Home :: DVD :: Action & Adventure :: Science Fiction  

Animal Action
Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem
Blaxploitation
Classics
Comic Action
Crime
Cult Classics
Disaster Films
Espionage
Futuristic
General
Hong Kong Action
Jungle Action
Kids & Teens
Martial Arts
Military & War
Romantic Adventure
Science Fiction

Sea Adventure
Series & Sequels
Superheroes
Swashbucklers
Television
Thrillers
Fortress

Fortress

List Price: $9.98
Your Price: $9.98
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The usual junk, but still kinda fun
Review: "Fortress" is set in the future - and if there's one thing that movies have to say about the future, it's that things will suck a LOT. Our hero, Brannick (Christopher Lambert), is trying to escape America, because we apparently turned into really conservative... and outlawed abortion, and then turned into even more conservative ... and made it illegal for women to have more than one child in their lifetime. Brannick's first daughter died while still a baby, and so he got his wife pregnant again - illegally - with the intent of crossing the border into Mexico. But he gets arrested, and is sent to Fortress, a maximum security high-tech prison owned by a heartless corporation, with Red Forman as the warden (Well, not really, but Kurtwood Smith does play as Paul, the evil warden). While there, Brannick meets your typical bunch of prisoners and misanthropes (Including the Latin-American, the nerdy explosives expert, the bald tough guy, and the elderly black guy), and they immediately begin plotting an escape. As always, there are a few little flaws that make this movie kind of cheap. Some of the dialogue seems pointless, and many of the characters are very generic. But I think that one of the worst problems is that the movie sticks too strongly to the primary rule of the "Survival" genre - which says, and I quote, "All characters, aside from the hero, and possibly his wife/girlfriend, must die." Sometimes, this rule works, and you end up with an interesting tale where anywhere from nine to fifteen people will go into a situation, and only one or two come out. But in this movie, I kind of liked the other characters. And their deaths seem to have much less of a point than normal Survival flicks. As it is, I've been told there is a sequel, which doesn't bode well, because the second rule of the survival genre is "Sequels must always suck." Anyway, I'll check that one out later when I have some spare time. Despite all the cliches, there are some mighty impressive action scenes, and plenty of eye candy, even by more modern (1999-2001) standards. The movie is a few points higher on the IQ scale than most survival/action and/or prison movies, but it still lacks in originality. However, if you're going to see just one movie of it's type, "Fortress" is probably your best bet. I highly reccomend it if you're ever at Blockbuster or Hollywood Video and you've got some extra time on your hands. And, hey, if you feel like spending a tiny bit of cash to buy it, that's cool, too, so long as you're a fan of survival flicks.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great sci-fi film
Review: "Fortress" is a really well done sci-fi film that is enjoyable to watch. The movie takes place in 2017, where the government controls population growth by allowing only one child per couple. Any additional children become property of the futuristic MenTel Corporation, and the couple is sent to a high-tech prison for this "crime". After losing their first child, John and Karen Brennick are expecting another child and are caught trying to cross the U.S. border. The rest of the film takes place in the MenTel prison, where John Brennick is separated from his wife but attempts to make a daring escape. Good special effects and acting make this film stand out from standard sci-fi and action fare. Christopher Lambert does a really good job playing Brennick, a man determined to be reunited with his wife and save his unborn child from the clutches of MenTel.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great sci-fi film
Review: "Fortress" is a really well done sci-fi film that is enjoyable to watch. The movie takes place in 2017, where the government controls population growth by allowing only one child per couple. Any additional children become property of the futuristic MenTel Corporation, and the couple is sent to a high-tech prison for this "crime". After losing their first child, John and Karen Brennick are expecting another child and are caught trying to cross the U.S. border. The rest of the film takes place in the MenTel prison, where John Brennick is separated from his wife but attempts to make a daring escape. Good special effects and acting make this film stand out from standard sci-fi and action fare. Christopher Lambert does a really good job playing Brennick, a man determined to be reunited with his wife and save his unborn child from the clutches of MenTel.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A passer-uper
Review: As much as I hate to say "passer-uper" i have to for this movie. Unless you are a absolutly obsessed with Sci-fi movies i suggest you not see this movie . I wasted my life siting and watching this movie and you might feel the same way

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It's kind of a Lambert Classic
Review: Christopher Lambert is one of those actors who's done a lot of good stuff, and a lot of bad stuff. This is an example of one those in between titles.

The story takes place in the near future. The world is overly populated and run by a huge corporation Mentel. By law each couple can only have one offspring, dead or alive. Lambert and his wife break this law after their first child is stillborn. However when trying to escape they get caught, arrested, and put in the Fortress. The Fortress is the most powerful Maximum Security Prison is the world. Once inside they are seperated and must fight not only for their lives, but for the life of their child.

Overall this title has it's moments, it's definetly not the best title out there but it's also not the worst. Check it out sometime.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It's kind of a Lambert Classic
Review: Christopher Lambert is one of those actors who's done a lot of good stuff, and a lot of bad stuff. This is an example of one those in between titles.

The story takes place in the near future. The world is overly populated and run by a huge corporation Mentel. By law each couple can only have one offspring, dead or alive. Lambert and his wife break this law after their first child is stillborn. However when trying to escape they get caught, arrested, and put in the Fortress. The Fortress is the most powerful Maximum Security Prison is the world. Once inside they are seperated and must fight not only for their lives, but for the life of their child.

