Appelez-moi Johnny 5

As much as I enjoyed the first movie, I had a feeling that getting the second one on DVD would be a mistake. I should have gone with my gut feeling. On the cover, it says that Siskel and Ebert have uttered that this may possibly be better than the first one. I really doubt that - someone please give me the reference if I'm mistaken. The problem is, as with Crocodile Dundee 2 and numerous other sequels, the purpose and originality of the first movie is the development of the characters. The quirks, social ineptitude, surprising qualities, cultural clashes, are what make the movie worthwhile and even enjoyable to watch. With a revenue success, far too often a sequel will appear. Again and again, it becomes clear that when you apply the lovable characters from the first movie to some formulaic plot in the sequel, it fails. It not only fails, it becomes painful to watch, going from one cliché to the next. Funnily enough, the kids seem to like it...

I thought this was a very touching movie. Johnny 5 is a very sympathetic character with real human-like qualities. I enjoyed the romantic angle and I could identify with all the characters. I bought this video for my Mother and she loved it. Overall, I think this is a very underrated movie and I think this is an instance where the sequel is better than the original. Remember, it's a fantasy - it's good escapism.

I remember heading to the video store with my parents as a child and managed to convince them to rent Short Circut 2 for more. I loveed it so much my parents would make me promise to not beg them to rent it (for the 5th time) before they would let me in the store. Life went on and I forgot about the movie until I was helping a friend filter through his closet for stuff and found an older TV recording of the movie. I borrowed it and watch, and then logged on IMBD, only to discover it was released on DVD just a week earlier and immediatly ordered it. I can't remember the last time I was so happy.

This movie will always be one of my favorites. Johnny Five is just so charming and likeable. The soundtrack gets is great and fits the mode just right, choosing to forgo most of the pop music for mood music. Even the opening scene music still isn't that far off from from todays standards (I could imagine it in a film today unlike most of the other 80's soundtracks). Anyway, it actually jerked a tear when Johnny got all beat up :( I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies that deal with emotions, relationships, and the most charismatic robot ever. When I become rich, I want a full replica of him. For anyone who dosen't like this movie, well, I suppose you are entitled to your own opinion.. even if it is wrong.

I have just finished re-watching this pillar of my youth, and was reminded of what a family classic this really is! The sequel to Short Circuit is an improvement on the first film, if only for the inclusion of the then beautiful Cynthia Gibb as Sandy Banatoni (whom I had a HUGE crush on when I first saw the film at the age of around 8). But there are hundreds more memorable moments from the film which came flooding back to me as I watched, much to the annoyance of my housemates.

Great film, maybe not in a 'Pulp Fiction/Donnie Darko' sort of way, but great in a 'Bill & Ted/Flight of the Navigator' way, that it's a testament of my youth and will be shown to my kids when I eventually have some!

p.s. anyone notice a small similarity between Cynthia Gibb in this film and young Potter star Emma Watson? Weird...

In this second installment of Short Circuit, Johnny Five is sent to New York to help his creator Ben Javari(Fisher Stevens), run his new toy business, which is lagging behind in production. Number Five decides while he's at it to check out the city and runs afoul of everyone, including the police and greedy banker Oscar Baldwin(Jack Weston), who has stolen a collection of valuable international jewels. When Number Five is smashed to near death by Baldwin and his gang, he decides to get his revenge. Can Number Five survive a leaking main battery and very little backup power long enough to outsmart Oscar and recover the jewels before he dies? Give this a rent and find out.