Android (1982)

At extremely low budget, this film surprised me pretty enough.I mean, you got an scientific space station, inside we got an archetype of mad scientist (Kinski), well to call Kinski a mad scientist is somewhat a compliment... Because he was a real genius actor, a mad actor, heavy for corporation. OK, mad scientist and his own creation Max 404.The story gives you that... Well deja vu. An android with emotions. Honestly... An android with emotions works better than android who kills stupid teenagers. And there are no stupid teenagers here.Circumstances brought a three people gang on a station, with them is a lovely young woman Maggie (Brie Howard), and because of her Max started to develop emotions - Love! (Max has a room with a big information computer available to him, to learn. That was the most coolest thing in the film. You can easily say that Max is using a computer like we use internet today. Google for instance, to get information). Now, you just need to watch the film to see what will happen with Maggie and Max..Actors did a great job, especially Kinski and Don Keith Opper (Max), it is also good to see young Norbert Weisser in the film. The plot gives you a specific humor and to say that Max is actually one of the most lively, human like nature android ever to appear on screen on the beginning of the 80s. Well, like I said... Low budget... But the story and character are compensating the budget. Watch this film and enjoy it.

The least you can say about Aaron Lipstadt's "Android" is that it is a bit of a maverick and rarity in the universe of early 80's cinema. In an era when people automatically associated the Science-Fiction genre with either hideous invincible creatures ("Alien") or adventurous fantasy (the "Star Wars"-trilogy), this movie actually attempts to make a character-study/drama using exclusively Sci-Fi characters. "Android" feels like a successful mixture between the themes of "Saturn 3" and even the embittered atmosphere the almighty classic "Blade Runner". That is highly ambitious and praiseworthy, especially since the credits list Roger Corman's name as an executive producer and during that time he was mostly infamous for his excessively violent and exploitative rip-offs. The always amazing Klaus Kinski gives a perplexing performance as a mysterious scientist, illegally constructing androids in a space-station far far away. Dr. Daniel is continuously preoccupied with his work whilst his android assistant Max 404 plays videogames and secretly craves to learn more about being a human. The arrival of three fugitive criminals drastically alters their existence. One of them is namely a woman, and both Dr. Daniel and Max are enchanted by her appearance albeit for totally different reasons. The good doctor finally sees an opportunity to research the possibility of a female android and Max discovers emotions he didn't even know existed. It gets worse when Max learns he's disposable and rebels against superior. "Android" benefits most from its witty and inventively written script. The film is most impressive when relying on substance and acting performances, as the special effects and decors appear miserably cheap and tacky. The "surprise" ending is efficient and unpredictably without being overly far-fetched. Kinski is, as said, genius is his familiar role of eccentric and slightly offbeat scientist, but Don Opper (who also co-wrote the film) is at least equally astounding as Max 404. Not only does he look uncanny and artificial, but his grimaces and movements are truly spot-on! Extra admirable is that neither Don Opper nor director Aaron Lipstadt had any cinematic experience before they worked on "Android" together. This may be an anonymous and underrated movie, but to me it's one of the most remarkable films of the 80's. Highly recommended.

Here's a movie that turns an old Roger Corman trick, recycling sets for one low-budget movie after hours to make an even lower-budget movie, often one with more of a 'personal' touch. The victim here is Corman's Star Wars/Seven Samurai hybrid, "Battle Beyond the Stars," which was seriously el cheapo to begin with. "Android" was co-written by its star (and producer's son?) Don Opper, who plays an android in the throes of sexual awakening on a space station manned by Klaus Kinski in a blue sweater; he looks like he just popped by on a morning walk to the store. Some murderous 'anticorporate terrorists' happen on board, scheme a while, complications ensue. Some might find this too slight or too static, but I am impressed with how well it moves considering the economy, and actually I find its modestly quirky tone just about perfectly realized. It is one of those movies that looks like it was scribbled on the back of a high-school notebook, like The Abyss which is blows away effortlessly, or Phantasm which it can keep company with. It almost plays out as a wish-fulfillment fantasy of its geeky star; who ever gets a chance to play around on this scale? Only a lucky few, and we should cherish it when it happens.

I cannot for the life of me see the appeal of 'Android' or why it has developed a cult following of sorts over the years! I can forgive a low budget and trashy production values - no problem - and poor acting - well you can't have everything - but a "plot" that seems like someone thought up in a ten minute coffee break isn't enough! One thing low budget science fiction movies can be redeemed by is original and thought provoking ideas. 'Android' has NONE. At all. So that leaves it out of the underrated gems club (see everything from 'Dark Star' to 'Cube'). It also fails on the so-bad-it's-a-hoot level. 'Saturn 3' had a horny and violent robot in it and was cheesy fun. 'Android' just comes across as an amateurish first draft of a Data episode of 'Star Trek TNG'. Even the Godlike Klaus Kinski can't save this schlock!