The Questor Tapes (1974)

Excellent but underrated film

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is not really a movie but a pilot for a TV series, that never made it. And while there still was some good potential, I'm glad it did not got turned into a TV-series.The idea of having an all knowing and strong humanoid android walking around, searching for his purpose, while solving potential crisis's is a pretty good and strong concept, that however does not get handled very well in this movie. It's really lacking two things; excitement and entertainment.To say it boldly; this is a very boring movie. No action, no real excitement of people constantly being chased, no big mysteries or criminal plots that need to get resolved. Instead this movie mostly consists out of a man and an humanoid android walking around and talking to each other and also learning from each other.Thing that could had still saved it all was some decent enough entertainment, or perhaps better said some relieving humor. This movie takes itself far too serious, which was its downfall I believe. It makes it all, all the more boring to watch and even makes some of its moments seem ridicules and definitely not interesting enough to follow. You could also say it's lacking a clear objective. You have no idea where the movie its story is supposed to be heading to, since it's all being told in a not so very exciting or interesting enough way.Perhaps it also simply was a bad idea in the first place to have an humanoid android as the main character itself. Because he constantly.. talks.. like.. this.. with.. pauses.. between.. every.. new.. word and makes jerky movements with his arms and head at times (though this seems to be quite at random when he does this). What is all the more ridicules about this is that normal humans don't seem to notice this and talk to him- and treat him like a normal human being, also no matter what nonsense he ever says.The idea was good and definitely showed some potential in it. The execution of it was however far too lacking.5/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

**** spoilers ***** This was a pilot for a possible series done by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenbary. Questar is android with no emotions and no understanding of them. He spends the movie searching for his creator with the help of friendly scientist. Like data and Spock, Questar very strong, knows a great deal of facts, and process data like a computer. He finally learns of his from his creator who is another android. Questar's mission it turns out is the same one as Gary Seven from the Star Trek episode "Assignment Earth." This Star Trek episode was itself a pilot. Qestar also has some similarities to the the android Norm in the Star Trek episode, "I Mudd." As with all Roddenbary projects he uses actors from other projects like his wife, Majel Barret.

In his heyday, no one made televised science fiction like Gene Roddenberry, and this is one of the finest examples. Created as a pilot for a proposed TV series (which, unsurprisingly, was never produced), this is one of the best instances of science fiction meeting philosophy that has ever occurred anywhere (big screen included). The performances are astonishingly good considering the cast of mostly TV actors (in particular, Robert Foxworth gives the performance of his career as the android). The movie does steer itself away from its own track once in awhile (some of the details in the subplot about Helena Trimble hardly seem relevant to the film and were probably created in case the series was approved), but overall, the pacing is excellent. Some dated technology and an ear-piercingly poor musical score knock this down a notch or two, but its premise and resolution are wonderfully humanistic. Not a special-effects movie, then, but sci-fi that cares more for its characters than its visual appeal. Now could we please just have this on video?

Questor was played by Robert Foxworthy (rather starchedly and robotically and well). His abilities are superhuman. But, with his programming incomplete, he doesn't know his mission and needs the help of Mike Farrell to find his creator and his ultimate purpose.This was definitely presented as a pilot to a proposed series. The incomplete android needing a human to guide him and further his mission, makes the perfect team to explore humanity. A creation of Gene Roddenberry, the exploration of the universe, contrasted through the eyes of humans and non-humans, has been a familiar (and successful) theme for him. The movie was very enjoyable and it ended well. I don't think I could handle their exploits on a weekly basis. It would grow old quickly. Where-as, our days have a great deal of violence, these were days of pacifist excess. It takes too much away from the all too human option of necessary violence. A middle ground would have served it well.And, not to accuse Roddenberry of nepotism or favoritism, but look for Majel Barrett (Mrs. Roddenberry) and Walter Koenig, both of Star Trek fame, in this TV movie.........