Lifeforce

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, thrilling sci-fi/horror flick.
Review: I think Lifeforce makes a very strong case for being the best "bad" movie ever made. The film is, after all, ludicrously plotted, but that actually adds to the unique charms this movie has, which actually entertains for all the right reasons. Lifeforce is exciting, thrilling, suspenseful, and always a lot of fun, thanks to the intriguing story, the first-rate special effects, the competent action sequences, and of course, the gorgeous Mathilda May wandering around in the buff.

A joint British/American crew aboard the shuttle Churchill are studying Halley's Comet when they discover a giant contraption hidden within the coma's comet. Knowing this will be their only chance to board this enigma, they suit up and enter this contraption. Inside, they discover thousands of frozen, giant bat-like creatures, and just as interesting, three humanoids (one female, the other two male) encased in crystal-like containers. They decide to take the humanoids and one bat back to the ship with them.

Thirty days go by and London has lost complete contact with the crew. So another shuttle is sent, and they discover the dessicated remains of the Churchill crew, but all three humanoids are still intact. Bringing them back to London for examination, the female one awakens, displaying the ability to drain the lifeforce out of a human being, and escapes out of the compound. Enter Steve Railsback and Peter Firth, who star, respectively, as the sole survivor of the Churchill and an agent out to stop this space vampiress from taking over the planet.

If you've read the plot summary above and find this story interesting, then Lifeforce is most certainly the film for you. The first hour is probably the most engrossing, plot-wise. When you discover that whoever the vampiress kills will also rise to drain someone else's lifeforce, that's when the stakes grow much higher, as an epidemic becomes a possibility.

The first half of the film resembles Species quite a bit, since you've got a team that's searching for a nubile alien that's on the loose (though, without a doubt, Ms. May is waaayyy hotter than Natasha Henstridge). This same part of the plot adds another interesting aspect that makes the team's job more difficult; the vampiress has the ability to enter another person's body. Thus, they're no longer searching for a young, dark-haired beauty. She could be in anyone, which further raises the stakes.

The engrossing story-telling sort of gives away to loads of special effects and action, but I found it a good transition. The effects are often terrific and the action is really quite exciting, surprising considering that director Tobe Hooper is usually incompetent at creating thrills and suspense. Judging from the all-out chaos that occurs in the last half-hour (burning buildings, thousands of zombie-like creatures stumbling around searching for nourishment), I'd say the film had a pretty big budget to work with (I've heard figures as high as 28M, which would be higher than Aliens' 18M a year later).

Acting's probably what you would expect, with Peter Firth delivering a pretty good performance as Agent Caine. I like the guy's straightforward, calm attitude toward the situation and how he handles it. Steve Railsback as his partner who's being seduced by the vampiress in his dreams is much less impressive, sweating and overacting to amusing extents, but never coming across as very convincing. Patrick Stewart of Star Trek fame is here, too, in a role that he's probably a bit embarrassed by these days.

But the most impressive of the cast is none other than Mathilda May. I mean, this vampiress is genuinely freaky! Watching May stand around calmly as she seduces a victim is an interesting transition from titillation to all-out horror. She's actually frightening, and that's impressive for a nude woman. Speaking of nudity, most people must have noticed that's often the most mentioned aspect of the film. Indeed, Mathilda May is one of the most gorgeous women I've ever seen. I mean, geez, it's really perfect casting when you think about it. There's something exotic and "alien" about her looks (maybe the fact she's a foreigner helps) that adds a brilliant touch, and her perfect body helps, too, of course. Because of that exotic, "alien" look, I can't see any other drop-dead gorgeous actress who could pull this off quite as well (and this includes superhotties like Chasey Lain and Kari Wuhrer).

