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A Boy & His Dog

A Boy & His Dog

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wow, someone had a lot of fun making this.
Review: Mid-70s post-nuclear apocalypse movies are not a genre I generally enjoy. "A Boy and His Dog" (one of the first of the type) is the exception that proves the rule.

The shattered world above is not the interesting part of this film, and it moves slowly for the first hour while we're in it. What keeps us watching is the great dialogue and interaction between Vic (Doh Johnson) and his dog, Blood. Vic and Blood can talk to each other, and the dog is rather smarter than Vic. Once we go "downbelow," into the survivalist enclave called "Topeka."

One reason I didn't give this film 5 stars was the slowness at the start; the other reason was the poor quality of the DVD transfer. If ever a movie cried out for remastering, this is it: it really does look like they just transferred it from VHS. There is a commentary track with film critic Charles Chaplin, director L.Q. Jones (this was his last film directing), and John cinematographer Morrill. It makes for interesting listening.

If you like this genre, this is an essential film to add to your library. If you're not as fond of apocalypse movies, call this one a rental.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Low Budget Masterpiece
Review: Ok, so technically this is one awful film. The director just had a low budget. The concept however is great. Vic, a young loner in a post-apocalyptic world travels with his telepathic dog in a symbiotic relationship searching for food and women. The harshness of the above ground post-nuclear nightmare is contrasted with the absurdly conformist underground community of 'Topeka' where painted smiles, plaid shirts, family values and hypocrisy rule. Vic is forced to choose between a Roussean (absolute institutional power) or Burkean (no institutions) nightmare. His choice, and its expression will leave you with either a gasp or chuckle, but you'll be glad you saw this quirky yet thoughtful film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Man's Best Friend and then some!
Review: Somewhere I read that Harlan Ellison wanted his name removed from the credits. Go figure. I loved this movie. The dialog between Vic (Don Johnson) and Buck (the dog) was classic, especially the history lessons on presidents (Kennedy-Kennedy-Kennedy; thank God that never panned out!). Suzanne Benton does a great striptease in reverse. And is it just me, or does 'Michael', the killer android from 'downunder' look like Alan 'The Skipper' Hale Junior? Funny, sexy, and ultraviolent, this movie is a cult classic, to use the purest definition of the term. The moral, such as it is: beets are better for you anyway. Also, bring your own damned popcorn!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A fun movie hampered only by a low budget
Review: The best thing about this film is that Don Johnson spends much of the movie holding conversations with his telepathic dog. The fact that such a premise becomes acceptable and believable from the outset is a testament to the strength of this film. It sounds ludicrous, but watch the movie and see for yourself just how well executed the scenes with Johnson his dog are. The movie is at its best when the two are exchanging banter back and forth, especially in light of the fact that the dog is obviously the smarter of the two. Also the ending will bowl you over, it has to be seen to be believed.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: You could like this film if you haven't read Ellison's story
Review: This 1975 film takes only the bare bones from Harlan Ellison's novella, forgoing its final proof of how much a boy can love his dog. What is left is Don Johnson as Vic, the young post-apocalyptic loner and his telepathic dog Blood (Yes, that is Benji, boys and girl), who eventually meets a girl from an underground community where Jason Robards and the folks are clinging really hard to the old ways. If you have not read Ellison's original story you can probably suffer through this film, provided you have plenty of stuff to eat and drink. It was certainly remind you of the old days, when low budget meant the film was probably made by a schlockmaster and not and independent auteur. But if you know what the answer was to Quilla June's question, "Do you know what love is," this disappointing film will ring hollow.

