Plot: An idyllic science fiction future has one major drawback: life must end at the age of thirty – Logan’s Run.
Director: Michael Anderson
Starring: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan
Released: September 1976
Maybe it was due to coming out just before Star Wars redefined Sci-fi, or possibly because of cheesy sets and dated special effects, but over the last 30 years, Logan’s Run has developed somewhat of an unfortunate reputation as just another bad ’70s science fiction movie. But on recent viewing, I have to say there is more to praise about the film than dislike.
Now I’m not saying Logan’s Run doesn’t have flaws. The main one being the unrealistic and exposition-heavy dialogue, causing the actor’s performances to suffer and the audience to get bored.
But once you get beyond that, there’s good stuff to look out for and enjoy. The plot is solid while Logan’s gradual shift from government agent trying to hunt down escapees to someone attempting to escape to freedom himself.
The sets, while certain of their time especially the technology, remain imaginative and visionary and the makers were surprisingly accurate predicting a future where society is obsessed with youth, beauty and finding sex by putting yourself on a network.
Peter Ustinov’s performance as the confused, lonely Old Man, living in the ruins of Washington is both lovely and upsetting, while his joy of seeing all the citizens of the city surrounding him is one of the most heartwarming.
While some of the acting may be pretty bad and the film doesn’t quite resolve all the sub-plots it raises, Logan’s Run remains fun to watch and more intelligent than it seems at first glance.
If you liked: Outland, Time Cop, The Running Man, Soylent Green
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