Henry Mancini's score is a pretty enjoyable listen, though hardly as good as so many have claimed it to be. Even at 116 minutes, Lifeforce actually feels rushed. Some material could have explored a little further, but that's not too big a complaint. This is one wildly entertaining film I highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: A Delicate Balance
Review: This film is so stupefyingly boring, yet Mathilda May is so stacked. This film explains why there are so few big-budget British sci-fi productions directed by hack American directors. The Brits can do cheesy sci-fi TV wonderfully, but given the money in this film's budget, all reason vanished and we are left with stupid explosions and Steve Railsback holding down Cpt Picard (from Star Trek!) while strange lights circle the room and then everything blows up and papers go flying. And yet Ms. May walks up to a glass wall, it explodes into thousands of pieces, and she walks out, completely naked, and we see her extraordinary butt for three seconds...it's all so unintelligible I still don't know what happened. But Ms. May is completely naked sitting in the air bathed in laser light, and she is so stacked with an angelic face. So I take five stars for Ms. May and 1 star for Mr. Railsback, and divide by 2.

Rating:
Summary: great vampire movie
Review: i like vampire movies and aliens but i love this movie it takes the vampire movies to a new level of horror and it was very good and sexy.better then lost boys and love at frist bit

Rating:
Summary: Space Strip-Tease
Review: Colin Wilson's adult sci-fi novel, The Space Vampires, becomes Tobe Hooper's juvenile - but sporadically satisfying - 1980s apocalyptic gore-fest.

Steve Railsback is the sole survivor of a failed mission to explore Halley's Comet, after discovering a miles-long alien spaceship containing numerous dessicated bat-creatures and three perfectly preserved humanoids. Earth recovers the humanoids, which reanimate and wreak havoc in London. Their leader, sexy space-vamp Mathilda May - wearing a predatory smile, and literally nothing else - is in psychic contact with Railsback, whose allegiances are torn between helping Earth defense forces track her down and destroy her before she can initiate an apocalypse, or joining forces with her.

The first twenty minutes or so, up until the point that May murders a security guard and escapes a European Space Agency lab, are fabulous. After that, the movie goes south quickly. Dan O'Bannon's script then becomes difficult to follow. Numerous scenes are so melodramatically handled that they turn comedic, the special effects go wild, and suddenly the clever sci-fi detective story becomes an out-of-control end-of-the-world movie. The entire last act comes out of nowhere, and makes little sense.

The production is lavish. The cinematography is beautiful. Henry Mancini provides a lush and usually effective score. The effects are excellent, but severely overused. The cast consists of top-notch actors, though it's often hard to tell because they have to out-shout the end of the world going on around them.

The movie is worthwhile, if for no other reason than May's space vampire. She's sexy as hell, and is so centered and focused that she manages to be terrifying the whole while she's stark naked - and with a body as phenomenal as hers, that's saying something.

Rating:
Summary: An Bizarre, Fascinating Film by Tobe Hooper.
Review: The Americans and British astronauts are in a space shuttle Mission to Halley`s Comet were supposed to be studying but when they find is an Alien Ship Hidden in the Comet. They discover indise the ship are Dead Corspes in the shape between Alien and large Vampires Bats. They find three in a Cocoons Cases seemingly and looking dead Humans in Suspending Animation. The team are amazed, what they have find. Once, the astrounauts bring the dead race with them, trouble starts. Months Later... When the ship nearly comes to Earth, without a single radio Contact. NASA goes to the space shuttle finding the Crew Dead, It has been in a fire but the Three Cases are Still Intact. Bringing the cases back to Earth. The True Disater starts from there, when a beautiful but Mysterious Alien Woman (Mathilda May), she`s sucking the Life out of Humans, feeding Herself with the Two Another Aliens carrying thier souls with them to Live and Bringing to thier Alien Spacecraft. The only one, it could stop it from These Powerful Aliens is an American Astronaut-Carlsen (Steve Railsback), who escape from the space shuttle and has an strange connection between the female creature.

Directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, Invaders from Mars-1986) brings a Stylish Sci-Fi Thriller to making this a Visual Good Looking Movie. Based on a Novel by Colin Wilson and From the Screenplay by Dan O`Bannon (Alien) and Don Jakoby (John Carpenter`s Vampires). The Film begins as a Adventure, then an Alien-Invasion Thriller and then Apocalyspe End of the World Story. While the Story doesn`t always Succeed as it Should (althought it has some funny awful unintentional laughs) but this was an Very Ambitious Film from Tobe Hooper (Although this was an Box Office Flop, Produced by Cannon Films, it`s thier Best Produced Film). This has some terrific Visual Effects work Supervise by Oscar-Winner:John Dykstra (Star Wars). The Film's Highlight is the Amazing Score by Four Time Oscar-Winner:Herny Mancini (The American Release has Music Cue from Micheal Kamen with Mancini`s Music). Also the Fine Cinematography Work by Alan Hume (Return of the Jedi). While, the European Version runs 116 Minutes (Fifteen Minutes shorter than the American Version). Which the American Edit starts somewhat differently and some of it, is quite Awful and some of the sense of Humor is missing (For the American Version, Avoid It). The Full European Version is on this DVD Edition with the full Original Score by Mancini. Lifeforce may be a Disjointed Film and a Camp Classic for some but depending on, what you think about this film but It`s sure is Entertaining and Intoxicate Work by Hooper. DVD`s has an Clean non-anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an Strong Digitally Remastered-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Don`t miss this Bizarre Sci-Fi/Horror/Adventure/Thriller. J-D-C (Joe Dunton Cameras) Scope. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: Sexy, constructive and always interesting to watch!
Review: I think "Lifeforce," was one of the last great sci-fi horror films. Mainly because it's one of the only films besides Roger Corman's "Galaxy of Terror," where the women really are sexy and the evil really is just plain "evil!" Phenomenal production design and special effects; "Lifeforce," is simply one of those movies that doesn't need to be mega-explosive or over the top but somehow it always ends up that way. Which is why I give this movie 3 stars instead of 5. It's one of those movies I am thankful I have in my DVD collection simply because when someone comes over and looks at my collection I always have a smile on my face when they ask me, what's this movie "Lifeforce," all about. It's great to see their reaction once they watch it because it wasn't really that popular and most fellas I know love the large amounts of T & A (something that is seriously lacking in today's movies unless you watch a lot of "independent" film). What's really great about this movie now is that it's on DVD and has been treated to a great transfer, elongated scenes, wonderful 5.1 sound and quite simply a great DVD picture!! Don't waste your time reading my review, take advantage of a really great price and buy this DVD now!! It's a true classic if there ever was one!

Rating:
Summary: May the FORCE be with you!
Review: Lifeforce is the perfect example of how stupid studios think the American audience is. The original American release features fifteen minutes cut, and the score changed in places so that the film would be more low-key and played off as a straight horror vehicle. Upon release, the film just disappointed audiences (naked Mathilda May notwithstanding) and, between its mediocre response and graphic (in all ways) nature, was lost even to a second life on cable TV.

The advent of DVD has led to a reconstructing and resurfacing of this highly enjoyable and well-done Tobe Hooper classic. Restored are the fifteen minutes of film and the original, as it was intended, score for each scene. What is truly impressive and laudable about Lifeforce is that there are no major scenes reconstituted into the film, and that almost all fifteen minutes are snippets from the beginning, middle, or end of scenes throughout the film. All small stuff but, combined with the original score selection, it equals one big change - Lifeforce is a clever, witty, and well-crafted adventure film that contains horror elements. Most notable is the wonderful Henry Mancini score, alternating between rousing themes and eerie descents into the unknown. It is the most transforming aspect of the film, transcending the horror elements into a grander and more gleefully enjoyable romp into the apocalypse. Sound strange? Watch the film, and you will understand what I mean.

Stocked with a cast of fine British actors, playing their English nature to a tee, and complimented most wonderfully with Steve Railsback as the abrasive, sole American in the tale, Lifeforce is a film you will find yourself merrily drawn into and one that is easily enjoyed over multiple viewings. A crazy, genre-defying, wry outing highly recommended for any and all.

Rating:
Summary: Nude, Nude, Totally Nude.
Review: How did I miss this one? A fantastic mix of Sci-fi and T & A. The London setting/British accents give it class, while the zombies and nudity supply the cheese. A big budget, midnight classic.

