Gunhed (1989)

[Arbok]

Use this topic to discuss Toho's 1989 sci-fi, future based flick that was created from a scrapped script for the 1989 Godzilla film.

[alienhulk2099]

So, who else here is interested in seeing this actiony looking movie that was made by the good folks at Toho with mech designs by Shoji Kawamori? I've been trying to find it and I want to see it, but I've had no luck. Anyone seen it?

[Inferno Rodan]

I have the DVD. The movie's okay, certainly not Toho's best work, but the SFX work is really good.

[Hedorah]

Based on the review on this site I'm not quite sure I want to see it, they gave it half a star

[alienhulk2099]

Maybe it just wasn't Anthony's cup of tea.

[NSZ]

Personally, I liked it. Yeah, it's not the best movie out there, but I didn't expect it to. And besides, there's been a lot worse for films out there.

[tokyostateofmind]

I always had an interest in seeing this, but I really don't do Terminator-type movies. From the plot, it doesn't seem that entertaining. i would check it out just because of Toho.

[Tyler]

I remember liking it. It's not a great movie but I dug the vibe it had.

[Arbok]

Based on the review on this site I'm not quite sure I want to see it, they gave it half a star

Ha ha... yeah I tore it a new one.

If you like this genre of futuristic films, and don't mind a plot that feels like someone took a shotgun to the wall and hoped the pieces would connect, go for it.

I will agree the special effects are amazing. Kawakita was at the top of his game in the 1980's with this, Biollante, and Bye-Bye Jupiter.

Also, as a fun fact, you can see the film knowing it was directed by the actor who would end up playing the main bad guy in Last Samurai too.

[bananaoil]

Considering the director opted to be called Alan Smithiee in the American distribution of Gunhead, you know you're in for a turkey.

Gunhead is actually a guilty pleasure of mine. It's so obscurely confused and directionless and slow, yet visually interesting. The music, what littler there is, is nice as well. You can order it from Amazon for really cheap.

[Guardian7]

LOL... oh this film.
Ummm well I think both Arbok and bananaoil kind hit it all.

ARBOK: "plot that feels like someone took a shotgun to the wall and hoped the pieces would connect"
Outrageously funny dude! But damn accurate.

I think I bought this film actually because of this site.
Wasn't there suppose to be a Godzilla vs. Gunhed? In the canceled films section of the Mother site? I remember reading about it... then all of a sudden seeing this film on the shelves. So I spontaneously bought it.

I unfortunately was expecting much better. They could have actually dumped the human cast for the most part and just moved on to the fighting. Which was done very well.

I suppose it is something that has to grow on you... like... umm Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus... no... wait... that movie is bad on all levels... okay... like Mold! LOL

Oddly enough it has its moments of being a fun film!

G7

[Arbok]

Wasn't there suppose to be a Godzilla vs. Gunhed? In the canceled films section of the Mother site?

Kind of.

In the 1980's, Toho held a story contest for the next Godzilla film. One of the entries was a script which had Godzilla fighting large machinery. This was eventually adapted into Gunhed after heavy, heavy revision and Godzilla was dropped altogether.

The winning story in that contest ended up being Godzilla vs. Biollante.

[SuperMonsterZero]

What did you think of Gunhed? I've never seen it, so I was wondering if it was any good.

[Mini-Godzilla]

It's as if Toho decided to pay back Roger Corman for the New World release of Godzilla 1985 by making a movie that feels very much like a 1980s Corman flick. Cheap, cheesy, and unintentionally funny when it's not being dull.

[Tyler]

I kind of liked it. It's a good late night movie you don't have to pay that much attention to. The robots looked cool.

[SuperMonsterZero]

It's as if Toho decided to pay back Roger Corman for the New World release of Godzilla 1985 by making a movie that feels very much like a 1980s Corman flick. Cheap, cheesy, and unintentionally funny when it's not being dull.

No love for Battle Beyond the Stars?

[Inferno Rodan]

I enjoy it, but I can understand the criticism it gets. If nothing else, the special effects are very good, so it's worth seeing just for that.

[Gexistentialist]

I heard Jim Cameron loves it.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Which James Cameron?

The one who made Aliens or the one who spent $237 million to remake Dances With Wolves with blue space natives?

[bananaoil]

The trailer on both ADV discs implies that Gunhead has stunning visuals, but then I'm treated to washed out frames. It would be nice if Sony or Media Blasters released this film using the print from that trailer. But still, the plot is muddled, and sometimes downright confused, and the film is rather slow, which wouldn't be a bad thing if something was actually happening other than guy stumbling around garbage dump for hours. Nice music, though.