Search - Bad Movie Police Case #1: Galaxy of the Dinosaurs on DVD

Forewarned is Forearmed

Robert I. Hedges | 03/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This, first of the Bad Movie Police films, is truly worthy of the moniker. For sheer inept filmmaking, it is exceeded only by the Bad Movie Police Volume Two, 'Chickboxer', which I also highly recommend. This film is absolutely dreadful in every way. The entire movie was made for $1250 in 1991 (yes, that's not a typo: one thousand, two hundred, and fifty dollars) in three and a half days in the woods behind the house belonging to the producer's parents). $500 of that budget was for the rights to footage from the vintage dinosaur thriller 'Planet of the Dinosaurs', with live action footage from the Ohio woods added later. If you treasure truly horrific cinematic endeavors this movie is for you. Brought to you by the same people who made 'Chickboxer', this movie does not quit. From script, to dialogue, to sets, there is nothing lavish to be seen here, but the overall effect is entrancing in the badness it exudes. The star of the film, James Black, was paid $50 for his part. This movie redefines cheap production standards with special touches like representing the inside of a spaceship with five folding chairs in a basement, and a scientific instrument similar to a tricorder from 'Star Trek' that is nothing more than a c-clamp (which can tell the toxicity of mushrooms!), not to mention wardrobe that the cast furnished themselves (which is frightening when you see what Tom Hoover is wearing.)I won't divulge the plot, but I will tell you that no matter how grizzled of a bad movie veteran you are, this will leave you breathless. The DVD has a lot of great extras including a "Making of Galaxy of the Dinosaurs" feature, a feature on James Black, still photos, and best of all a commentary track by producer J.R. Bookwalter and James Black, who are both very good natured and funny. The movie is only 63 minutes long, so watch it once without the commentary, so you don't miss any precious dialogue, and then watch it with the commentary on, which renders the film even more hysterical. Hopefully they will release more films in this series soon.I promise that you will be amazed. For truly hardened Psychotronic fans, try a double bill of this and 'Chickboxer'. I dare you."

Wretched....and deserving of the title

brandonshehan | 33°18'14N 44°22'40E | 10/30/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I bought a four-pack of dinosaur themed movies about a year and a half ago. One of them was Planet of Dinosaurs, a movie ripe for Mystery Science Theater 3000 brutalizing. It had overbearing Wendy Carlos electronic score, acting obviously done after a shot of Nyquil and some great Harryhausen-esque stop motion animation. And my five year old son loved it. Dinosaurs and Space Ships! And none of that pesky long-running dialogue to get in the way of Tyranasaurus eating annoying semi-villians. What more could a five year old want?This movie is beyond wretched. It takes a D-minus movie, extracts the stop motion animation and adds Master Thespian acting shot on video. It's high school freshman with camcorder caliber.If you collect Roger Corman films and have a soft spot, you might be able to get a snicker out this. Otherwise, you could die peacefully without ever having experienced this move.Spend the $$$$ and just get Planet of Dinosaurs (also available at Amazon)."

Movie Deserves Better Treatment

brandonshehan | 09/26/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"" Galaxy of the Dinosaurs" is well made low budget sci-fi adventure movie featuring some good stop motion effects work. The film is not masterpiece of acting and the script could have been better but the people who made this movie obvious love "Star Trek" and Ray Harryhausen. If you are a stop motion fan its worths seeing"