The Man Who Saved the World

There were times when I was watching this film that I wondered, What must it have been like for the intended audiences when they first saw this nearly twenty years ago? did they rise up and hunt down the people who made this astoundingly derivative, shamelessly inept piece of camel dung and string them up from the nearest lamppost - or did it win the Turkish equivalent of the Oscar (the Osman?) for Best Picture? Still, I can't deny that it has certain charms. In fact, it's been a long time since I have laughed quite so hard at a bad movie that wasn't on Mystery Science Theater 3000. If you can find this one (and you might have some trouble - I had to get it from a guy in West Virginia and the print I saw was in Turkish only), rent it and watch it with a living room full of 'Star Wars' fans, liberally lubricated with a case of cheap beer. The finale must be seen to be believed.

The main reason behind the greatness of this movie is the fact that they did not mean it to be so funny. Cuneyt Arkin- the star of turkplotation movies during the 70s and probably the only superman who prefers running over flying- is taking his role very seriously and that really adds some spice. There are so many scenes in this flick that really make no sense as well as some that will crack u up. i dont even want to get in the scenes borrowed -whatever that means in legal terms- The budget is really low but even that can not justify the awfulness of Dunyayi Kurtaran Adam. Come on; this not a cult movie, it is a disgrace and disrespect to the art of cinema. There are so many flaws in terms of screenplay, editing, acting, costumes and e.g that can not solely be explained by lack of funds but rather with lack of knowledge and effort. They did not even bother to write some dialogues that actually make sense. The villian wants human brains so that he can ... I really dont know, at one scene he shouts as `The earth will be mine` and then after some time he says `I will destroy the world`- dude just make up r mind- I agree that the movie itself is laughable and accordingly watchable however it is probable that this mainly is related to the fact that watching Dunyayi Kurtaran Adam makes you think that anyone can shoot a movie if they really feel like to. You do not necessariliy need a plot or actors that can act or authentic costumes to make your own masterpiece; just borrow some scenes from other movies -which is even easier these days u just need a dvd-recorder and a wmmovie maker- persuade some of r mates to feature and drop by the nearest toys r us or Warner shop. Then find a third world country where it can be screened and be ready to be named as the Ed Wood of the 21st century.

To say that "Dunyayi Kurtaran Adam" is the greatest movie of all time, is to imply that other movies can reach the sheer genius of this film. You probably understand all the surface quirks of the film. It is a Turkish film. (Being that I have never had the opportunity to enjoy Turkish cinema before, I can only conclude that Turkey is the uncrowned motion picture capital of the world.) It is a sci-fi movie that is filmed on a budget which is so low, that one may consider the term shoe-string budget an insult to the tangible value of shoe-strings. In order to duplicate the visual quality offered in American cinema, the director (Celtin Inanc) literally uses (read: steals) film footage from Star Wars and runs it during the film. Unfortunately, sometimes this effect is mildly confusing (the movie begins with the tie fighter sequence but you cannot really tell if the heroes are supposed to be piloting the X-wing fighters OR the tie fighters) to frighteningly moronic (during the final battle, the visuals of the tie fighter sequence flash, almost subliminally across the screen with no rational reason for its use) You should also keep an open ear of the great bootlegged music (only 17 years before the invention of the MP3) that makes up the films brilliant soundtrack. Music from Star Wars, Flash Gordon, and Indiana Jones are used in this film. The highlights of the movie include the final battle that looks like a "Power Rangers" outtakes reel and fantastic martial arts training sequences that make the lead actors look like a couple of out of shape, drunk children.

Ed Wood would be proud.

Come on folks; this is George Chung meets Star Wars; somewhat tainted with nationalist and religious motifs... Otherwise, it is a helluva movie. For example, I love the scene where the pilots are bending their heads down (and bending over their knees?) to emulate the effect of diving with their tie-fighters. Or, vipers... That is one-of-a-king special fx. Love the helmets, by the way.

Aliens in the film can kill you out of laughter. Somewhere in the galaxy far, far away; these Turkish pilots riding on Imperial tie-fighters are using the karate-do to save the world. They ain't need phasers or other weapons. The power is strong in these two.

However, I seriously think the director did not mean to steal, er, lend, some of the Star Wars footage. At leastI suspect that was not his intention. Film's poster suggests otherwise, anyway. (see at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/tr/8/8b/Afisdunya.jpg for yourself) It clearly states Galactica on it. I guess Cetin Inanc did not know the difference. Still some villains looked suspiciously Cylon through (tin cookie boxes were provide for the shining armor), with other monsters bearing a stiking resemblance to Battlestar Galactica daggit of Boxey, Muffit II...When to come to think of it, they also resemble the Cookie Monster.

Music is also great throughout; particularly with the fights scenes on the planet surface, the aliens riding horses and just the right music at the background you expect Indiana Jones to jump in the fun at any moment. anyway... Or, as the score changes, maybe Han Solo will show up... Or, Indiana Jones...

But it is not the worst film of the world. There is worst. Trust me. Try "Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women." This is actually a re-edited version of a film previously released in the US as "Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet" (1965), which itself was an edited and dubbed version of the Soviet film "Planeta Bur" (1962). Hence, the US rocket-ships journeying to Venus bear the red star of the USSR.

And the "prehistoric women" do not appear in the original Russian film from which this was made. They were later added on. So, in this third version, Mamie Van Doren and several other well-endowed beauties lay around on rocks by the ocean and make thoughtful faces while they have a telepathic debate concerning the "alien invaders" from Earth. The girls worship a dead pterodactyl until the end of the film, then they pull the wrecked robot from the ocean and start worshiping it instead (proof positive that a blond is a blond, regardless of what planet she's from).

The cosmonauts and the girls never come face to face -- which is no surprise, of course, since their scenes were filmed six years apart on two separate continents.

Another favorite of mine is "Assignment: Outer Space..." As Rich Meyer puts it "There's a scene where an astronaut tries to escape a crash by jumping down to one of Mars' moons... Suddenly, there's an explosion when his ship hits. Unfortunately, the person handling the mattes was apparently sleeping that day, because you see an explosion in front of a bunch of buildings and behind a Chevy. Here we are in deep space near the Red Planet and there's a Chevy on a street in Italy. One of the most jarringly funny scenes I ever saw in a grade z movie..." Both these and some other great 8 films come in a single box "Classics from Outer Space," published by St. Clair Vision (USA), the one-and-only collection of must-see-to-believe-it Sci Fi films.

Is that actual english dialogue from the film that you are quoting? Every print of this that I have seen, is in Turkish with no subtitles. I suppose it's been getting so much attention, that many have thought of translating it, and making it more readily available. I thought maybe someone already had. The funniest "Star Wars" knockoff to date, and worth seeing at least once.