Comin' at Ya!

This special-effects Spaghetti Western is focused on the audience, and how to deliver as many shock & awe moments as could possibly be shoved into the story-free script. It's like watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the big difference that The Rocky Horror Picture Show has a dynamite story, and many other reasons why it will always be a 10 Star cult classic. It's unlikely that anyone would want to have repeated viewings of this lackluster wanna-be-Western.

There are only so many shot guns shoved in your face, snakes rattling at you or drunken saloon patrons tumbling your way, before the formula wears off. If you've never experienced a 3-D movie, and this could be your only chance to check it off your bucket list, by all means, go for it. I've been there, done that back in 1981. Maybe I'll dig up one of the 1950s Classics in 3-D, but once was enough for this one.

Even if I had seen the movie in the original 3-D process it was filmed in, I seriously doubt it could have masked the utterly boring and unoriginal story. The constant jabbing of things into the camera lens is initially amusing, but soon becomes tiring.

In fact, the whole movie is seriously tired, a mix of elements from previous Tony Anthony movies (some of which were ripped off from Sergio Leone movies - talk about copies of copies!), and once again Anthony gives a performance that alternates between indifference and about-to-burst-into-tears. Much of the budget must have been spent on buying an extra camera, because the movie has a real cheap and quickly-shot appearance.

If you decide to watch the movie anyway, be sure you have fresh batteries in your remote - I guarantee you'll be using the fast-forward button a lot.

Made on a very low budget in 1981, Comin' At Ya! was the first successful full length 3D motion picture since Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (Or was it The Stewardesses?). It started an early 80's resurgence of 3D films that (unfortunately) quickly died due to bad, bad movies and poor projection. Believe it or not, this (along with Friday the 13th Part 3) is arguably the best of that batch.

The 80 minute plot (which, without the endless assault of blatant 3D effects, would probably clock in at just over a half an hour) is very slight. In an opening flashback, Hart and his girl Abilene rob a Wells Fargo bank, get attacked by mercenaries, get married and get attacked once again, this time by white slave traders who take Abiline and leave Hart for dead. Hart survives, though, and sets out to find her. The bad guys lump Abiline in with a group of other women that they intend to use, abuse, and sell into prostitution across the border into Mexico. Hart and his scottish preacher sidekick(?) capture the head bad guys brother and use him as leverage to get his new wife back.

Now, I don't know how seriously the filmmakers were taking this story because sometimes the film seems like it's trying to be funny and other times it's incredibly deadpan. I'd like to say it's a spoof of Sergio Leone's Italian oaters (The actor's mouths move in English, but are still dubbed over by voice over artists, the soundtrack is a complete Morricone rip off and the lead actor strives for Eastwood's man with no name personna), but I'm not completely sure of the intention. I am sure of what the film is, however. It is the most gimmicky 3D movie I've ever seen. Not 5 minutes pass without guns, daggers, arrows, sticks, spilling beans, baby asses (midway through a diaper change), rats, bats and soap bubbles flying out in your face. The last five minutes of the film are a recap of the more successful 3D effects spun together with footage of fireworks and pinwheels sparking and spinning against a black background. About 75% of it works, though. The rest come too close to the camera and causes eye strain. It's 3D movies like this that give the rest a bad name.

Don't misunderstand me. I was entertained by this film, make no mistake. It's hard not to be entertained by a film that doesn't want a single thought entering your head for its running time. It's a 3D movie equivalent to a porno film... If you've never seen a 3D movie before, don't start here (see House OF Wax first), but If you've seen the best, then it never hurts to see the rest. Oh, yeah, a six pack helps this one immeasurably.

I saw "Comin' At Ya!" when it was released in 1981. Remembering that it was highly entertaining, if cheesy, I happily threw down my 14 bucks for the DVD re-release. If you're thinking about buying it, three words: Don't do it.

Rhino has converted the film to the red/blue 3D process (as opposed to the polarization process--if you've seen the 3D movies at Disneyland or Universal Studios, you know what I mean), and the results are horrible. Not only does the 3D not work, the red and blue lenses ruin the color (red/blue 3D is better suited to black and white movies or monochromatic comic books). I gave up the glasses after ten minutes, muted the colors on my TV, and fast-forwarded to the fight scenes. It wasn't even worth the 14 dollars I paid for the DVD, and I'm taking it back.

I'm very disappointed with Rhino for even releasing the DVD with the shoddy 3D. It's as if someone said, "Yeah, the 3D doesn't work, but who cares? They'll buy it for the gimmick." If you absolutely must see it again, rent it or con a friend into buying it. Because it is absolutely not worth the money.

As for the movie itself--c'mon, rubber bats on wires; flaming arrows; spears bouncing along on half-taut wires as they come "right at you"? That's what 3D was made for. The director uses every excuse to throw things at the camera, and then some. Most of them defy logic. But it might make a good party game to predict what object on screen is going to come at you next.

"Comin' At Ya!" is pure 3D cheese, and I loved it. Just don't expect good 3D.

This was absolutely the worst movie I ever saw. Believe it or not, I paid to see this bomb at the movie theater and it is only one of two movies that I ever walked out of! No plot, poor effects, horrible script.