil, the film's treatment of them, caricature comic strip style? Their plot, use of Buck, the pirates and the disguise, the father, the seduction and its failure? The failure of their overall plot and their sailing away to another encounter?

7. The contrast with Earth? Chicago, the sub-human humans and their attack on Buck, Wilma Deering and the contrast with Ardala? The Doctor and his advice? The paralleling of Wilma and Ardala, Wilma's suspicions, interrogations?

8. The dance? Buck and his seeming to be a traitor, the pirates and the attack? Wilma’s change? Buck Rogers in the 25th century and rescue?

9. The sexual overtones and undertones of the film? Man-woman relationships and tongue-in-cheek comic style?

10. The presentation of the robots in the space trend tradition? Humour, mock humanity? Computers and the take-over of the world and Buck bucking the computers?

11. The pirate attacks, the fights, the space clashes? The climax and its open endedness?

12. The appeal of science fiction, the value of comic book science fiction with its basic ingredients?