Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983)

Even when you consider the fact that at the time of this movie's release there was a 3-D craze going on, it's still hard to believe that a major Hollywood movie distributor picked up the distribution rights to this dismal 3-D movie. Where to begin? Well, for starters, the script is terrible. When it is not shamelessly ripping off elements of "Star Wars" and "The Road Warrior", its telling of its particular story feels like it starts at chapter three instead of the very beginning. As well, as the movie progresses, it brings up a number of plot elements that don't make sense even if you read the back of the DVD case as I did. A stronger script would have helped, but the movie would still have suffered in other areas as well. It's painfully clear throughout that the movie had a really low budget, and director Charles Band can't seem to generate any excitement in the action sequences. The only passable element in the entire movie is the musical score by Richard Band - though I feel I should point out that it's only adequate and nothing more, so don't even bother to track down the soundtrack album.

I've always remembered this as a cool 3D sci-fi adventure, just like other 3D movies of the 80's: Parasite, Comin' At Ya, Treasure of the Four Crowns, Jaws 3D, and Amityville 3D. A roving lone ranger on a post-apocalyptic Earth named Dogen (Jeffrey Byron) finds a lovely young woman Dhyana (Kelly Preston) alone and terrified outside a mining cave. After knowing that her father, a scientist, was killed by a raving mutant named Baal, he vows to avenge her father's death. So, who is Jared Syn and why must he be destroyed?It turns out that Syn (Mike Preston) is the father of Baal, and he is some sort of a messiah-like priest who is planning to control the surviving nomadic tribes that roam the barren wastelands and enslave them. Not being able to locate this mysterious messiah, Dogen seeks the help of a down-and-out alcoholic mercenary Rhodes (Tim Thomerson – TRANCERS, ZONE TROOPERS), who happens to know Syn's whereabouts. Together they seek for a mask that will help them find and destroy Jared Syn. While watching this post-apocalyptic yarn, I can't help but think of STAR WARS and THE ROAD WARRIOR. The film has elements of those two films blended into one with some 3D effects thrown in, and the outcome is you get a fun low budget sci-fi adventure. Despite its low budget nature, the character make-up effects (like those of Baal's) are surprisingly cool, just like what you see in STAR WARS, and the 3D effects look neat too even though many shown are just characters or objects pointing at the screen. Then, there is also this rousing "super-hero-like" musical score that plays every time the action scenes start. However, the ending will leave you rather disappointed.I've always admired the Band family (Albert, Richard, and Charles) for their creativity as a producer, composer or director, especially their short-lived Empire Pictures productions. There are always some things unique about their low budget films, and this is one of them.For undemanding viewers looking for old school 3D flicks, especially those who love 80's B-movie sci-fi adventure, METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED SYN comes recommended.

The 1983 3-D Charles Band production "Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn" is pretty damn forgettable and obviously quite low budget but, like many other movies of its kind, it's not without its cheesy charms. One is simply going to have to be partial to this type of thing to begin with. It's highly derivative of other sci-fi features that have come before it, and it is undeniably crude. It's full of nonsense and short on sense. The characters are well defined if not exactly fleshed out (you're never in much doubt as to who is a good guy and who is a bad guy.) The action is reasonably effective, with well done stunts and explosions, and the special effects do give this the appeal of really good cheese. The most worthy component is the rousing music score by Charles's brother Richard Band; it deserves to be in a better movie.Stiff, but not completely unlikable, Jeffrey Byron stars as Dogen, a "ranger" in a world of the future who must do battle with the overlord of the title, played by Mike Preston of "The Road Warrior". Jared-Syn, assisted by his creepy son Baal (R. David Smith), makes life miserable for people such as amiable old miner Aix (Larry Pennell) and his daughter Dhyana (a young and super sexy Kelly Preston). Knowing he needs help, Dogen gets tracking assistance from the weary Rhodes (Tim Thomerson, who easily steals the show). As the story plays out, he must also deal with a cyclopean being named Hurok (Richard Moll).The ending to this is quite anticlimactic and disappointing (clearly there were thoughts of making a sequel to this), but getting there provides some degree of fun. If you can turn off your brain for 83 minutes, you should have a good time with this. It never really catches fire (some might even say that it's dull), but helping to give it some visual buzz, other than the 3- D, are the various desert locations and the cinematography by Mac Ahlberg, who shot many movies like this during the 1980s. Byron is a rather colourless lead, and one may wish that the more charismatic Thomerson were in that role instead. Mike Preston is an amusing villain, and Moll likewise has a real presence on screen, as always. The briefly seen Pennell is endearing, and Kelly Preston offers up a lot of spunk as the imperiled girl, who is set to be sacrificed by Jared-Syn to a great big life-giving crystal.This may not be anything great, but it's not the worst sci-fi adventure you'll ever see, either.Five out of 10.

I saw this movie back in 83 when 3-d was making a comeback. I liked it a lot but I was young and it was 3-d. I've seen it a few times after that on HBO and still enjoyed it. I just recently got a 3-d dvd of the movie and I enjoyed it even more. Sure, it's crap but it's fun crap and I'm a sucker for 3-d movies. Watching this in 3-d in my own living room brought back memories. It's definately worth seeing in 3-d.