Overall this title has it's moments, it's definetly not the best title out there but it's also not the worst. Check it out sometime.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Christopher Lambert stars, .pathetic DVD transfer!
Review: Christpher Lambert and Kurtwood Smith(That 70's show,Broken Arrow) star in this OK movie about a escpe proof prison in the future.Christpher Lambert and his wife try to cross the border to have a child of their own.They are sent to a prison run by Kurtwood Smith as it's sadistic warden.Lambet and his cellmates plan a way to escape from the prison. The DVD of this movie only has the pan/scan,modified movie(no widescreen/letterbox! )scene selction,production notes,cast and crew info! The problems with this DVD is there no commentary from stars,director,special effects etc! There is two side disk for those who want to watch it in letterbox! If you want to buy this DVD fine it's just you are better off with the VHS tape instead!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of Stuart Gordon's Best Films
Review: Fortress is one of Stuart Gordon's best films ever made. I never saw this in the theatre because I was only 8 years and never heard of the movie before. I heard this was an international success but it received little notice in the U.S. (I even noticed the box office business money it was only around 6mil). But hey i don't care how it did i just care if i enjoyed the movie or not.

The film opens in 2017 where we realize a couple John and Karen Brennick (Christopher Lambert and Loryn Locklin) are trying to have another child due to the first one they lost but unfortunately they can't due to overpopulation crisis in America.
They try to have another but they're caught and sent a Maximum Security system called "The Fortress" built 33 stories deep. The prison is operated by a genetically enhanced sadistic warden Poe (Kurtwood Smith) and Zed-10 the computer system owned by Men-Tel Corporation who also built The Fortress. When they arrive they are outfitted with intestinators they could make your stomach in pain mode or explode mode. Even though this prison is high tech and very well guarded Brennick plots an escape anyway. I don't wanna tell you more because i'll be spoiling the movie for you. Stuart Gordon who made such low budget classics like Re-Animator and From Beyond he jumps into a bigger budget in Fortress and makes the film more enthusiatic and more energtic than ever before. The budget wasn't high though it was around 10million that's what the T.V Guide review said but its still ok, and probably will be the only bigger budget he ever did. The performances are great, plot good, and SFX are great as well. Overall this is a classic and i really enjoyed it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Welcome to the Fortress.
Review: Fortress is probably, one of my favorite films in the sci-fi category but it was certainly one of the sci-fi films that came out in the early ninties. Director Staurt Gordon did a great job making this film works, centainly it was a lot better than the forgettable-Robot Jox and Recently Sci-fi Adventure Comedy:Space Truckers with Dennis Hopper and Stephen Dorff. Gordon is known for directing Horror Film with Dark Sense Of Humor:Re-Animator(1985), watch was unexpecting, when it`s release in theaters nobody thought the film is more as a black comedy than your usual dumb horror film. Which is still his best film.

Fortress is the best sci-fi, he directed. working with good well known actors like:Christopher Lambert(Highlander Series), Scene Stealing-Kurtwood Smith(Best Known as Clarence Boddicker in RoboCop,also known for That 70`s Show from Fox), Loryn Locklin(Taking Care Of Business), Jeffrey Combs(he was also in Re-Animator, The Frighteners), Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez(187) and Lincoln Kilpatrick.

When the film came out back in 1993, it was an international success. Won Respectable Reviews for critics and the audiences, who seen the film. The film is well written, well produced by John Davis(Die Hard, Predator, Grumpy Old Men). The prison is believable in the film. Much more than the flawed but Okay sequel. The plot is simple:Not too distance future, after your first child is born, you are not allowed to a second child, even if your first child died at birth. If you break the law, you are sent to maximum security high tect prison. The film has some good unexpected shocking surprises with the story, is unlike any prison film i seen, i meant in the future of futuristic prison, i don`t want to spoil the whole thing.

Those who seen only the sequel. Check out the first instend. Grade:A-.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Sci-Fi Flick !
Review: Fortress was not a major box office success back in '92. However, it is an awesome rental for those who enjoy sci-fi action packed flicks. True, this sci-fi film in no way can be compared to the phenomenal sci-fi StarWars movies; It barely rivals Terminator. But, for 95 minutes you get your money's worth ( just be thankful the film was not dragged out to 2 hrs +). It's sheer entertainment ! Lambert is known for pulling such roles as the outcast adventurer and rebel to full effect;He's very convincing. Take for example the scene after his mind was "wiped"; He literally looks like a ghost ! Lambert has that way of conveying either an expression of deadly seriousness or one of lunacy with his eyes ! The prison warden played by Kurtwood Smith from the current hit series That 70's Show (peculiar to see him with hair on his head in the Fortress)does an outstanding job as the mostly android/cyborg human bad guy.

The only drawback is the dvd edition sold between $10 and $14 is the standard t.v. screen format and not the letterbox. There is also very little "goodies" or bonuses. There are no extra languages either on the audio tracks or any subtitles.The big error is the fact the audio track was not re-mastered in true Dolby Digital 5.1 surround; It's only the regular Dolby Surround. No director's or actors' commentaries either.

Yet, the picture quality is superb and bright with no traces of digital artifacts (blocking,or digitized shading). Viewers can see the rich bright colors in the prisoner's uniforms (orange, red, green, blue). The picture is sharp in detail as well if you look at the whiskers on Lambert's unshaven face...

Fortress earns four stars for it's lack of widescreen and other dvd menu capabilities. Otherwise, it's an enjoyable film.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates