Roboforce

The plot is simple at best, and the humor is often childish, and yet it works. The reason it 'works' is likely the pace. As in a movie like Airplane, you do not have much time to think about each attempt at humor, as there is another one following too close on its heals. The effects were actually quite good for the time and apparent budget. Surprisingly to me, the characters were actually not likeable for the most part. The only likeable characters would be the semi-retired gang boss and the android Maria. If you already like period HK action and comedy, then you will likely like this one. I am not a genre fan and I still liked it after watching it for the first time today.

A sci-fi action film and gag filled comedy is about an improbable love triangle between washed out gangster Whiskey, put upon police scientist Curly, and a robot named Maria. The Hero gang has been terrorizing Hong Kong at will with their giant robot, Pioneer One. Bumbling reporter Ching attempts to track down the story, only to have his efforts thwarted at every turn by the police. Meanwhile Whiskey and Curly fall under suspicion from both their employers when they befriend each other during a bar fight. They flee, only to be hunted down by the Hero Gang's latest robot, Pioneer Two. Modeled after the gang's beautiful second in command, Maria (and intentionally resembling the Maria robot from Metropolis)the robot becomes damaged during it's pursuit. Curly rebuilds her to aid him and his friends to clear their names, and spends the rest of the film battling Whiskey for her affections. (In order to issue her a command one must begin with "I love Curly", much to Whiskeys annoyance.) This fun film epitomizes the "can do" attitude of 1980's Hong Kong film making. The special effects may seem clumsy, but the earnest effort and shear joy of film making shows through. The eventual triumph of the three friends (four if you count Maria) should put a smile on anyone who's ever felt like an outcast.

Imaginative action sequences (particularly the clash of two robots, and one involving a flying motorcycle), impressive special effects (mostly just good old-fashioned mechanical stuff), and Sally Yeh's incredible beauty and solid acting make up for a less-than-engaging story in this bizarre Hong Kong action-fantasy-comedy, which I would recommend mostly to experienced HK viewers, and maybe comic book fans. The first 40 minutes or so are kind of hard to sit through, but then some of the jokes start working, the action becomes more frequent, and Sally Yeh begins to play a bigger part in the movie. Actually, she plays TWO parts: a vicious villainess, and a robot that's made by the bad guys to look just like her and eventually gets re-programmed by the good guys to help them out. It also starts developing human emotions, and it's to Sally Yeh's credit that, using only a few expressions, she manages to give this robot a human soul and make you care about her. And did I mention she is just incredibly, pause-the-DVD-to-admire-her-face beautiful? (**1/2)

Not everyone's cup of tea, but not since Inframan have I see so many tricks pulled out of a bag and thrown up on the screen.

STUPID but FUN. The movie is a little slow in the middle with some pretty childish "humor" but then picks up to keep things up right to the end.

WHERE ARE THE DISTRIBUTORS??? Netflix / Prime would GLADLY put this on the streaming list!

Being an ignorant American I'd like to see them put out a dubbed version - but subtitles are better than nothing.

If this were more popular I wouldn't give it an 8, but like the Oscars, I'm overrating it a point to boost it as I think it's a movie many people "should" see compared to so MANY well promoted titles that won't leave you as entertained as this one.

I LOVE MARIA!

Some evil organization called Hero Gang (???) wants to conquer China by using Pioneer robots (I think) and a group of sissies must stop them. I Love Maria is a somewhat enjoyable sci fi action movie. I liked the action, robot designs, the cyberpunk elements were medium-high and Sally Yeh does an excellent job as a robot. Of course, as with HK movies of this nature, the comedic elements are a downfall. I prefer my HK movies to be dark and hateful so up yours. Plus the story was ridiculously stupid and most of the characters were unlikable. And I would like a lot more blood!!!! Urgh! In the end... The pros I mentioned were enough to keep me fat and happy like a mongoloid.