IMDb RATING
4.8/10
4.1K
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NASA finds remains of an ancient humanoid race on the Moon that left behind deadly robots.NASA finds remains of an ancient humanoid race on the Moon that left behind deadly robots.NASA finds remains of an ancient humanoid race on the Moon that left behind deadly robots.
James A. Courtney
- Lieutenant
- (as James Courtney)
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SPOILER: i loved this movie and not for a post ST Koenig or evil dead Campbell, but because it had a strange twist on what may have happened to earth in the past, they were prob the legends of Atlantis and shows us a idea of why we should not let our toys get smarter then the ones who build them. yes there are a lot of poor cheesy jokes and the plot was lame in places but over all it was a good flick if a bit gory in the reuse of humans for parts. It does have a lot in common with terminator, aliens and virus but sci-fi does have a tend to copy it self, but if you want to see a good film with some good ideas then this one is for you, it is a thrill ride if you don't think to hard
This movie is what I call "Cheap Sci-Fi": a garage sale script, minimal special effects, and a great leap of faith to justify the story.
The premise is that there was a previous technological civilization on Earth (of course, this is never really explained), and they've left deadly robots on the moon. Not to be outdone, Earth sends a team of astronauts on a search and destroy mission.
Of course, the fact that it would be safer to leave them there, with the lunar gulf separating us is never mentioned! That would invalidate the whole movie, wouldn't it?
Jason & Ray (Koenig & Campbell) awaken a woman (Leigh Lombardi) in suspended animation whose role is wasted on a pointless T&A scene and the obligatory screams of fright. But don't despair, Koenig's real-life wife, Judy Levitt, shows up to save the plight of women on the screen by piloting a space shuttle, armed with missiles (did the producer have something against the peaceful uses of space?).
Most sad are the scientific errors which plague the script (be sure to click on the "goofs") and show that quick profits, not accuracy, were the driving force behind this flick.
Ironically enough, although the movie's a lost cause, the soundtrack by Joseph Lo Duca is superb, and a good premonition of his later work. Even more ironic is the fact that Lo Duca went on to write soundtracks for shows like Xena and Hercules, in which Bruce Campbell would have recurring roles.
Moontrap? Moon-trash would be a better title!
The premise is that there was a previous technological civilization on Earth (of course, this is never really explained), and they've left deadly robots on the moon. Not to be outdone, Earth sends a team of astronauts on a search and destroy mission.
Of course, the fact that it would be safer to leave them there, with the lunar gulf separating us is never mentioned! That would invalidate the whole movie, wouldn't it?
Jason & Ray (Koenig & Campbell) awaken a woman (Leigh Lombardi) in suspended animation whose role is wasted on a pointless T&A scene and the obligatory screams of fright. But don't despair, Koenig's real-life wife, Judy Levitt, shows up to save the plight of women on the screen by piloting a space shuttle, armed with missiles (did the producer have something against the peaceful uses of space?).
Most sad are the scientific errors which plague the script (be sure to click on the "goofs") and show that quick profits, not accuracy, were the driving force behind this flick.
Ironically enough, although the movie's a lost cause, the soundtrack by Joseph Lo Duca is superb, and a good premonition of his later work. Even more ironic is the fact that Lo Duca went on to write soundtracks for shows like Xena and Hercules, in which Bruce Campbell would have recurring roles.
Moontrap? Moon-trash would be a better title!
The good? Effects and props... and Koenig.
The bad? Everything else.
Apart from its value as 80s nostalgia, there's not much to see. The 1950s did this type of stuff much better.
It would have made a good TV movie, though.
The bad? Everything else.
Apart from its value as 80s nostalgia, there's not much to see. The 1950s did this type of stuff much better.
It would have made a good TV movie, though.
MOONTRAP has the perfect genre cast: THE EVIL DEAD's Bruce Campbell and STAR TREK's Walter Koenig team up as a pair of astronauts who are busy investigating a robotic mystery on the surface of the Moon. That set-up sounds great, but in reality the execution turns out to be quite pedestrian; this has the look and feel of an Albert Pyun movie, say, rather than a 'proper', well made movie.
It looks cheap and it is. About the only thing MOONTRAP has going for it are a series of robotic creations which are pretty good in a cheesy '80s kind of way. The animation is fairly decent, with some scenes bringing to mind the likes of ROBOCOP, but it's the story that also lets this one down. There's little to no scope here, just characters wandering around aimlessly and fighting repetitively.
Campbell is given short shrift by the script and that awful haircut of his doesn't help. Koenig is, somewhat hilariously, playing a youthful hero type (his character appears to be at least 20 years younger than the actor), the sort of guy who gets the girl at the end, which is a little weird and unworkable. But really, there's not a lot going on here, especially for fans of the sci-fi genre who will have seen it all before.
It looks cheap and it is. About the only thing MOONTRAP has going for it are a series of robotic creations which are pretty good in a cheesy '80s kind of way. The animation is fairly decent, with some scenes bringing to mind the likes of ROBOCOP, but it's the story that also lets this one down. There's little to no scope here, just characters wandering around aimlessly and fighting repetitively.
Campbell is given short shrift by the script and that awful haircut of his doesn't help. Koenig is, somewhat hilariously, playing a youthful hero type (his character appears to be at least 20 years younger than the actor), the sort of guy who gets the girl at the end, which is a little weird and unworkable. But really, there's not a lot going on here, especially for fans of the sci-fi genre who will have seen it all before.
I had me some fun revisiting MOONTRAP the other day. Had not seen it since my teen-days. A small but ambitious sci-fi/horror film about a race of robotic aliens hidden on the dark side of the moon, occupying themselves since ages with building a giant mother-ship - that thing was huge! - to invade earth and using human bodies for spare-parts (VIRUS with Jamie Lee Curtis, anyone?). A weird film altogether with a lot of great and some not-so-great special effects, including nifty looking miniatures. Starring none less than Walter Koenig (from the original STAR TREK series) and Bruce Campbell, who's acting his way very inappropriately through this film, like if he was convinced he was doing another EVIL DEAD film. Can't really call this a great film, with its pacing problems and illogical goings-on, but it was a blast seeing it again.
Did you know
- TriviaBecause the "moondust" was actually quick-set concrete powder, there was always a sign at the set proclaiming "No Liquids!"
- GoofsThe full Earth is visible from the sunlit lunar surface, which is impossible.
- Quotes
Col. Jason Grant: A base! It is a god-damned base and we're being invited in.
Ray Tanner: Yeah, but who's throwin' the party?
- Crazy creditsNear the end of the closing credits, audio is heard of Jason speaking to a NASA official about any possible debris of the spacecraft possibly falling to Earth.
- Alternate versionsThe Japanese VHS runs a little bit longer than the North American version, but mostly features extended dialogue between Jason and his son.
- ConnectionsEdited from Apollo 11 Moon Landing (1969)
- SoundtracksGotta Get Next to You
Music by Joseph LoDuca (as Joe Lo Duca)
Lyrics by Rita Cox
Performed by Michael Nehra
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