Tim McIntire, who did the voice of "Blood" also had the honors of singing the main title song, "A Boy And His Dog." This movie, also known as Psycho Boy and His Killer Dog, was directed by L. Q. Jones, who appears as an actor in the porno film Vic and Blood are watching. Except for some work on the television series "The Incredible Hulk," Jones never directed again after this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: This film is AMAZING! Everything from the acting, the music and message.....Vic embodies EVERYTHING a "man" is or is supposed to be in society. And "Society" is parodied and embodied in the "underground", or the ELITE. You gotta love "Blood" the dog, he is such a great character. The dvd transfer shows the film's age. It has ALOT of crackles and lines in the film as it doesnt look like the master held up well...if it WAS transfered from an original master that is. Anyway, its in a good widescreen and is quite watchable without much "grain" in the picture. I thnk most fans will be happy with this dvd and the extra commentary track.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Memorable low-budget flick
Review: This is an excellent, highly rewatchable movie which presents two starkly different worlds - both dystopias - of a post-apocalyptic America. The harsh desert-like land, where howling monsters lurk in the debris and an intelligent dog and his boy roam seeking out women to rape and food. Then there is the nightmarish underground white middle-class world where barbershop quartets mix in artificially lit parks with huge robot security men in oversized breeks, and residents are sent to the 'farm' to die in a fashion decreed by the elders (him...heart attack...her....machinery accident). And there is much much more...

This is a truly unique film - I'd say the closest comparisons might be 1984 or Clockwork Orange. It also has some startling moments and leaves you with so much (perhaps too much) to think about in just one movie.

It is definitely not to everyones' tastes - especially the film's treatment of women and the sick humour which will turn some off - but the overall result is a film with too many facets to mention in just a few paragraphs. If you are into cult movies and like to take some time rewatching films, then this is an excellent movie to get.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Arraghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, this SUCKS!
Review: This is the only flame I have written so far, but it is well deserved. The filming was OK, the acting SUCKED the ending was GROSS, the premise was terrible. This is an excellent example of how low film can fall. Please DO NOT see this lest your life (or grade in class) depends on it. I don't know how any other reviewers can say this is a good movie, please do not believe them. If you do rent it, also get The Stand so you will have something to watch after you decide to turn off this movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Women are beautiful but never forget who your best friend is
Review: This movie is very well done despite the low budget, it has a good script, supurb acting, good direction, and a sick and twisted suprise ending that is one of the best in movie history. Obvioulsy women do not like the ending, (maybe because they know deep down the main character made the smart choice?) but let us remember who that female character was and what she did. She was a manipulative liar who was just out to use Don Johnson's character for her own purposes. She was out for herself and he could not trust her. Still the ending was really, really sick but then again so was the whole movie. Dark humor and piercing insight combine to create a dystopian underground world that reveals the true character of the American government in the future, in the past, and in the present. One revewier characterized this sophistacted and clever satire of American culture, politics, and self image as a "naive leftest world view." Sorry pal, you are the one who is naive, rather you like it or not this moive exposed our government for what it is, a tyranny run by fascist bullies. Not that any other government on this planet is really any different, some are just worse than others. This movie gives its main character two choices, life in a desert wasteland surrounded by roaming tribes of savages, or life underground enslaved by the rements of the old regime who enforce their will through androids. The Telepathic dog is by far the best character in the movie and has the best lines, vainly trying to give Don Johnson's character history lessons. This movie paints an exagerated but bascially accurate potrait of the world we live in, people are either dominated by fascist regimes that exploit their citizens, or live in wild, chaotic, untamed areas where different tribes or groups steal from and kill each other. Either slavery or an extreemly dangerous freedom are the choices the chacters in this movie are presented with, and it is that really so different from the world we live in? We are either corporate slaves or outlaws, one or the other. Some people might call these a simplistic world view but they would be wrong and I would be right. In this movie Don Johnson can trust no one but his dog, is that so different from real life? This movie is clever and disturbing, thought provoking and interesting. The first of its genre.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A clear view of the female species
Review: This movie makes one point and makes it well. Time and time again women try to change men and seperate them from what they love. Fortunately, Don got his hormones back under control a went for true love.

Wise man once said: "If your looking for sex, head for the bar, if it is true love you desire, get a dog".


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