Film Review: Robot Jox (1989)

Film Review: Robot Jox (1989) | Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Giant human-looking robots fighting each other is a concept that works better in anime, toy lines and video games than in live action films. Presenting such concept on screen is a challenge that can be properly met only with plenty of financial resources, talents and luck. At least some of it was in short supply in the case of Robot Jox, 1989 science fiction film directed by Stuart Gordon.

The plot is set fifty years since the nuclear war that devastated much of the Earth but left two of its main participants still standing. West-based Market and East-based Confederacy have apparently learned their lesson and decided to settle their differences in less destructive ways. Disputed territories are fought for in single combat by champions or “jox” – pilots who run huge robots in highly publicised matches. Market’s champion is Achilles (played by Gary Graham), veteran who is to fight his last match against Confederacy champion Alexander (played by Paul Koslo) with winner taking control of Alaska. The brutal match ends when Achilles deflects illegally fired projectile but loses balance and fall into bleachers, killing hundreds of spectators. Match is declared draw and Achilles is asked to fight again in a week, but refuses, feeling guilty over tragedy. His place is to be taken by Athena (played by Anne-Marie Johnson), genetically engineered young woman (or “tubee”) who is to be the first female “jox”. Fearing that she isn’t good enough to win, Achilles changes his mind and decides to fight, causing Athena’s displeasure. In the meantime, Achilles’ team also has to deal with mysterious spy that gives secret information about robot to Confederacy.

Robot Jox is somewhat unusual film in the career of Stuart Gordon, film maker best known for low budget and darkly humorous horror films which would later receive cult status. Gordon envisioned it as a straight science fiction story and mostly intended for the same young audiences that watched anime and played with “mecha” toys. However, he hired his old friend, award-winning science fiction author Joe Haldeman to write the script. Two men actually clashed during the production – Haldeman wanted serious film for adults, inspired by his own military experience and still-ongoing Cold War; Gordon wanted something simpler and more entertaining. In the end, Gordon’s vision prevailed and this is best seen in cliched one-dimensional characters, although some of them are played by experienced character actors like Paul Koslo (who probably enjoyed playing villain with heavy Russian accent). Young Gary Graham (best known as Ambassador Soval from Star Trek: Enterprise) is solid in his role. There was, however, some effort to give depth to futuristic world, mainly through little details like importance of procreation in depopulated Earth. But all that effort was wasted during the final showdown which showed obvious lack of money for special effects among producers; Empire Pictures, studio financing the project, actually went bankrupt and delayed premiere until the fall of Berlin Wall made its Cold War references look dated. Even more dated are special effects that look terrible and make film much older than it actually is. Robot Jox predictably failed at the box office and became one of the more obscure science fiction films of time. Like most Gordon’s films, it nevertheless found enough fans to get something of a cult status. Most of viewers who watch this film today would be disappointed and some even more so when compare the methods of settling geopolitical issues on screen with those that are increasingly being employed in today’s real world.

RATING: 4/10 (++)