Search - Robot Jox on DVD

Craig S. (InnerMacro) from WAUSAU, WI
Reviewed on 9/24/2024...

For the first half, Robot Jox is admissible as a timely entry into the world of giant fighting robots (such as Battletech, which was popular in 1990). There even seems to be some semblance of a thought-out backstory, provided one can get past the idea of using "standing" tanks as somehow being superior to tracked ones. The latter half of the movie gets stupid in a hurry: what was the point of flying into space . . . only to return to the exact same location on Earth minus your foot? Why can't the pilots be seated in an impact resistant chair to avoid being knocked unconscious every. single. time. they take a hit from an opponent? Does it make sense to appeal to the humanity of a psychopath who, having already won, decides to throw it all away simply for the satisfaction of murdering someone? Why do they bother to train in martial arts and reflexes when neither of those skills are ever used? - instead they trade attacks like they are waiting their turn.
These questions and more would be burning, except nobody cares what happens to the jerky main character, or his useless understudy who completely wastes her opportunity to win after using the super-secret flash attack. Rooting for the bad guy to pummel them both seems like an option at the end. The corny thumbs up ending elicits a groan and a promise to never watch this movie again. It could be amusing to make fun of this movie, but so much of it is just frustratingly pointless. Overall, a wasted opportunity that could have been so much better, even with the effects and budget provided.

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

Maria L. (Allister) from APPLE VALLEY, CA
Reviewed on 8/16/2012...

Pretty decent movie I seen in 1990. Before the CGI took over llke crazy. I just found a copy at the swap meet on vhs. I had to grab it.

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

Campy fun at it's best

Tyler Tanner | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""War has been outlawed" are the first words you hear as the camera slowly makes it's way through a snow covered battlefield. Meanwhile anyone past the age of 15 is thinking, "How the heck do you enforce that?" If you take this movie seriously, I fear for your children. This is a perfect example of a guilty pleasure movie if I ever saw one. Stop motion special effects, glossy form fitting spandex jumpsuits and over the top characters. It's all here!!! Adults will be howling and kids will be entertained. The stand out is Paul Koslo as the evil Russian, Alexander. He won me over with the furrowed brow, dead stare and exclamations such as "All right!! Now I Kill You!!"
This is definite Genre fun. If you liked Spacehunter, Ice Pirates, Battle Beyond the Stars and Mega Force then you know what I'm talking about. I recommend the said above as well. "Crash and Burn" Baby! Enjoy."

Campy lunacy

Michael Z. Williamson | Greenwood, IN United States | 06/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I watched a screening of this at a convention where SF writer Joe Haldeman, who did the screenplay, sat in back with a something eating grin on his face.What's not to like? In celebration of their son's visit, the family has meat--a lone weiner floating in a tureen of soup. The female pilot makes all the men nonplussed, then has the tables turned on her when an enemy robot unleashes a giant crotch chainsaw in the midst of a duel, for the obvious Freudian tie-ins (at which point Joe was grinning mercilessly.) All the jokes and innuendos are way over the top. As Joe put it: "I was writing a movie for adults that kids could enjoy, and the director was writing a movie for kids that adults could enjoy."Add in a Slim Pickens performance invoking Dr. Strangelove, and it's a twisted, unsubtle romp through political incorrectness, poking fun at (among others) environmentalists, capitalists, global politics and sports fanatics (the spectators who get squashed under a falling robot).Oh yeah, and it has these kick butt robot warriors, too. Grab your friends, grab the kids, grab a pizza and a couple of beers for the adults and laugh until you choke."

Awesome-ly Bad

John Pearl | Philadelphia, PA USA | 02/24/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"For most of us awkward GenY kids, this movie was great when we were children. Watching it again is excellent, but only because the movie is awful. You'll quickly come to terms with your childhood and just as quickly realize how the end to this movie is the most disapointing scene in all of film. There are jokes you pick up for the first time and wonder how this movie made any sense to you when you were a ten year old.

The DVD is fine, though it lacks any extra material that you would find interesting. It's fun, it plays, but let's face it... Robot movies from the past are the bottom of the quality screenplay pool."