Gli avventurieri del pianeta Terra

The plot: In the far future of 2012, a warrior sells his services to the survivors of post-apocalyptic New York.

While there are some obvious flaws to this film, it's clearly a forgotten classic of the era. I don't see how you could possibly go wrong with Yul Brynner kicking ass in post-apocalyptic cities. It's been a long time since I saw this (probably cable television in the 1980s), but I can still quite clearly remember several of what have become (to me, at least) iconic scenes of 1970s action/adventure/exploitation. If this film got broadcast regularly (instead of other inexplicable cable TV favorites), I think it could really attract a cult following.

For an obvious genre film, the cast is amazing, the writing and directing are better than expected, and the rest of the film is forgivable. Why? Because the flaws pale in the face of a shirtless Yul Brynner standing in the center of a city plaza, waiting for someone to bid for his services. What do action heroes do when they're not fighting bad guys? Why, they just stand there and wait for the plot to catch up to their awesomeness, of course. It's brilliant. If this resonates with you, then you simply must watch this film. If you're going to start asking questions and trying to debate this inescapable logic, then you should probably watch The Shawshank Redemption instead. That's a great film, too, but it doesn't have Yul Brynner knife-fighting with post-apocalyptic gangs.

I really love 1970s science fiction movies, especially post-apocalyptic ones like 'The Omega Man', 'A Boy And His Dog' and 'Mad Max'. 'The Ultimate Warrior' is in this vein but is often overlooked. I don't know why, it's a very entertaining film. Director Robert Clouse is best known for his martial arts adventures 'Enter The Dragon' and 'Black Belt Jones'. There isn't any martial arts in this one, but there are some fights scenes, especially an exciting one towards the climax between Yul Brynner and b-grade legend William Smith. Brynner, hot off 'Westworld', plays Carson, muscle for hire in the year 2012, in a future society where a plague has devastated agriculture, and anarchy rules in the cities. Max von Sydow ('The Exorcist') plays "the Baron" leader of small group of survivors. They are successfully experimenting with breeding seeds which are immune to the plague. They hire Carson to protect them from a rival gang, led by the mean and nasty thug Carrot (William Smith of 'Run, Angel, Run', 'Invasion Of The Bee Girls', 'Boss N*gger', 'Maniac Cop', etc.etc.). The Baron has secret plans to abandon his followers and leave the city with the seeds and his pregnant daughter (Joanna Miles), and tries to convince Carson to help. Will he? Will Carrot let them? Watch 'The Ultimate Warrior' to find out. I've seen this one a few times and I'm always entertained. It's not the best 1970s SF movie by any means but it's a lot of fun, and Brynner (who's in pretty good shape for a guy pushing sixty!) and the super cool Smith are just great to watch.

This relatively obscure film is, it has to be said, under-rated. There's the usual fine performance from Max von Sydow as the 'Baron' while an old-looking Yul Brynner does well as Carson, the Ultimate Warrior.

The future looks bleak. In 2012 New York is a city devastated, with rival gangs living in communes. By appearance alone, you might be forgiven for thinking that this is a western - with von Sydow, particularly, looking like he's going to burst into a saloon bar, guns blazing. He plays the leader of one of these communes, desperate to secure a better life for his pregnant daughter Melinda (Miles) and enlists Brynner to this end.

Clouse manages to build up the tension nicely as Brynner & Miles race along the derelict New York subway to get to a fabled island, chased by a gang of nasties. The end, however, is abrupt, to say the least and you may feel cheated as about ten minutes before the end the movie seems actually quite good.

As I said before, this is an obscure film that will have a definite novelty value for fans of Sydow and Brynner. Viewers today will see the irony in the opening sequence of a supposedly devastated NY, with the Twin Towers promenantly still standing in the background.

7/10

This is just an action movie: the acting is crappy, the directing is cruddy, the sets are cheesy, and the effects are cheap... but so what?!? This is Yul Brynner stripped to the waist, fighting with knives!!! It's just brilliant!!! If your fantasy involves the sky falling, you'll get off on this. And just in case you're keeping track, this one came after 'Omega Man' and before 'Mad Max'.

I saw this when I was a kid around the same time I saw Planet of The Apes, Logan's Run and The Omega Man. I love this kind of stuff. Yul Brynner was always a cool actor and he's very cool in this piece of dystopian sci-fi. It also has Max Von Sydow in it who's always good value for money.

The amazing thing about this film (well ok it's not that amazing, more sort of interesting) is how the plot is so similar to Mad Max. There really was a preponderance of this sort of movie in the early seventies, enough to cover the writing of thesis me thinks.

Anyway if you have a spare evening and no idea what to watch why not check Yul in full flow.