The Junkman

H.B. Halicki, who thrilled many with some of the most exciting crashes in GONE IN 60 SECONDS, had this follow-up a few years later called THE JUNKMAN. This time, it's more amusing and hilarious than the previous film, and you will expect both more and the same with the almost nonstop car chase action. New in Halicki's film are big explosions, gunslinging, and a femme fatale out to catch Harlan B. Hollis' butt (he also acted). Don't be perturbed, though. It isn't the original movie, but given the notorious stuntwork and a sense of humor, it still has its credentials. You'll be amazed by some camera work on the low-flying planes and a never-before-seen idea of autos driving over the front hoods! As films like this go, it doesn't hang onto any new innovations, and many of the car crashes are nothing to get nutty about. Sometimes, the cars crash directly on purpose, which is lame. Halicki's talent in making movies shouldn't be denied, as logos of GONE IN 60 SECONDS appear almost every time. That includes a familiar prop, the beaten-up yellow '73 Mustang he named "Eleanor"! This one's different, but it won't leave you disappointed. If nobody can agree with Leonard Maltin over THE JUNKMAN, who will?

This film took two years to make because Toby Halicki took his time with the carefully executed stunts and numerous car chases featured in this movie. 150 cars were destroyed (an assortment of cars, trucks, planes, boats, etc.) that it was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. This film actually has more of a story than Gone in 60 Seconds did as it's a loose autobiography of Halicki's own life as a junkyard owner turned filmmaker. It's a crying shame that Halicki died during filming of Gone in 60 Seconds 2 on August 20, 1989. Hopefully, someone will dig up much more footage of that lost film.

yeah, thats true "The Junkman" is wonderful. This is one of the best movies with... what i talking about, it is the best movie with CARS.So men, boys also you ladies Watches this film it's horrible good!!! No really i'm not kidding, if you see it you'll never forget it. I promise. What only 67 votes SHAME OF YOU!!! And it's much better than the Dominic Sena's "Gone in sixty seconds"(2000) with Nicolas Cage. I think it's also better than the first part "Gone in 60 seconds"(1974). It's the best role of H.B. Halicki. Like you see now i'm big fan on this film, but my all family and friends love it. So what is conclusion? You must see it with you own to understand.

"Gone in 60 Seconds" mastermind H.B. "Toby" Halicki basically plays himself in this ass kicking tale guaranteed to please car enthusiasts and action movie junkies everywhere. Harlan Hollis is a junkman who's made good with a drive-in car chase classic and who is now set to attend a festival honouring film legend James Dean. However, the trip there proves to be an extremely eventful one as somebody has decided that it would be a very good idea to bump off Harlan. So he has to dodge assassins left, right, and centre while pretty much every vehicle in sight is destroyed in extravagant fashion. When Harlan is thought to be dead, he realizes it's good cover while he hightails it to L.A. to find out the brains behind the operation.

Halicki delivers plenty of good, straightforward, unpretentious nonsense that's very easy to watch. The acting won't win any Oscars but it's just right for this sort of thing. Halicki is reasonably engaging in the lead, receiving fine support from Christopher Stone ("The Howling", "Cujo") as P.R. man Michael Fox, Susan Shaw as newswoman Susan Clark, who does some sleuthing of her own, Lang Jeffries ('Rescue 8') as Arthur, and Dan Grimaldi ("Don't Go in the House") as flustered news producer Larry Bergleman. Cameos include Freddy Cannon and the Belmonts, Lynda Day George ("Pieces") as a reporter, car customizer George Barris, and Hoyt Axton ("Gremlins") as both himself and a character in a film-within-the-film.

The non-stop assortment of eye popping vehicular stunts is simply spectacular. "The Junkman" set a record for over 150 vehicles destroyed in one way or another. Best of all is the memorable gag of jumping a car *over* a plane. Halicki even works the use of the Goodyear Blimp into the proceedings!

This is pulse-pounding visceral entertainment that really hits the spot.

Seven out of 10.

I bought the original a couple years back when the DVD first came out. Until a couple months ago i never knew of a sequel. Then one day i was at a discount department store on the Gold Coast when i found the original VHS copy of GONE IN 60 SECONDS PART II THE JUNKMAN. It was only $2 so i bought it. Later i found that it had been shipped up to Queensland from an old video store in Brompton South Australia. Any way, when i arrived home i chucked the movie on and watched it. I knew it was from the 80's and the styles were a bit off, but i enjoyed the movie. What else i enjoyed was the music, The fact that it was upbeat during the fast paced chase scenes and that the singers included the movie name and one of the major events that the movie was set around. The video wasn't in great condition so most of the middle to end of the movie was very fuzzy. This propelled me to go forth and find a remastered copy on DVD. Weeks later i found one and ordered it in. When it arrived i was excited, i was expecting soo much. But when i was watching it i noticed that something was removed from the original and replaced with something inferior. It was the music, the music that was written for THE JUNKMAN, gone, replaced with INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC??? So, i will rate the original 10 out of 10. But for the DVD 5 out of 10. H.B. "Tony" Halicki would be disappointed with what has become of one of his masterpieces.

Knowing this makes me wonder what the original music was like in the original GONE IN 60 SECONDS.