Buck Rogers

[Andrew]

Captain Buck Rogers was frozen inside his shuttle by a freak accident and thawed 500 years later.  He might save Earth from the Draconians, if he takes a break from flirting with Wilma and Princess Ardala.

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[Shadow]

AAAAh! THAT Song!

I saw this in the theater as a kid and loved it. I was devoted to the TV show as well. Recently I got the DVD's and watched this film for the first time in over 20 years. At the time I was always under the impression that the Draconians were aliens, but now part of me wonders if they are not supposed to be an offshoot of Humanity - some colony that prospered and grew into a galactic power while Earth struggled. Ardala sure isn't worried about biological compatibility issues with Buck.

[Yaddo 42]

I always explain (for my peace of mind anyway) Twiki's "beda-beda-beda" as some kind of delay as his computer brain (old style scifi techno speak), processors, or speech software are preparing what he has to say. IRL, my wild-ass guess is whoever came up with that (Mel Blanc, a producer, or someone involved in the sound design) was perhaps inspired by the then new Speak 'N' Spell kid's toy. Then again I'm convinced the inspiration for Dr. Theopolis' design was inspired by the old Simon hand held game.

Boy, that William Conrad sure could sell some narration no matter how cheesy the premise. Even when I went through my phase of loathing the TV series I would still watch the opening just to hear him.

Somehow I see the Draconian emperor marrying off those other daughters as political tools or rewards to loyal conquered rulers, viceroys, figurehead leaders he controls, etc. Considering Ardala's temper, ambitions, and cunning; it would be a bloodbath of infighting to keep her siblings cooped up together, an estrogen timebomb. Even if most of the others are idiots or airheads, it would be a shame to let all that beauty (she can't be the only hottie in the gaggle) go to waste. He probably marries off daughters the way B.B. King gives away versions of Lucille to friends and notable figures.

[Efrem Sepulveda]

Right you are Mr. Moto!!  I did have a crush on Erin Gray during the Buck Rogers era.  She and Loni Anderson were my crushes in the late 70s and I thought they were hot!!  Anyway, I got to meet Ms. Gray at a autograph collector's show in North Hollywood five years ago and she looked as beautiful as ever.

[Yannick]

I got the whole serie on DVD the first year was very good but the second season was bad, i love the movie amazing

[Greenhornet]

OK, I watched the series too and like everyone else, I was anoyed to DEATH by the stupid Star Wars rip-off robots! The second season (With Erin Grey in a mini-dress!) was better.
The moral of this movie is: true evil (Disco) never dies! Gerard looked absolutly IDIOTIC at the dance when he came onto the princess jerking like a spaz to get her to try Disco-dancing.  Odd how she joined him instead of laughing herself sick.

Final word: In the 1930s serial, "Killer" Kane was a "Super Racketeer" and major badass who was his own boss. Here he is the WUSS-LACKY of a spoiled brat whose forces could have been over-powered by a bunch of p**sed-off Girl Scouts!
Pathetic.

[Automan2000]

I loved this series as a kid and I was thrilled to see it available through Netflix.

But then it reminded me that we see things differently as a kid. I could only stand a few eps before I gave up.

[Greenhornet]

"He decides to see how Ardala likes old fashion groovin'. She appears to be intrigued."

Buck impressed her just like he impressed the women of HIS TIME by dancing the CHARLESTON or the BLACK BOTTOM.
Sorry to harp on this part of the movie, but it had to be the WORST scene in a movie full of bad scenes. 

[Andrew]

"He decides to see how Ardala likes old fashion groovin'. She appears to be intrigued."

Buck impressed her just like he impressed the women of HIS TIME by dancing the CHARLESTON or the BLACK BOTTOM.
Sorry to harp on this part of the movie, but it had to be the WORST scene in a movie full of bad scenes. 

Oh, definitely a low point in the movie.  Still pretty amusing, once you get past the sheer idiocy of the scene.

[Happenstance]

The Buck Rogers theme song, as I understand it, is based on The Hopi Questions--basic questions that define one's identity in the grand scheme of things. I once shot a sci-fi parody of sci-fi flicks (long gone now, sadly) that used the song ("Suspension") with these lyrics (sing along!):

Who am I?
What am I?
Where are my pants?
What is my shoe size?
When do I get paid?

[Happenstance]

BTW, you can get your very own copy of "Suspension" here:

http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/Buck%20Rogers%20Intro.htm

[Gerry]

Ah, Buck Rogers!  A treasure of my youth that has been a joy to revisit as an adult.  I'm about 1/2 through the complete series set.  Most of the eps have been fun, but the mid-first season "flashback" episode was particularly painful, especially considering that it was the 2nd first season episode to feature Gary Coleman!!!!!  Ardala's wardrobe is always a welcome addition, and I think they had to sew Erin Gray into her pants.  I'm not looking forward to season 2 with the dorky Hawkman.  I do have fond memories of the "Satyr" episode though so we'll see how it holds up.

I also captured a version of the pilot episode song in MP3 format -- sans intro narration and a bit better quality than the one at the link above:

http://www.scifilm.org/requests/BuckRogersAlternate.mp3

I must say I prefer the regular theme for the rest of the episodes though.

BTW, the new forum and site redesign look great, Andrew!  Finally ditched the old Phorum for SMF, eh?  Every looks and works great!

[JJ]

OK, I'm probably going to regret bringing this up, but after seeing that screencap of Twiki, I have to ask.. did anyone else ever think he (it?) looked a bit, um, phallic? No, seriously, look at the "helmet" and tell me you don't see it. And in my admittedly warped adolescent mind, I always thought he was saying "beat-y beat-y beat-y", or sometimes even "beat-it beat-it beat-it".

(I hope this isn't some kind of Rorschach test, because it says some pretty bad things about me if it is..)

[Torgo]

I like season 1 of Buck Rogers but season 2 was terrible.

[Torgo]

I finally got around to getting this Buck Rogers DVD set. I'm glad I waited as I only paid 15 bucks for it brand new.