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The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai

post #1 of 22
5/17/10 at 5:52pm
Thread Starter 
I've been delaying creating this thread for days now. I literally have no fucking idea what I saw, and yet I'm still compelled to say I enjoyed it.

I can't recall exactly what the Red Lectroids endgame was, if they ever explained exactly who Buckaroo's crew was supposed to be exactly, why Penny is the splitting image of Buckaroo's dead wife, or, well, much of anything in terms of hard details.

And yet, I find myself remembering individual moments or jokes, and can't stop chuckling to myself or smiling. I'm strongly considering making the synthesizer end credits theme my new cell phone ring tone.

God I wish i could explain why I liked this thing.
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post #2 of 22
5/17/10 at 5:59pm
Yeah, it's an odd duck. I'll just quote myself from when it was a CHUD movie of the day:
Quote:
Growing up in central Jersey with its War of the Worlds connection, I was supposed to love this movie. For whatever reason, I didn't. Yeah, Buckaroo is a badass rockstar/ninja/brain surgeon, but I just didn't feel it. Hell, I may have even thought Buckaroo boring (this is where I duck).

About two months ago, I rewatched it for the first time in over twenty years. I smiled a few times, maybe even chuckled, but ultimately sat there scratching my head. About one month ago, I rewatched it yet again. And absolutely loved the hell out of it! It was like someone flipped a switch in my brain and the flick just fired on all cylinders for me. Hell, I dug it so much that I spent an hour the next day trying to find a Banzai headband for snowboarding. No dice, by the way.
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post #3 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:04pm
To me, this is one of those rare movies where it is completely of its time and yet timeless.

I have tried to show this to friends over the years, and while a few dig it, it seems that most (should be noted for anecdote purposes are younger than me- not raised on dodgy effects work) can't get past the non budget.

This movie was geek chic before the idea ever existed. It's awesome.
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post #4 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith F View Post
This movie was geek chic before the idea ever existed. It's awesome.
Funny that you say that as I was about to pop in to mention Wes Anderson paying tribute to it at the end of The Life Aquatic. I strongly suspect it's a big part of the reason he cast Jeff Goldblum in the film as well.
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post #5 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:14pm
I missed this movie in my youth, and that seems to be where a huge portion of geekdom fell in love. It still worked for me without the nostalgia factor. This movie beat Back to the Future by a year, and though the vehicle travels dimensions instead of time there are definitely some similarites in design and function.

All the little stuff that adds up is what makes this one work for me. Anytime you make a movie that believes in its own ridiculous reality without any winks to the audience always gets props in my book. Plus everyone in his band has guns.

I can understand why people would feel meh about this movie, but it just works for me too.
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post #6 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:17pm
Something I wanted to add, this movie doesn't work for everybody, and that's great, really. Buckaroo is one of the few flicks from that era that hasn't really been rediscovered, really. Not on a mass scale anyway. It's still a niche.

That's what cracks me up about some of the remakes of cult cinema. You know you're remaking something that by definition a large chunk of the populace doesn't like, don't you?
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post #7 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:23pm
You should really check out the Q&A with Peter Weller from the recent showing at the New Bev. Hilarious stuff and stories. Absolutely love this movie. It just works on so many levels.

I love how they just drop you into this world and go with it and don't feel the need to explain a hell of a lot of it to you.
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post #8 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:28pm
Watching this film makes me wish that Lewis Smith had more of a career. Guy was in spitting distance, but...
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post #9 of 22
5/17/10 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny View Post
Watching this film makes me wish that Lewis Smith had more of a career. Guy was in spitting distance, but...
If you're so inclined, as I am, you can imagine that he morphed into Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice. Not that big a stretch, really.
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post #10 of 22
5/18/10 at 1:07pm
Loved the hell out of this film in its original release (I was 14, so go figure) and have watched it many, many times in the intervening years. Nostalgia is part of its appeal for me, but I think the witty/oblique script still holds up, and the cast were obviously having a lot of fun with it.

My teenage self considered it a companion piece to REPO MAN (which is the better film, but shares some of some of the same spirit and style).
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post #11 of 22
5/18/10 at 1:31pm
I haven't watched this in millennia. I remember liking it but I really should give it another viewing one of these days.
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post #12 of 22
5/18/10 at 4:21pm
I enjoyed the quirky tone of the film, but the story seemed so plodding and dull.
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post #13 of 22
5/18/10 at 4:50pm
I saw this flick for the first time recently and was not really impressed. But, I have a sneaky suspicion I'll like it more the second time. I had the same reaction to the Ninth Gate, and it has certainly grown on me.

Jeff Goldblum continues to be awesome.
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post #14 of 22
5/18/10 at 9:54pm
Buckaroo Banzai has so much going on you will never caught everything the first 2 or 3 time you watch it. Buckaroo Banzai keep getting better even after the 5th or 6th viewing.
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post #15 of 22
5/19/10 at 3:35pm
I love how the movie plays like part 4 of an ongoing saga, and just assumes you've seen the previous entries.
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post #16 of 22
5/20/10 at 12:35pm
Wherever you go, there you are.
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post #17 of 22
5/20/10 at 1:32pm
Also, I still want a Buckaroo Banzai headband for snowboarding. It would take my skill set to a whole new level.
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post #18 of 22
5/20/10 at 2:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bartleby_Scriven View Post
Wherever you go, there you are.
I think they got that quot from a Laurie Anderson song, on the Big Science album.
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post #19 of 22
5/29/10 at 10:56pm
"Tell em yes on one, no on two"

"Which was yes? Destroy Russia or number two"
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post #20 of 22
5/30/10 at 8:11pm
I really don't get the confusion around 'what IS Buckaroo Banzaii?' It's a convoluted and crappy script. Everyone involved in the movie got it's sense of humour and, knowing that the best comedy is when the subject's taken with 100% commitment to seriousness, nailed every beat.
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post #21 of 22
5/31/10 at 3:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaz View Post
"Tell em yes on one, no on two"

"Which was yes? Destroy Russia or number two"
that was the line that made me watch it a second time.
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post #22 of 22
1/18/11 at 4:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Expo67 View Post

I love how the movie plays like part 4 of an ongoing saga, and just assumes you've seen the previous entries.


This. I understand why its a Cult favourite now though. There's a nice charm to the entire proceedings. Ellen Barkin is smokin hot as well.

 

I'll be getting the novelization next month. Hopefully it'll give me a better idea on the film itself.
 

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