Last Lives (1997)

Lack of good storyline.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

*** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*** OK, I'll admit - had Billy Wirth not been cast as the bad boy for a good cause lead in this flick, I wouldn't even have bothered picking it up.I thought C. Thomas Howell's acting was lackluster at best (check him out in every scene at some point sporting a pained face like he's constipated in a major way) and though I tend to enjoy Jennifer Rubin's work, she didn't show me much here. Judge Reinhold was non-convincing as the brainiac scientist from the planet Smartron (for obvious reasons - Lee Press-On mustache and using the same goofy delivery as when he had th brain of a preteen boy in Vice Versa). The plot? Well, let's just say I tend to agree with a previous review that questioned how Adrienne (Rubin) could possibly fight off Malacki's (Wirth) advances to get back to the loving arms of Aaron (Howell). I believe love is a powerful force, but ladies, have you SEEN the eyes on the "villain"? There just wouldn't have been any resistance from me, I'm afraid. I'd have flown the proverbial white flag, suffered through the "agony" of being Malacki's true love (and all that entails) and reflected fondly on the memory of my ex-fiancé once in a while. Once in a GREAT while.This movie isn't THAT bad, but it wasn't in any danger of sweeping the Oscars, either. I'm not sorry I've added it to my collection, but it's not because of story line, direction or special effects. Sorry, guys - for me, this one is all about the eye candy. Period.

I fairly give it a 7 because of the novelty of this film.What was the novelty?...well let me get philosophical here and tell you there were some deep and existential ideas to the films plot.Have you ever played video games? Of course you have. Did you notice when you died, you got another life?...or a limited bunch of extra lives?...Well THATS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN A MOVIE HERE. Maybe it has been done in some other ways in other films or shows...but this film literally made use of "bio-bands" or whatever they were called that restored a persons "life" if the person was blown up or injured. The heal devices were bracelets and with them, the main character had literally "nine lives" like the saying goes for cats who escape death...And the kicker is in mythology we all know about "releasing the bonds of Orion" and perhaps you people may find interesting doing some investigation into the ancient mythological devices called "kesatot".So, yes the movie needed "something" but I really couldn't figure out what...perhaps the direction was too "cheesy" or 80's movie-like (specifically the non-speaking goon helpers of Malakai)and needed a more mysterious flow/atmosphere...maybe more blinking lights...but, overall, all the acting was great (atleast good). I found the whole concept and plot of this movie satisfying and even romantic (lost loves through time).

I give this film a 4 but I think its rather generous since all 4 points are earned for humor value. This film can be summed up as such : Judge Reinhold gives a masterful performance as Merkin, a trans-dimensional inventor / scientist of sorts who chases a homicidal lust-driven maniac through a space portal that goes to Earth. Maniac and his two cronies come to Earth to steal the girl. All three baddies are armed to the gills with devastating weaponry whose clips never run dry. Scientist gives girl's fiancée some bracelets that, if worn during death, will recreate organic tissue and bring the wearer back to life. Fortunately there are a bunch of these bracelets so the fiancée can die a bunch of times. Judge Reinhold dies in a fiery car explosion, bringing a tear to anyone's eye in his Oscar-worthy performance about "being a man who has no fear of death". In the end, the cronies die, the main baddie gets his just desserts, and the fiancée gets his girl back.This movie is a bona fide turkey. If this film had hit the box office when I was 8 years old, all the boys in my 3rd Grade class probably would have loved it. Unfortunately I would not show this to any 8 year old, in fear that this priceless piece of Americana would leave my young impressionable friend with a jaded opinion of American cinema. I have three bits of advice regarding this film: TO THE WRITER: Next script, write yourself and don't let your kid do all the work.TO JUDGE REINHOLD: Stick to Beethoven flicks.TO THE PROSPECTIVE AUDIENCE: Unless you're like me and find humor in all the movies your friends can't stand, leave this one on the shelf and rent something much better, like Weekend at Bernie's.

Not much else to say of this science fiction/action wannabe. The story is poor, the acting is poor, and pretty much everything else about this movie is poor. The only intriguing aspect of the movie, the bracelets that can bring you back to life, is wasted in the pathetic plot of the film. Long story short, skip this film. [1/10]