Review of Logan's Run (1976) by Jamie T — 22 Jun 2009

REVISED REVIEW:

Once, this scifi fantasy dazzled me; now I view it a good deal differently. The choppy plotting (the film may have been cut significantly to avoid an R rating) is frustrating, and the possibilities of the hedonistic future world aren't well-explored. The futuristic sets look like the inside of a shopping mall (some of them may actually have been so), although the miniatures of the cityscape and the ruined Washington D.C. seen towards the end are quite impressive. This flawed view of the future is excusable, but still frustrating. The acting is decent, although Peter Ustinov, as the eccentric, long-isolated old man, and Roscoe Lee Browne, as the deluded robot, are both excellent. The ending is a bit of a cop-out, to be sure, but it is very hard to explain without spoiling it. Jerry Goldsmith's excellent score helps; electronic in the domed city, orchestral in the outer world: it's a really memorable piece of work. Still, it was with a significant sense of disappointment that I now watch this; nostalgia can be a bitch.

ORIGINAL REVIEW (Rating: 4.5 stars).

Though it looks dated now, this LOGAN'S RUN still has power as sheer entertainment; it could even be considered a fantasy. It teaches a still potent lesson on age and aging, and the sincere performances of the case back it up nicely. Michael York is very good as Logan, but the best performances come from Richard Jordan, as his zealous friend; Peter Ustinov, as the oldest man alive; and Roscoe Lee Browne as Box, a pitiable robot who has fallen into delusion. A forgotten classic.