he Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension is a science-fiction adventure film that debuted and fizzled in 1984 before gaining a cult following on VHS tape. It follows the trials of Banzai (Peter Weller), a talented neurosurgeon, particle physicist and occasional rock star who, as the movie opens, is late to the launching of the first vehicle to cross into the eighth dimension because he's in the middle of brain surgery.
Once out of surgery, Banzai uses his "oscillation overthruster" to drive a jet-propelled car "through" a mountain via the space between the mountain's atoms, otherwise known as the "eighth dimension." The test attracts the unwelcome attention of alien invaders from Planet 10, who were trapped in the eighth dimension and were released to Earth during a similar—but failed—extradimensional test by Dr. Emilio Lizardo (John Lithgow) in 1938. Lizardo was taken over by the alien's leader, Lord John Whorfin, who freed his comrades and then went to ground in New Jersey.
Buckaroo's trip through the mountain sends the aliens—who failed in their own attempts to create an overthruster—into a frenzy. By stealing the overthruster and using it to power the spaceship they spent the last few decades building, they will finally be able to return home. But they aren't the only aliens in Earth's
vicinity—orbiting the planet are the beings that exiled Whorfin and his cronies in the first place and don't want him returning home. They give Buckaroo and his sidekicks, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, an ultimatum: keep Whorfin from succeeding in his diabolical plans to return home before sunset, or they will destroy the Earth.
The DVD presents the movie in original and extended formats so purists can watch the movie as it was originally shown, while the curious can check out an alternate opening depicting the test of the original Banzai jet car. The test, which killed Buckaroo's parents, features Jamie Lee Curtis as Buckaroo's mother.
The movie is supported by numerous features, including a commentary track by the director and writer, an on-screen facts track that displays trivia and insights about the movie as it plays, numerous deleted scenes, movie reviews, character profiles, a full-length documentary, teasers and much
more.
A quirky film gets even quirkier
Buckaroo Banzai is a strange little movie not unlike some of its 1980s brethren, namely Big Trouble in Little China and They Live! Fans of those movies may appreciate this one most. Director W.D. Richter did the screenplay adaptation for John Carpenter's Big Trouble,
and they share some of the same surreal, 1930s-serials-on-acid qualities.
Unlike Big Trouble's Jack Burton, Buckaroo doesn't just think he's a hero, he really is one, complete with tour bus, numerous sidekicks and his own comic book. He's a renaissance man for the 20th century, demonstrating supreme confidence in his chosen career—he's the sort of hero the world could use more of. Buckaroo and his Cavaliers spout quirky dialogue ("Why is there a watermelon there?" "I'll tell you later.") throughout the movie, but its humor is something that people will either love or hate.
The movie's plot can be difficult for the uninitiated to follow. Writer Earl Mac Rauch invented a backstory for Buckaroo that rivals Lucas' efforts—watching the DVD extras is essential for anyone who wants a chance at really understanding the film. Theatrical confusion aside, it's hard not to smile during this movie, especially its performances by actors who would go on to be well known in science-fiction circles: Weller (Robocop), Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun), Jeff Goldblum (Independence Day, Jurassic Park) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future). And if all else disappoints there's always the movie's signature jet car, which was built around a real, working jet engine and has enough gizmos to make any geek drool with envy.
The DVD has every feature die-hard fans could want and more; the only thing missing is a commentary track laid down by the good Dr. Banzai himself. Foremost among the DVD goodies is the audio commentary by Richter and Rauch. The two extend the movie's surrealness factor, claiming that it's actually a docudrama approved by Dr. Banzai. They spend a considerable amount of time talking about the "real people" the characters are based on, including conversations about Buckaroo's shadowy nemesis
Hanoi Xan.
The best parts of the commentary involve the recounting of on-set battles between the movie's creators and the studio, including a fight over Buckaroo's red-framed glasses ("Heroes don't wear red-framed glasses" a studio rep said, threatening to shut down the movie if they appeared more than three times).
There's the 1998 CGI trailer for a proposed (but undeveloped) Buckaroo Banzai television series, previously seen only at science fiction conventions, as well as 14 deleted scenes taken from the movies workprints. These scenes—previously available only on a bootlegged VHS tape—are gold
for Buckaroo fans.
Like other cult favorites—The Rocky Horror Picture Show comes immediately to mind—Buckaroo Banzai is not for everyone, and what fans find rib-cracking funny, others may find just plain stupid. But the film is worth checking out—just rent it before you buy it.
