Circuitry Man

Being relatively new to the genre of the psychotronic film, I was a little unsure what to expect with this film. A when the movie channel warned of graphic violence, I got even a little more nervous. What were they thinking? Take away a couple of f bombs and you've got a PG movie. As a matter of fact, why would anyone want this to be rated R? The target audience should be kids under 16 and me. Yeah I liked this movie. I liked how the filmmakers got around the fact that this was a low budget movie by coming up with ideas that nimbly sidestepped the issue but without taking away from the science fiction theme. I liked the exuberant performances of Vernon Wells and Dennis Christopher. I liked the cynical performance of Paul Willson (who to me will always be the Bonanza theme song guy from "Cheers"). And I liked the fact that this film at no point took itself seriously but never winked at the camera. Show this film and "Buckaroo Banzai" to your teenage kids tonight.

For a button budget, the imagination really shows. Great B casting, great B acting. Very colorful characters, every looks like they're having fun. One of my favorites for this genre. The DVD even has a Filmmakers commentary. The 2nd one, while not nearly as tight clever, does have Deborah Shelton go topless.

The positives:

Vernon Wells (Mad Max, Commando) is awesome. The setting and the concept are actually great.

The negatives: The movie, when you piece it all together it just misses the greatness it could of had.

circuitry man's only flaw was the obnoxious pleasure droid's failure to die.. other than that, i found it stunning and captivating. i fell instantly in love with the darkly beautiful, sadistic "plughead". as a huge fan of dark sci-fi (dark city, a.i., blade runner, the matrix), this was everything i could want in a movie.

I REALLY like this film! I discovered it while checking out the filmography of Vernon Wells, who I first saw in 'The Road Warrior' in 1981. His over-the-top performance made me seek him out as one of the 'Ultimate Villains'...like Alan Rickman, Gavin O'Herlihy, Billy Drago, Max Phipps or Arnold Vosloo. (If these names don't ring a bell, you need to check them out!) These are people who always deliver for me! Contrary to one reviewer, I like Jim Metzler, as well. He is perfectly cast as the android sex robot. If you liked Dennis Christopher's wonderful performance in 'Breaking Away', you're going to undergo a catharsis when you see him in 'Circuitry Man'! 'Circuitry Man II' isn't bad either.