The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension

THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION (PG)

D: W.D. Richter

20th Century Fox/Sherwood (W.D. Richter & Neil Canton)

USA 🇺🇸 1984

102 mins

Science Fiction/Adventure/Comedy

W: Earl Mac Rauch

DP: Fred J. Koenecamp

Ed: Richard Marks & George Bowers

Mus: Michael Boddicker

PD: J. Michael Riva

Peter Weller (Buckaroo Banzai), John Lithgow (Dr. Emilio Lizardo / Lord John Whorfin), Ellen Barkin (Penny Priddy), Clancy Brown (Rawhide), Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Sidney Zweibel / New Jersey), Christopher Lloyd (John Bigbooté)

There were plenty of sci-fi movies released at the end of the 1970's and 1980's desperately attempting to cash-in on the success of Star Wars, and though this movie was unfairly considered amongst them, it really doesn't have anything in common with George Lucas' classic saga.

Peter Weller plays title character Buckaroo Banzai, a modern day renaissance man who has brain surgeon, physicist, test pilot and rock musician on his CV. During a test for a supersonic vehicle, he travels through the 8th dimension and unleashes a race of brainwashing aliens only he and his rock band, The Hong Kong Cavaliers, can stop from taking over the planet.

Though the plot is absolute nonsense, the film has a style of its own and has garnered quite an impressive cult following since its original release and is set for its own television series over 30 years later. The film really is a product of the decade it was produced in though, and if you didn't watch it during the decade, it's one to let pass you by.

6/10