Futureworld (1976)

More than slightly, actually. I hate to admit that, but this movie is a couple of magnitudes better than the original Westworld. At least as far as the basic film quality is. Of course Michael Crichton came up with an idea that was creepy, and he was able to portray that in his version of the first movie. But there is something really insidious happening in this film, an idea that was eventually made into a very short lived TV series "Beyond Westworld", and even expanded upon in the new series. Although Westworld had its moments. Especially when the faceless Yul Brynner 'Bot jumps out at the end.This one has better fake tech blab-alogue, and isn't American International related to Roger Corman? Although he had no apparent involvement here.Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner make great competing Newspaper/TV reporters.In Westworld it is mentioned that some of the Robots are made by other Robots, and that the techs don't know exactly how they were built. Red Flag! But in this one, it's even worse than that. It is almost as if you don't really know who is a robot or not. Of course, this concept is reflected in the new TV version of this. But something is wrong, and already one person has died. Peter Fonda wants to find out. I've got to admit this movie is a lot more interesting than the original Westworld. Just because it was made by what was considered a cheap independent studio, doesn't mean that it was bad quality. And I never considered Michael Crichton a director, more of a writer. Although this film was done by an independent, it has many of the same people working on it as the first Westworld film it. Including the composer and the director of photography. Some of the pseudo science in this is done very well. Proper language is used and good graphic imagery was used. The thing that bothered me a bit about Westworld was although it was supposed to be a futuristic setting, some of the sets that depicted scientific equipment looked cheap. Not so in this. Consider that this was only three years later than the first film, filmmaking techniques had drastically improved. What surprises me is that now that I have seen this after not having seen it for 30 years, how remarkably well it was done. And some of the ideas that were in this film have crept into the new series, which makes that just as wholly enjoyable.I saw this in the theatre, and I remember the faceless robot "Clark" actually puts face back on, and we got to see whose face it was. That has been omitted in the version I have.

The sequel to Westworld (1973) and even as it picks rather in on the ending of Westworld once this movie starts going it fades far away from Westworld. And I must say that I didn't liked the idea they added to this flick.In the beginning it has the same atmosphere as Westworld but slowly it turns into some kind of James Bond story were people are trying to copy people into robots.The atmosphere and score used in Westworld is in fact nowhere to find. It do offer some good parts when faces are changed from robots but some parts are a bit ridiculous. Even the acting from Peter Fonda couldn't convince me. What was nice to see is the fact how airplanes looked inside in the seventies. Back then they had enough space and safety was far to find. People who liked the spin-off Beyond Westworld will like this flick but thinking you will see another Westworld, no, things can go wrong...Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2,5/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5

Although "Futureworld" is considered by many to be a poor excuse for a sequel,it has its own cult followers.After the tragic deaths of several guests at the hands of robots in "Westworld," Delos decides to invite reporters Tracy and Chuck to the rebuilt resort. Delos representatives want to prove to the public that their new vactioning spots are completely safe and their robots are under control and harmless. As Tracy and Chuck investigate "Futureworld," they begin to suspect there's something sinister behind Delos' welcoming embrace.Judging "Futureworld" on its own merits, I found it to be a mildly entertaining slice of 1970's sci-fi. The movie's warnings against allowing machines and computers too much control and relying on them too heavily seems prophetic in hindsight. For 1976, I'm sure it felt fresh and was terrifying for a world that was just barely embracing electronics and the technology we take for granted today. Director Richard T. Heffron and writers George Schenck and Mayo Simon don't really do much more here besides expand on the concepts Michael Crichton came up with for "Westworld."The only actor to return from "Westworld" for this sequel is Yul Brenner. He isn't given much to do here. He basically walks around and has an awkward love scene with Blythe Danner. Honestly, it's uncomfortable to watch. Peter Fonda is great as a chauvinistic wisecracking 1970's reporter that could never get away with his treatment of Danner's character in modern times."Futureworld" is a fun and nostalgic journey back into the 1970s. Its interesting to see what the state of science fiction cinema was even a year before "Star Wars" breathed life into a dying genre. You'll not find any of the carefree advetnure and joy we found in "a Galaxy Far, Far Away" in the dystopic and doomed "Futureworld" of our making.

As "Futureworld" opens, the Delos Corporation is determined to make up for all of the bad publicity they received when the robots of their Westworld environment malfunctioned. They invite several dignitaries, as well as reporters Chuck (Peter Fonda) and Tracy (Blythe Danner), convinced that they've eliminated the bugs in their program. Well, Chuck is suspicious from the start, even more so when he makes contact with a former Delos employee who wanted to spill some vital information. So when he arrives at Delos's vacation resort, he does a lot of snooping around before finding out that there's a nefarious plan being hatched by resort employees. As one can see from this synopsis, this sequel is more in the conspiracy thriller vein than the action movie vein. The summary in the Leonard Maltin paperback is quite accurate when it says "short on action, but intelligently done". It's an interesting plot, to be sure, not developing in the way one might expect it to. The pacing is deliberate, and things never really build to a fever pitch, which could disappoint those viewers hoping for a more exciting experience. It also reduces the memorable character of the robot Gunslinger (Yul Brynner briefly reprises the role) to an afterthought; it's truly disappointing to see it reduced to starring in a dream sequence. Still, this is pretty entertaining stuff that benefits from very good performances. Fonda and Danner are both appealing as always, generating some good chemistry. (One amusing touch is having Chuck always address Tracy as "Socks"!) The excellent supporting cast includes Arthur Hill as Delos employee Duffy, John P. Ryan as stiff and humourless scientist Dr. Schneider, Jim Antonio as upbeat guest Ron Thurlow, and the highly engaging Stuart Margolin as blue collar worker Harry, with bit parts played by the likes of Robert Cornthwaite, Darrell Larson, John Fujioka, and 'Password' host Allen Ludden. The film also has a good look going for it thanks to art director Trevor Williams and cinematographers Gene Polito and Howard Schwartz; the rousing music is courtesy of Fred Karlin. All in all, "Futureworld" isn't going to appeal to people who love a fast pace and major set pieces, but those looking for a more low key sci-fi flick just might want to give it a look. Seven out of 10.