Thanks for checking out our new feature, Forgotten Fridays. This is something we want to try out to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. I have done some of these reviews in the past called Forgotten Gems, but now we want to try and bring you something on a more regular basis.
Today’s review is Solarbabies.
THE GENERAL IDEA
In a future in which most water has disappeared from the Earth, an orphanage, run by the despotic rulers of the new Earth is more like a prison. A group of kids have formed a “skateball” team and call themselves Solarbabies. The youngest member of the team (their mascot) finds an orb of special power, but is stolen by a mysterious outsider who escapes the orphanage. The Solarbabies escape from the orphanage and try to cross the wasteland looking for the orb as the stormtroopers search for them and the orb. They discover what is left of this post apocalyptic world, and an adventure that will change everything they know.
THE GOOD
There is a solid story that was very reminiscent of teenage independence in the 80s. There seemed to be a lot of movies where kids are left to fend for themselves. This film takes a strong sense of loneliness that is only staved off by friendship and “the family you choose” mentality. Looking back on it, I found the “gang” to be more realistic than some of their contemporaries of the time that just seemed to be a cluster of exaggerated personalities. However, at the time I was more fascinated by the roller skates, and how cute a teenage Jami Gertz was.
The minimal effects are quite decent considering this film was made in 1986. They are not so cheesey that they take you out of the film, even by todays standards. The story is the real star here and it weaves a wonderful story of friendship and adventure at its heart. No gritty darkness or ultra real violence that seems to be the only trigger for entertainment these days, but still it manages to tell the tale of this strange fictional future.
Sarah Douglas plays the suit behind the enforcer cop and she is more menacing than the leader of the cops. Its no wonder she exudes an evil spirit as she was earlier seen as Ursa in Superman 2. Her part is brief but effective. She could recite nursery rhymes and still make it clear that their militaristic goals are evil.
Also in a supporting role of the strange outsider who first steals the orb from the Solarbabies, Heroes’ Adrian Pasadar (pictured above as in the movie) makes one of his earliest appearances in film.
Also, the orb has a name. It’s Bodhi. Before Patrick Swayze ever used it in Point Break.
THE BAD
The despotic leader of the Protectorate hardly makes for a menacing opposition. He reminds me of the bumbling LtHarris from Police Academy. Without the bumbling. He just doesn’t have the presence to lead a police force that is supposed to embody evil. If not for his sidekick enforcer, I wouldn’t find them a threat at all even though they are the ones with the guns.
And for the love of Zod, the Rollerskates. Ok, we can accept that there was quad skates instead of the inline rollerblades far more popular today, but they were a gimmick in this film and nothing more. The late 80s were clinging onto their quad roller skates that managed to maintain decades of popularity over many other fads of the time and they wanted them to be cool in this movie too. The Solarbabies played a game like lacrosse on skates. It’s what binds these orphans together – the only entertainment or joy they had in their dismal lives. When they break out of the complex they took to their skates to escape across the wasteland which conveniently had plenty of roads for them to run off on. The inclusion of rollerskates was completely uneccessary.
Also the group of friends is, by todays standards, a tired stereotype. Despite having less exaggerated personalities than most other films of the time, The Solarbabies are a Breakfast club gang with their handicapped sidekick, alpha male leader, hot brunette, nerdy computer guy, token black kid who breakdances and the musclebound jock. Watching this with years of those stereotypes used over and over takes away from their “uniqueness” in its time. So in that aspect it doesn’t hold up well.
OVERALL
Typically this is where we would write a “Out of 10″ rating, but since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I have made my own rating system.
TV – Make a point of watching it if you see it listed on TV.
Rent – Good enough to go out of your way to see it, but not enough to buy it.
Buy – So good. You will watch it again and again. Buy it!
So on a scale of TV, Rent or Buy I suggest Rent!
Everything else is out of stock at the rental place tonight? Check out the Not-New releases shelf and see if your local store carries a copy!
I remember this movie but I was so little I don’t remember much of it but what I did I loved… But I’m a sucker for fiction and fantasy. I would definitely rent this movie and can see myself getting excited to sit down and watch it.
