Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Red-Barracuda Futureworld is the follow up to the innovative sci-fi hit Westworld (1973). In it, two investigative reporters are sent to the Delos resort where the robots went berserk in the previous film. While there they slowly uncover an alarming secret. With this plot-line, this sequel has changed its emphasis and moved from an action-oriented thriller to a mystery-driven one. It's not a bad move really, as sequels tend to just be poor re-treads of what has gone before, whereas this one does actually have a quite different feel and the amateur sleuthing plot thread was a pretty good idea. Although, it does have to be admitted that this is still a clearly inferior film to the original though. It makes a mistake of not really putting enough focus on Futureworld itself and too much of the action seems to occur in the machine rooms and inner workings of the complex itself. What we do see of Futureworld certainly suggests that they missed a bit of a trick not integrating it more into the fabric of the plot. It was a colourful world full of the types of plastic décor that movies from the 70's all seemed to think would be the look of the future. Of course, nowadays this looks fantastic, if a thoroughly inaccurate prediction. I also liked the robot boxers and the idea of Martian skiing. So the ideas are all here but not much is really made of them, as the focus is ultimately on the two journalists trying to get to the bottom of what bad things are going on behind the scenes.Peter Fonda plays the main character here, yet the film's original posters seemed to have promoted the idea that the most iconic character from the first film, Yul Brynner's gunslinger, was a significant presence here. In actual fact he only appears briefly in a dream sequence that seems to only exist as a means of having him appear in this sequel at all. Despite my earlier criticisms, I still think this is a pretty good bit of sci-fi. It's a sequel that isn't afraid to take the story in a slightly different direction and the revelation that world leaders who have visited the high-tech resort have been killed off and replaced by android clones is a pretty decent idea on the whole. So, this still amounts to a pretty imaginative bit of sci-fi which is sure to appeal in particular to those who like the 70's strand of the genre.

Mr-Fusion Aside from the total waste of Yul Brynner, there's not really anything egregious about FUTUREWORLD. It's just kinda half-assed. It does away with the terror-in-an-amusement-park fun of its predecessor in favor of a lukewarm mystery that frustratingly tiptoes along to an extremely silly payoff. It's what, an hour-forty? And it just doesn't move.I've seen much better from both Peter Fonda and Gwyneth Paltrow's mom. They have done sort of chemistry, I guess, but those are two hammy performances. But cheap is the name of the game here, and if it weren't such a slog, it might make for some cheesy fun. But as '70s dystopian sci-fi goes, this belongs with the dregs.4/10

jefffisher65-708-541158 Futureworld is the sequel to Michael Crichton's 1973 Westworld, which is the better of the two film by a considerable degree. That said, Futureworld is a good film in itself, if the first half is a little slow(especially for modern viewers, I'm sure). Chuck Browning(Peter Fonda), and Tracey Ballard(Blythe Danner) are investigative reporters who get a tip that something seriously amiss at Futureworld, their source being killed before he can fully deliver his goods to them.Taking a "vacation" there themselves, the two enjoy some of the park's attractions while investigating, including holographic chess, as well as a device Danner uses which is able to record one's dream. This is where Yul Brynner's Gunfighter from the Westworld shows up in Tracey's dream in a silent cameo although he is given some top billing.In time, the duo learns that the DELOS Corporation is replacing various important figures with duplicates, and eliminating the human originals, not overly original even in 1976. Star Trek had used the plot some years before for example, but the idea is well-handled. These duplicates would appear to be closer to genuine androids than more-simple robots with biological elements in their design.I did find the handguns used unusual, as they seem to fire something closer to an "energy bullet) than normal bullets.Of course, our pair finally escapes, and reveals this plot at the end.I wouldn't call Futureworld one of the best 1970s science fiction films, but it is certainly a good one which raises some other points I haven't mentioned here, and issues as well. Anybody who enjoys sci-fi films form the 1970s will like this one, although I agree that Peter Fonda was often rather bland in his earlier films.

Warren Marris Despite the Guest appearance of the great Yul Brynner, this film was a poor followup to the classic WESTWORLD.It is actually a real shame as the overall story is very good.The film featured many firsts for films and should always get credit for that... Its the first film ever where I have ever seen the "middle finger" salute before the 1990's when it became part of our general culture.Some excellent ideas were allowed to slip and sadly a wonderful twist disappeared without a trace...But despite all of this, it is a worthy follow up given its age.Sequels are rarely as good as the original... and time has took its toll on this one. It should have served as warning to those planning sequels as what NOT to do...Overall the story is good, but there is not as much fun or action as the original. Worth a look if for nothing other than nostalgia.Maybe if the rumours prove true about a Westworld remake, someone might see the potential with this one as well... Great ideas that never made the mark... Such a shame!But the building blocks are there for a fantastic remake!