Solarbabies (1986)

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

I really like this movie. The story is good and well told, but I would love to see it remade with what they can do today...

All I can say is that Jami Gertz is hot. Thats really the only reason you would watch this movie. I cant remember or think of any other reason to recommend this movie over countless others that are more deserving of your attention. And that's all I have to say. Oh yes and Jami Gertz is hot.

This film is a riot. It's badness is epic. It is hard to know where to begin in terms of describing the experience of Solarbabies, but one could start by saying that a central episode involves a chase scene of children dramatically escaping from a futuristic special-forces police force by ROLLER SKATING through the DESERT. I am not making this up.The completely random plot and incredulously goofy bonding/friendship scenes between the child-prisoners and their glowing-ball alien friend could only have been the product of coked-out brainstorming sessions of Hollywood types in the 80s.Are children lovable prisoners of a Nazi-Fetish, post-apocalyptic corporation/government agency that inexplicably decides to profit by running a child-labor camp in the desert? Check. Are the children also forced to play an arena sport involving roller skates? Check. Does a glowing alien ball appear randomly and befriend the children, with no apparent connection to anything else in the film? Check. Do the children breakdance with the glowing alien ball-friend? Check. Does the glowing alien ball require the children to escape the prison and go on a quest? Yep. Do the children "escape" simply by roller-skating away from the "prison" (through a desert)? Um, yes. Does the glowing alien ball-friend require the children to join hands in a ritualized new-age circle of friendship/love in order to achieve its full glowing alien ball powers? You betcha.If this movie were any better, I would give it one star. But it charges so far past the normal constraints of the badness boundaries that it comes out on the other side and emerges as something that is actually pretty entertaining and fairly compelling. The bar starts out low, but the filmmakers just keep on lowering it, going way past the zero point, and actually discovering new ways to make a bad movie worse. It is like art in reverse.

Yeah, when I teenager this movie was the ilk that I remember of the 1980's. Watching it now over 20 years later it is so corny with the 80's break dancing music and pointless plot. What caught my eye of course was a 20 year old Jami Gertz and the white robe scene where you could see her whole naked body. Nothing left to the imagination. I wonder sometimes if she really knew what the producers were trying to do with the bright light behind her so you could see through the white robe. Either way that was the first I ever heard of her as an actress and I have enjoyed her spunky wit ever since in her movies. Really loved her in "The lost boys" movie as well. Now at 42, she is still pretty and funny and I have caught her on the sitcom called Still Standing on Lifetime (yeah I'm a guy and I watch Lifetime with my wife) and Jami is still funny with her sweet but sarcastic attitude.