Ahha I actually own this on VHS from back in the day. Good times, good times. I put it on the other day to show my boyfriend how ridiculous Adrian Pasdar looked as a native american over 20 years ago. I think I would have a hard time watching this nowadays.
I have seen this movie as a teen, havent viewed since then so my memories of it are fairly vague to say the least. It was one of those late friday night 1:00a.m viewings so I was half asleep during the affair. I do remember the lovely Jami Gertz who I had such a crush on back then, I thought she was going to be the biggest star ever and she literally dropped off the face of the planet.
I cant even comment if this movie was good or bad only that is was slightly memorable.
Jami resurfaced as a regular on Allie McBeal and had her own sitcom called Still Standing.
ofmg i totally remember this one haha
cant believe it was that long ago.
“Everything else is out of stock at the rental place tonight? Check out the Not-New releases shelf and see if your local store carries a copy!”
Now that is what I call a riniging endorsement!
And I rated it a “RENT” so yes, that is precisely what I meant.
Easy big guy, I was just bustin your chops…
Solarbabies, wow, that takes me back. I haven’t watched this movie in years, but back in the day I watched it many times; it was a favorite and I’ve never full forgotten the film. I wonder how I would react to it now; I think I need to add it to the queque. I do remember acknowledging the cheese factor and knowing it wasn’t a good movie, but it had heart, a couple of my favorite actors (at the time) and most of all it entertained me.
Yhea i would rather rent Disaster movie than a shitty title movie like this.
How very clever. You bag on the movie because you have to make fun of the title you don’t like. Good thing you watched this film before you passed judgement on it…
oh wait. You didnt. Classic.
Oh Wait – I did – But i hated this movie, like you hated Spiderman 3 – I hated this one :]
I didn’t hate Spiderman 3. I didn’t like it a lot, but it was “ok”. It had its issues.
I’ve had this movie in my queue for a few months now on Netflix. It’s been forever since I have seen it and wanted to see what I think of it in today’s day and age. I remember this movie being on the same level as such classics as Cherry 2000, Ice Pirates, and Time Bandits. You guys complaining about how horrible this movie is, it is this kind of horribleness that makes some movies into cult classics. Another horrible movie that I am sure got some inspiration from Solar Babies is Prayer of the Roller Boys, a guilty pleasure of mine. Corey Haime and Patricia Arquette! She was damn hot in that movie, to bad she didn’t age all that well.
I was considering making this Forgotten Friday a double bill with Prayer of the Roller Boys.
Both films that benefitted nothing out of having roller skates (at least rollerboys used Blades!)
Ahh, you should have. That would make a good double feature rental night. I had still had the VHS of Prayer of the Roller Boys until a year ago when I finally said good by to all my VHSs since I haven’t owned a VCR/P for a good decade now. Nostalgic, and ya, the blades were a nice upgrade from the 80’s skates.
Is this film on DVD? If so…. I am not going to rent it Yes, I remember this…piece of trash Folks, you all want a flick with Jason Patric and Jami Gertz? Go see The Lost Boys for the thousandth time.
Rodney was on a roll with the Forgotten Fridays. Today he has bungled the ball, for back in the 80s this was one Friday opener I wish I had forgotten.
I had blotted the film out of my brainstem for so long, all I can recall was that it stunk. Could have been worse. Not My Science Project worse, but bad enough. I do know that Solarbabies was the one film for me that marks the actual first time I walked out of a movie in my life, I never did see the last twenty some minutes and I was never the slight bit curious. I hated the movie. It wasn’t even a ‘so bad its good’ movie for me.
Now I must seek a priest, a rabbi, the church of Scientology, anything and anyone to help me purge this memory of this awful awful awful piece of dirt film from my mind. Bad movie. Bad movie. Bad movie. Yuk Yuk Yuk.
But to each his own. Rodney has his unheard of 80s cult films, I have mine. Hey, I loved Blue Monkey, Warning Sign and Blood Of Heroes, so what do I know.
Yeah, I’m not a fan of this movie either, but you can’t expect Rodney to only post “Buy” rated Forgotten Fridays. He has a rating system, he’s gonna use it.
There are much worse films of the 80’s though.
Ive never heard of this movie….but i saw the 5th element like 3 times (not because i liked it, it sucked, but there was nothing on the tv 3 times in my lifetime)