Banzai Runner

Now, I'm not going to spoil this movie for the rest of the world who wants to watch it, it's just that, yeah, the box really told a whopper of a lie. There are no really fast cars, only cars going about 50 and are then transferred to film where they hit the fast forward button and watched em' fly. There are no fast women, only one that wants to get with every guy she seems to meet, and another who wants to take off her clothes while another guy drives. There are barely any drugs, in fact, all the other fast drivers hate the guy who does the drug thing. There was only one dangerous man, and he really didn't seem all that dangerous to me. There also were no so called "Banzai Runners." None of the guys who drove fast ever went by that title. And finally, there were no real exotic cars, only a bunch of angularly shaped cars that only the 80's could think up.

One thing the movie didn't really explain well was who the hell each fast driver was, and to what relation they had to the main character, Billy. All that was really said was Billy's brother got killed by a guy who drove fast. Not much else to it. But I can't bash on this movie too much, I actually enjoyed it for what it was worth. The worst part about the movie, though, was probably the acting of the so-called main villain Syszek. His acting and the end of the movie. But, hey. If you want to know what happens, you gotta watch the movie. I would actually recommend this movie if your bored one night and looking for something to do to waste time before you get tired and fall asleep watching late night talk shows. Go out and rent this movie, but I warn you, don't be looking for the next Pulp Fiction, cause it ain't gonna happen. Good day.

If only this video was as good as it's cover implies: Easy Women! Dangerous Men! Exotic Cars! Easy Women? A teenage girl that leaves her panties in the living room....and a bored little rich girl that likes to strip in speeding cars. Dangerous Men? Sleazy middle-aged men running drugs. Exotic Cars? Well, the cars look nice...but the camera shots of speeding vehicles are rather boring. My teenage son says, "Oh Mom, it's not THAT bad!" Well, I guess he's right...I DID like the cover.

My review was written in June 1987 after watching the film on Vidmark video cassette.

"Banzai Runner" is an utterly conventional action picture, symptomatic of the new breed of production which reflects limited aspirations. Good performances by name actor in the cast, Dean Stockwell, is the drawing card and home video shelves the destination.

Wihe film vaguely resembling confrere Dennis Hopper's forgettable 1981 pic "King of the Mountain", Stockwell toplines as a California state trooper frustrated by local rich guys, dubbed "runners", who drive their costly, souped-up cars at night at speeds approaching 200 mph in informal races. Stockwell's brother was killed, run off the road by one of these dudes, and he's frustrated by official opposition which prevents him from souping up the cop cars to pursue the offenders.

Rather, his new boss Eric Mason wants him to concentrate on drunk drivers. After a speeding incident and another run-in construed as harassment of a "runner", Stockwell is fired and gets a new job working undercover to bust drug dealers for the federal government. Unconvincing plot contrivance has him getting into a race with two runners who also are the local drug kingpins and one of whom, Billy Drago (Frank Nitti i "THe Untouchables" feature), killed his brother.

There's some good, high-speed chasing en route to the predictable finish, but filmmaker John G. Thomas fails to introduce interesting variations on the timeworn theme of a cop's problems. Stockwell is convincing both behind the wheel and in dramatic scenes, but the supporting cast is generally too low-key. Tech credits are standard. Unrated pic is extremely tame, deoid of nudity of other exploitation elements.

"The Banzi Runner" was based on real events that had taken place in the Las Vegas desert. The Banzi Runner reveals how the face of evil can look innocent but be very deadly...Just like real life....sometimes the energy of evil looks harmless. I found the movie more interesting knowing that the events that took place in this movie were based on fact. It makes me sad to think that drugs, sex and evil are the things that thrill seekers are looking for. The bad guys crashed and burned ( were caught and jailed) fortunately, the stunt driver of the yellow Pantera (Al Manning) is still driving cars safely and enjoying the good life. Signed, Mrs. Manning

A very average storyline, 200 m.p.h. cars terrorizing folks in the California desert. One local cop, Dean Stockwell, and his nephew seek revenge against a drug dealer, Billy Drago, a driver who killed Stockwell's brother. Remember all this is happening before drinking and driving was a major offense. The Ferrari, Pantera, and Porches, put you in a time capsule, elevated by Dean Stockwell's genuine acting, Billy Drago playing, well, a deranged Billy Drago, and believe it or not a few chuckles, mostly supplied by sidekick mechanic, Charles Dierkop. "Bonzai Runner" is no masterpiece, but any movie that introduces "girl's speed stripping" has to be cut a little slack. - MERK