Search - Idaho Transfer on DVD

Russ B. (Happyfeet) from BENSALEM, PA
Reviewed on 2/14/2024...

Probably one of the worst Time travel movies ever made.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Brilliant

Gary | 08/31/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The 1 star is for the DVD which is appalling. It appears little more than video quality transposed to DVD which defeats the point. Surely someone can find the negative or a 35 or 16m print somewhere?The film itself is of it's time, but probably brilliant. It's environmental warning is as pertinent as ever and it shows that there was plenty of early scepticism amongst the forever young/free love generation. The film is populated by barely clothed, nubile, erotic dollybirds (Isa's protruding tongue and peeling of a banana got me all of a quiver) and strapping young men. I thought there might be some other agenda behind the hiring of these unknowns but it's right for the story. The young scientists are emotionally immature and easily distracted (Karen with her ring) and their free love idealism soon receives a painful rebuke. Their lack of foresight over the possibilities of lingering contamination, especially in the light of their 'discovery', is puzzling. Idaho Transfer is a strangely serene and relaxing experience, a spell that even the introduction of aggression and inevitable tragedy cannot dissipate. It's disturbing ending, described in a review I read as 'ridiculous', is actually to my liking, brilliantly banal in the way life tends to be. The pessimistic metaphor is the skimming rock earlier in the film. We can only go so far in the natural order is the message. Subtly directed, this Paradise Lost set in the future is well worth investigating, but a better print is sorely needed."

Mis-Adventures In Potatoland...

Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein | under the rubble | 09/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're looking for explosions, lasergun battles, or alien spaceships, forget it! IDAHO TRANSFER has none of the trademark sci-fi trappings. What it does have is an excellent story and a terrific actress (Kelly Bohanon as Karen) in the lead. Karen is caught in the middle of a time-travel experiment that proves to be one horrific experience! I like this one a lot. It has that 2001 / PHASE IV atmosphere going on. The ending is bizarre and abrupt, and may leave a lot of viewers unsatisfied. This is especially true if all movies must end happily w/ no loose ends. I watched it w/ someone who absolutely hated the whole thing! I'll watch it again without them..."

Not for Armaggedon fans.

J. Schell | 03/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ironically, this film IS about armaggedon, but it is acted, filmed, directed and scored in a diametrically opposed style to the dumb, budget-bloated garbage of today. Incredibly subtle, disturbing and visually spectacular, this forgotten masterpiece is ostensibly about the environment, ecology, and the total consumption of our natural resources---but it has a lot more than that to say.

It ultimately leaves you with an existentialist viewpoint, stated clearly in one character's speech regarding the bleakness of the future and how the self-important idea of the propogation of the human species is, frankly, a crock. An utter masterpiece."