the shape of things to come

There are robots and there are robutts. That difference in pronunciation is quite profound within in the sci-fi genre; it's the difference between the childish escapism of Lost in Space and the complex social commentary of Star Trek, between the clunky metallic servants of Forbidden Planet and the rebellious cyborg slaves of Blade Runner. Simply put, ro-butts is a signifier of that innocent '50s take on the future when all humanity had to look forward to were matching jumpsuits and technology about as advanced as a Ford Pinto. So when it comes to The Shape of Things to Come, a sci-fi stinker from 1979, trust me when I say you can smell the butt coming a mile away!

Ostensibly based on H.G. Well's novel of the same name, already adapted in eye-catching fashion once before in 1936 by William Cameron Menzies (Invaders from Mars), this version drifts out of the original material's orbit pretty quickly, aiming for a Star Wars escapist approach involving a trio of scientists out to stop an evil dictator from blackmailing the universe. The details of the plot involve a rare wonderdrug, an experimental spaceship, and the aforementioned army of robutt enforcers. But it's presented with all the panache of a below average Doctor Who or MST3K episode, constructed of cardboard sets and paper-thin performances.

Jack Palance gets top billing as the ambitiously evil Emperor Omus, a wannabe dictator who takes a command of Delta Three, the only planet in the galaxy that produces a vital drug used to cure disease and prolong life. After sending one of his robutts on a suicide mission to the moon colony, Omus hopes to enforce his will on the remaining citizens. But Dr. John Caball (Barry Morse), his son Jason (Nicholas Campbell of The Dead Zone) and a perky scientist (Ann-Marie Martin) zip away in their new-fangled ship to put a stop to his plan, backed up by a small team of survivors on Delta Three (led by Carol Lynley) who are already fighting for their lives against Omus' mechanized menace.

It's no use pointing fingers. The Shape of Things to Come is a mess all around. But it's especially bad considering the other sci-fi titles it was competing against that year: Alien, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Disney's The Black Hole...although the latter film actually does share a corny production design sensibility. More than likely, producer Harry Alan Towers was shooting for some ancillary markets (like the then popular Buck Rogers TV show) that would give the film some extra life. But the flat photography and cheap effects can't even compete on that level.

38 years later, Blue Underground has gone and spiffed up their previous DVD transfer to deliver a Blu-ray presentation that probably involved more time and effort than the original film itself! If you have to ask why, then you just don't understand the collector's mentality: that urge to own even the worst films in the best possible condition. And for those with a masochistic love of bad cinema, The Shape of Things to Come is a PG-rated Saturday matinee treat! The newly remastered 1080p picture is damn near flawless and includes new extras like an anecdote-filled interview with star Nicholas Campbell and composer Paul Hoffert, both of whom wax nostalgic about their shared experiences with Towers' "fly-by-night" production process. Add to that a new 5.1 sound mix along with the previous trailers, tv spots and stills and you've got a special edition that maximizes its robutt potential.