(1997 / USA )
Review by Paul Cooke
Director:Phillip J. Roth
Scripted:Patrick Phillips & Phillip J. Roth
Starring:Olivier Gruner , Alicia Coppola , Ken Olandt,Jorja Fox , Ray Oriel , Bruce Weitz , Jaason Simmons,Victor Love , Yannick Bisson & Craig Wasson
Source:Columbia Tristar / Region 1 NTSC DVD /Wide Screen Ratio 1:85:1 / Dolby Digital 5.1 /Audio Commentary / Star Bios
 

The deep space mining corporation run a regular gauntlet along the Velocity Routes of interplanetary highways to deliver the riches of their haulage. Along these passages are the futuristic equivalents of pirates , hoisting high their banners of intent adorning powerful crafts of pillaging prowess. Advertising conglomerates arrogantly profess securities , bled into homes via home entertainment broadcasts with subliminal frequency , unchallenged due to the vastness of their iron grip around the galaxy. The ever present and ever thriving industry that is Zircon Technologies boasts of its latest line of defence contracted to the mining corporation , an outer hull weaponry guardian against piracy called the Zircon Dominator 3600B. A perimeter automated retaliatory weapon behemoth that could bring down a charging hoard of rhinos , should they be so inclined to leave the plains of Africa and take to intergalactic pastures new !.A downtown deep space colony for galactic dispatch for the corporation has the look of ‘Blade Runner’ and one of its law enforcement officers is Ray Stokes , aka star lead Olivier Gruner. He has recently shopped fellow officers , corrupt in their line of duty , and he is about to have a very bad day as the closed ranks of supporting men in blue see him as a turncoat. Stokes is set up to take a fall as the division chief is disposed of in a power play and when another officer is killed in action Stokes becomes a framed man. Craig Wasson plays deputy dirty dog John Dawson , superior in rank to Stokes and a man that wants rid of him. He is a jilted former lover of Stokes live in love interest and bears a mighty grudge , but in holding her to a two year on base contract getting shot of his rival has its resentful upside. Officer Ray Stokes is commissioned back to Earth for the two year duration , in order to clear him of any contributory blame to the incident surrounding the deaths of both a fellow officer and the division chief. His journey home entails him being security officer aboard a colony mining ship , carrying a forty billion dollar cargo on route to the federal reserve for safe deposit !. Captained by TV’s ‘Hill Street Blues’ very own Mick ‘Animal’ Belker , Bruce Weitz , adorned here with another wholesome nickname as Captain ‘Turd’ Fenner !.

This mans intestinal fortitude clearly brings out the ‘choice’ characters in script writers. As the space transportation kicks into light speed Captain ‘Turd’ and crew prepare their systems for six months down time in cryogenic suspension , perhaps with old school ‘Animal’ harkening back to his desk sergeants eloquent words of reassurance ‘Remember , let’s be careful out there!’. What could go wrong in hyper space with chop soc suey cop Olivier Gruner overseeing them !? , aside perhaps from Velocity Routes being the travellers tales of the Bermuda Triangle of space !.There are some nice touches of humour that play out during Stokes realisation of months ahead in solitary isolation including Gruner’s welcome participation at mocking himself. Just before the ships female navigator Beth Sheffield , as played by the feisty Alicia Coppola , retires with the crew she says to Stokes ‘Can’t you take a joke’ having given him a hard induction time , to which he responds ‘Yes I can , people think I’m very funny actually !’. Now that is a pricelessly rendered moment that Gruner delivers wonderfully. He revels too in a scene borrowed from the classic ‘Silent Running’ , as three months into the lonely journey he breaks off from bouncing a ball against the cabin wall to take his morning fitness regime. Looking out into the recess of deep space Gruner is seen in a moment of great amusement undergoing a fitness routine of ballet to a classic theme that plays out amidst the spectacle of a wonderfully framed shot.

The tranquil environment is abruptly interrupted as the ship’s computer announces a collision course alert. The danger is in fact from another ship that has caused the cargo freighter to drop out of the Velocity channel. Immediately clamping down upon Captain ‘Turd’s’ vessel like a mega zealous traffic custodian eager to slap a ticket violation on the hull to the tune of forty billion dollars !. These be pirates me hearties and they sure want more than a bottle of rum !.As the quadrant ram raiders board the vessel Stokes desperately tries to awaken the crew but is seemingly only able to rescue Beth from her slumber before the villainous Ken Olandt shoots up the sleeping chamber. This guy is one cool bad guy dude , Captain Nick Simmons in charge of the Endeavour and spitting dialogue like he just stepped off the set of a spaghetti western. If Sergio Leone had made a western in space then surely Ken Olandt would have been cast in the lead role as a younger version of a modern day Clint Eastwood. Time to pin back the eyelids then and go for your guns as the showdown in space begins , with Sheriff Stokes partnering Beth ‘Annie Oakley’ Sheffield to protect the bullion and take down the Simmons gang. It’s ‘High Noon’ on the outskirts of space !.

Writer and Director Phillip Roth once again delivers Action and sharp dialogue to a willing cast , thrown together by self preserving circumstance upon a space set western town. There is Action a plenty and things really kick into top gear for the final third of the movie with a highlight chase sequence taking place aboard run-around mini space shuttles outside of the mother ship , the added pulse pounding excitement provided by the Zircon Dominator 3600B ballistic bad boy that sets its un-prejudicial sights on both friend and foe. This and other tremendous fun model and CGI rendered Action effect moments are like experiencing the combined showpiece delights of Roger Corman with Antonio Margheriti , exuberantly wrapped up with a whole lotta very welcome Phillip Roth gusto. The adrenalin rush of this ‘Velocity Trap’ doesn’t stop at the red traffic light of outer space , to end with a simple exchange of righteous beliefs and an exchange of firepower however !. When an asteroid looms into view with a one way ticket to oblivion the surviving battle wearied participants must rethink their priorities , after all forty billion green backs is a lot of presidents to leave dead in space !.

 
Film: 3.5/5 Roth Of Khan's
Picture: 4/5 Roth Of Khan's
Sound: 4/5 Roth Of Khan's
Overall: 4/5 Roth Of Khan's

2008 @ Cinema Nocturna