Robot Jox (1990)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

What makes it different from others?

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

"Robot Jox" taps into that great childhood love of seeing giant robots wail on each other (does a more pure joy exist?). A 1989 production means that that was realized through models and stop-motion - which to this day looks pretty good. Obviously, the fights were my favorite part of the movie, but it does suffer the same problem plaguing old Godzilla movies: they had to pad out the monster battles with humans (and who cares about their story?). When it's just the actors on-screen, the clunky melodrama really weighs things down.Still, beneath the cheap production values, there's imagination and thinly veiled American chauvinism. "Robot Jox" has a certain negative reputation, but I enjoyed myself. Completely disposable, but good harmless fun.6/10

The antagonism between Haldeman and the director is easily understood: one wanted a thoughtful conjecture about robots, faithfully transposed on screen; the other wanted mindless fun, and the director got his wish fulfilled, won. It was a clash of intentions and views. But regardless, the flick can very well be enjoyed for what it is, a yarn about robot jockeys. In terms of low—budget Sci—Fi, it's likable and exciting. Merely ordinary low—brow Sci—Fi; I used to search for such things. (Remember the Hauer Sci—Fi, the Van Damme Sci—Fi? Well, it's as mindless, and as likable.) Haldeman feels his chance was wasted. So give the director a break. It's not as if he had betrayed some matchless script; anyway, Haldeman's script can still be shot by another director. There are other two robot flicks from the early '90s, unrelated—but enjoyable as well.In his autobiography, 'Interim Report. An Autobiographical Ramble' (which every Sci—Fi fan should read), Haldeman wrote at length about the movie; he seems only moderately grudging. He enjoyed working with the leads—Graham and Mrs. Johnson.

Had to register on IMDb just so i could review this:Robo Jox is a film i came by by accident, brought in by a friend who got it as a laugh; Before i go on with the review, i should say that, if you are "normal", you will have a hard time liking this film as much as i have; this is a film for audiences who fall outside of the modern norm. Robo Jox is a Sci-Fi flic, its story turning on fights between large Mechs similar to those in the Battletech/early Macross universe; Having war been outlawed, political decisions are fought between "champions" aboard the giant robots, with the pilots held as national heroes: as the two main characters begin the film facing off to fight for supremacy over Alaska, the conflict extends beyond the fight, and the storyline is laid down. Robo Jox is not a blockbuster film: technically, it would be classed as a *B* film, with low budget and actors you have never seen before, and that is not a bad thing; No "CGI was good but wooden acting reviews here" - the acting is superb (if a little unconventional) and the direction is flawless. Of course we know both of those are free, and there is plenty that is very expensive when you make a feature-length movie, and Robo Jox has a LOT of special effects. From 1979. But nonetheless, everything that had to be built, is fantastic. Let me make this clear: i loved the movie. I absolutely loved it, and some things i loved more than other: i loved the beginning, i loved the end, and i loved that stuff in the between. I loved the sets. I loved the costumes, the scale backdrops, the whole hurtfully-good, suspense-inducing minimalism and the way everything is bound together to create a truly believable future; It felt more real than even Children of Men did.This film takes suspension of disbelief to a whole new level, and in a good way(not talking Plan 9 here); and as for creative innovation, Robo Jox singlehandedly beats down anything StarTrek TOS has ever done. If you think Transformers 2 was horrible, if you dream ( or have dreamed) of giant robots slugging it out outside the earth's atmosphere, this is the film for you; and having done away with the pathetic washed-out Hollywood actors who can't ever pretend they can do anything except step out of a hair stylist's or a Lamborghing, a solid shot of collective, joyous over-the-top character acting (a-la theatre, perhaps? or more like Bruce Willis in Die Hard?) is exactly what the doctor orders to dispel 30 years of bloody awful science fiction films.In conclusion, Robo Jox goes on my "awesome" shelf : together with Triangle (2009), The Man form Earth (2007). and a few more that i cant really remember now( although Seymour Phil Hoffman's role in Charlie Wilson's War did take the "best of" spot for a while, that film is a lil bit too serious in some parts). Truly recommended , 10/10. best of 2009

OK this movie had a terrible premise. Be serious according to the movie they had just been through an apocalyptic war yet they have money to buy huge robots and pit them against each other. Each country decides instead of investing into rebuilding their country they would rather fight with robots no one could afford. Here's a better idea, lets rely on our most inept resource,jocks, to fight our battles. Everyone says what about the director, what about him. He makes a good movie, he makes a bad movie. There is no reason to give this movie some credit just because of the director, maybe he was asleep? I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, because it was so cheesy and ridiculous I had to laugh. I actually had a good time watching it, well except for the cowboy mentor who turns out to be an assassin(trust me no one would see this guy as an assassin, so it is a surprise, however lame) What kind of training exercise is a jungle jim anyway. I was sad to see Mst3k had not done this one. I am giving a two star rating however because nothing could be as bad as "manos the hands of fate."The budget does not matter either, I have seen plenty of reasonable movies that had nothing for budgets like cube. The storyline was not even plausible and I have seen better acting in school plays. Surly they could have afforded an eleven year old from any middle school play.Anyway pick it up, it is a fun movie to watch.