Logan's Run

-Warner Home Video (1976)

Summary

Logan is on the run, from the man!

My Thoughts

Logan's Run is one of those horrible sci-fi films that you see in DVD bargain bins or late night on TV. Its a stupid movie, but a fun watch. I first saw and fell in love with Logan's Run during a late night showing on TNT when the channel wasn't the Law and Order channel. God, I miss Joe Bob Briggs and Monstervision.

Logan’s Run takes place in the far future where humanity lives in a big giant mall. The mall is supposed to be some sort of all encompassing structure ala THX-1138, and it represents this with some really badly done models. The society of Logan’s Run has a way of regulating itself by killing off everyone over thirty years old. At birth, everyone has a crystal implanted into their palm. This crystal indicates how close you are until you hit 30, and it turns black when they reach that dreaded birthday. Before your crystal turns black though, life is a world of leisure with orgies, drugs, and indiscriminate sex, which is exactly my kind of lifestyle. Unfortunately, once your time runs out, your choices are fairly limited. You can either blow up on a giant disco ball in a quasi-religious ceremony, or you can try to run away and escape the giant mall. The running choice isn't that wise though, because a the Sandmen will put an end to your life. These Sandmen are a police force dedicated to killing  runners, and are completely above the law. One Sandman, Logan, is given a mission by the computer that, apparently, runs everything.  Logan's mission is to find where the runners hope to escape to, labeled very appropriately, Sanctuary. Once he finds this Sanctuary he is supposed to kill all the runners that are unaccounted for. Logan is then screwed over by the computer and his remaining years are taken away to make it more convincing to the runners that he his one of them. The hunter then becomes the hunted when he ends up trying to escape with a woman named Jessica.

Logan’s Run is good in a campy way and has so many unintentionally funny moments you have to see them for yourself. This film has become incredibly dated, from the feathered hair to the big guest appearance by Farrah Fawcett. Its great just to watch how the Sandman behave in society. One of the greatest lines of all time comes from Logan's Run after Jessica tells Logan she is sad, he responds by saying, "Sad or not, you're beautiful. Let's have sex." Now, that is cinema. If you want one more reason to like this film, how about Logan's Run features the stupidest robot ever seen on film? This robot also wins the award for dumbest named robot coming in with the very special designation, "Box." Hah, Box.

Logan’s Run isn't fun just because it's campy, but it also has as a good idea that lays underneath all that crazy camp. This might be due to the fact that the film is based off a book. Yeah, books are for smart people. The story really shines in the second half of the film when Logan and Jessica meet the amazingly cool character of an old man in the outside world. At this point until the end the horrible production isn't there to distract to viewer so the decent story sparkles a little easier.

Overall, this is a pretty decent DVD. The film stock could use a restoration, but the presentation is as good as it can get. The surround mix is good too, but the annoying future music popping off in the rear speakers can get a little aggravating.

Extras

For a cheap DVD I didn't expect much so I wasn't disappointed. There's a commentary track featuring the odd assortment of the director, actor Michael York, and the costume designer (?). The commentary provided some rather neat facts and tidbits and is worth a shot if you’re any kind of fan of this film.

The featurette is also worth checking out if you’re a Logan’s Run fan. It is a classic making-of that was obviously made to promote the film and its both informative and unintentionally funny because of the way it builds up the film to be this epic and grand sci-fi spectacular.

There’s also a trailer for the film and lastly, there’s the option of watching the film in full screen or widescreen by playing the disc on the appropriate side, for what its worth.

Score:

Film: 7.0

Extras: 6.0

Edition: 6.0

-Paul