Oblivion (1994)

Uncomfortable blend of sci-fi and western, never really pulls it together. Take away the stop action scorpions and you have a pretty dull western. Take away the western and you have an amateurish sci-fi. The characters are all cartoon like and some scenes are not only unnecessary, but go on far too long. Trashing the store for instance could have been left on the cutting room floor. I realize this is not "Casablanca", but "Oblivion" really doesn't know what it wants to be. Sci-fi fans are certain to be disappointed, and western fans will find the script boring. I wanted to find a gem here, but unfortunately did not. - MERK

"It's high noon at the far end of the universe", the DVD poster of Oblivion states. Years before the underrated Cowboys & Aliens came out, Oblivion came along, and it's definitely gives the concept a better, and quirkier run for its money. Granted it's essentially a B movie, and it's meagre budget shows to the point where it looks like a grade school play. But therein lies it's charm. It's got a cast of supremely wacky old west stereotypes played by some surprising, familiar genre faces who you'd never thought to be seen rough housing together in the same flick. It also has some lovingly crafted, creaky stop motion animation that calls Harryhausen to mind and brings to life some super weird alien hybrid thingies that look almost Henson-esque as well. When a lone spaceship lands on the outskirts of an intergalactic desert town, it's occupant brings trouble along with him. He's a nasty, one eyed reptilian alien gunslinger named RedEye, played by the inimitable Andrew Divoff. He growling, bad tempered son of a bitch, and his first order of business is to ruthlessly slay the town's sheriff, and claim it for himself. What he doesn't count on is the Sheriff's son (Richard Joseph Paul), a prospector who soon returns to Oblivion looking for answers, along with his Native friend Buteo (the late great Jimmie F. Skaggs). All kinds of townsfolk end up in the crossfire, including drunken Doc Valentine (a priceless George Takei), slinky brothel owner Miss Kitty (Julie Newmar), a cyborg police deputy (Meg Foster), a pawnbroker (Isaac Hayes) and the town's elegant undertaker, played by Carol Struckyen who some may remember as the giant from Twin Peaks. RedEye has a smoking hot henchwoman and girlfriend named Lash, played by B movie scream queen Musetta Vander, who gets the vibe they're going for here and sinks her teeth into the material with admirable abandon. The film sticks to its guns despite being obviously silly and somewhat falling apart in a climax that oddly is too darkly shot to make out properly. What it lacks in resources it makes up for in imagination, which it has in spades. Alien scorpions, cyborg deputies, leather clad babes are but a few of the genre mashing treats to be found here. Great stuff. Oh and check out the sequel as well, called Oblivion 2: Backlash, it's a nice companion piece.

They just don't make em like Oblivion anymore. This movie is so bad that it's good. It's like watching a movie that was supposed to be serious but halfway through they decided it should be a comedy. There are some really great lines in here that should not be missed. "Not man enough? or maybe you're too much man, too much... HU-man?" or the s**t a brick in your pants funny "associ-whats?" line. Or the bingo during the funeral "B9!" Oh man, I'm cracking up right now writing this. And of course the best part is that it ends with "to be continued" and a hilarious preview of the sequel. Anyways, if you want to see a really unintentionally funny movie with microphones and ads for other movies blatantly in several shots then see this now, i concur with the beer suggestion of these other guys too. Oblivion, really great movie, watch it.

This movie's plot line turns itself around in so many circles it ends up making no sense. There is not enough action to keep you watching and most of it is just too fake. The writers of this film didn't even have a good idea.