Omega Cop

This a very low budget action flick that I recently bought at Wal-Mart for a dollar. I want my dollar back! Filmed in Stockton, California, for the price of two used Jeeps (there's one of them on the DVD cover!) and a whole lot of blank ammunition, the "plot" involves a cop saving damsels in distress and fighting off and with mutant thugs in a post-global warming apocalyptic landscape where half the population is dead and the most of the rest are in hiding, attempting to ride out the emergency.

The star is one of these "action film stars" that you've never heard of, similar to Don Mogavero; look up his deets. The guy in this movie, Ron Marchini has a number of martial arts movies to his credit, including "Death Machines" from 1976, which I already own, but Ron M. would have to go about ten rungs up the career ladder to be equivalent to Dolph Lundgren.

The only reason to buy this film is if you have a collection of post-apocalypse movies and just have to own every single one. Or you're an Adam West fanatic. (Yes, Adam West is second billed in this movie.) Otherwise, please pass this by. You're a glutton for punishment if you don't.

One of those dated '80s-era movies set in the far-flung future of 1990. This one was fimed out on a backlot somewhere and is one of the cheapest-looking movies I've seen in a good while. Hulking plank of wood Ron Marcini plays the titular character, a cop in a post-apocalyptic world trying to keep law and order and doing battle against some mindless slavers in a series of entirely disappointing action set-pieces. It's gruelling stuff, hard to sit through just because of how bad it is, the only merriment coming from the casting of various old-timers in supporting roles; chief of these is BATMAN himself Adam West, hiding in a bunker, while Stuart Whitman is a scientist.

When I found this movie in the 2 dollar bin at my local video store, I wasn't prepared for what would happen. When I put it in, I had no idea that by the end of it, I would never be the same again...

Ron Marchini, possibly one of the finest actor's in our time, is sterling in his portrayal as John Travis, the toughest and last cop alive. Adam West does a good job as Ron's, "boss", Prescott. This movie left me with a deep respect for law enforcement, and made me really aware of the o- zone layer problem. I must've watched this movie at least 10 times now, and each time is greater than the one before it. I'll pick up a new line, or phrase that Ron throws around and it will be like the first time again. Ron is my new favorite actor, and I am looking to buy some of his other films.

I'd just like to say thank you Ron, in case you ever see this. I truly love you and your work, you are, simply put, a God.

My review was written in June 1990 after watching the movie on Southgate Entertainment video cassette.

"Omega Cop" takes the police genre into sci-fi realms in an okay programmer released direct to video stores.

Martial arts expert Ron Marchini toplines as the stoic future cop John Travis (pic's shooting title was "John Travis -Solar Survivor"). Out on a mission to capture slave traders who hold open-air auctions of women, Marchini bulls his way through this modest vehicle with the running gag of beauties gravitating toward him. It's squeaky clean, however, with no nude scenes included.

First femme to fall into Marchini's orbit is blonde Lena, followed by Troy Donahue's brunette daughter Jennifer Jostyn. Finally, Chrysti Jimenez joins his little band, trekking back to a protective bunker manned by Adam West to seek refuge from marauding scavengers (called scavs).

Unfortunately, the bunker is running low on air and food. Rather hopeless situation is resolved unconvincingly with a sudden happy ending of Marchini and the gals swimming in a pristine lake.

Other than very poor makeup (when guest star Stuart Whitman i dying from exposure to the sun it looks as if his face is merely smudged with charcoal), film is technically okay.

Marchini might be a decent karate guy, but he's about the least convincing action hero there is. Maybe its the goofy sweatshirt, the grey hair, the tucked in shirt, the hat, or the dead line delivery, or maybe it's just the fact that this is a low budget and bland movie, but you're not going to get much out of this one other than a few laughs at all the groin kicks. The female characters were lame and the villains were worse. But at least there were lots of groin kicks!