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, if flawed filming of C. Wilson novel; crisp DVD
Review: The first time I saw this, back in the 80s, I hadn't yet heard of Colin Wilson or his novel Space Vampires, and remember being mildly disappointed in the movie ( I think I was expecting more of it to take place in outer space). Having recently read Space Vampires as part of an ongoing Wilson fetish (his long-out-of-print The Occult: A History and novel The Mind Parasites are absolutely essential) I was curious to see Lifeforce again to compare it with both the book and my memories. While there are a lot of things I really like about the picture, it still seems like another one of Tobe Hooper's good-but-shoulda-been-great movies (e.g. Funhouse, Invaders from Mars, etc.) Everything seems to be in place: spectacular production design/art direction (by a team whose previous individual credits included Ragtime, The Devils, Cook & Moore's Bedazzled, and The Elephant Man), lush cinematography by Alan Hume (Return of the Jedi, View to a Kill, Octopussy), John Dykstra's flawless optical and motion-control effects (check out the first half hour for some beautiful Kubrick-inspired visuals), a supporting cast of terrific actors (Frank Finlay, Patrick Stewart, Michael Gothard, Aubrey Morris), an excellent soundtrack by Henry Mancini and Michael Kamen (uncredited), and a gorgeous nude space vampiress. The cerebral screenplay by Dan O'Bannon (Alien, Dark Star, Total Recall, etc.) and Don Jakoby (Carpenter's Vampires, Evolution) does take some liberties with the novel, but it's actually a lot more faithful to Wilson than I was expecting. And thankfully the script is played 'straight,' not camped-up with mindless "action sequences" or a tacked-on romantic subplot like it would be now (though Lifeforce has its share of both mildly graphic violence and steamy eroticism). What bothers me about it is Steve Railsback as Carlsen: his character is so bland and unappealing. The terrific Michael Gothard (The Devils, Scream and Scream Again, The Three/Four Musketeers), wasted as Bukovsky, would have been much better in the Carlsen role. My other problem is, having seen Railsback's tour-de-force as Charles Manson in the TV-movie Helter Skelter, I find myself hearing Charlie in all his line readings in this picture. See for yourself. Ultimately, while most of Lifeforce is fairly impressive, the somewhat anticlimactic finish (the book had a similarly abrupt ending) and Railsback's drab characterization keep it from true classic status. Hooper's direction also seems somewhat lacklustre in the unintentionally humorous scenes of mutant vampires running amok in London, prosthetic bladders pumping rhythmically (that's one overused makeup technology I don't miss). Time has not been kind to Nick Maley's animatronic shriveled corpses either. But now I'm quibbling; overall this is still far superior to most of the zillions of moronic Star Wars ripoffs (Starcrash, Flash Gordon, The Last Starfighter, etc.) of the 1980s; at the very least Lifeforce remains an intelligent and engaging, if somewhat flawed, feast for the eyes (did I mention Mathilda May?) and ears.
The DVD package from MGM-UA is typically minimal but of very high quality. The only extras are the very clean, letterboxed trailer, 32 chapter stops, and English, French, and Spanish subtitles. The source print, however, looks terrific, with excellent brightness, contrast, sharpness, and detail, and rich, saturated color. Virtually no speckling, scratching, or other damage to speak of; it's a pity that it's not anamorphically enhanced. The remixed Dolby 5.1 surround track is fairly well-done, with plenty of back-channel action for audio geeks, and the clarity of the digital sound really shows off some of the subtleties of the soundtrack, particularly some occasional low-frequency vibration effects. The "additional 15 minutes of footage not shown in theatres" promised on the box are the same as in the foreign and previous video release versions. Movie and DVD both rate a solid 4.

Rating:
Summary: sexy space vampires
Review: Wow, Life Force stands the test of time as a sexy and classy movie. It starts out inocently enough. A comet is aproaching and we want to explore it. Little do we realize that an alien race is in hibernation in the tail. Things go from bad to worse, as the adventure unfolds.
Now in adition to the story their is a lot of nudity and the main chick is a stunner. You also get to see classic performances by such greats as Patrick Stewart before he made it big in the states.
So take a chance spend [money]... and enjoy the movie.