Search - Space Truckers on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1997 DVD Release: 06/22/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 36 mins Studio: Lions Gate Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Comedy Drama, Science Fiction, Road Movie, Satire, Sci-Fi Comedy

Former National Lampoon editor Ted Mann, who scripted this $27 million science-fiction comedy, calls it "the first outer-space road movie." According to Mann, the film has "no scientists, no techies, none of the usual polished, sanitary environments we're used to in our space films. Space is like anywhere else -- the people who are there are underpaid and poorly regarded." In the year 2196, freight pilot John Canyon (Dennis Hopper), one of the last of the independent truckers competing against the huge mega-corporations, is hassled by high-tech interference plus corrupt bosses. After Canyon delivers a cargo of pigs, genetically engineered to be square and stackable for more efficient shipping, he finds his profits siphoned off by a crooked labor boss (George Wendt). When Canyon heads for Earth with a secret cargo, he's accompanied by young apprentice trucker Mike Pucci (Stephen Dorff) and waitress Cindy (Debi Mazar), who plans to marry Canyon if he gets her safely to Earth. The trio goes through the asteroid belt and are captured by pirates, led by engineering wiz Captain Macanudo (Charles Dance), who discovers the secret cargo of the army androids stolen from him by capitalist corp chief E.J. Saggs (Shane Rimmer) -- who's plotting an android takeover of Earth. Filmed at Ireland's Ardmore Studios, Space Truckers was shown at several 1997 film festivals (Sundance, Sitges, Vancouver). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Dennis Hopper - John Canyon
Stephen Dorff - Mike Pucci
Debi Mazar - Cindy
Charles Dance - Macanudo
George Wendt - Keller

For a small, mostly forgettable film, this DVD packs a major punch. For starters, it features extensive production notes, a theatrical trailer, a trivia game, bios and filmographies, and excellent interactive menus. The transfer is topnotch in anamorphic widescreen. The colors pop off the screen and the sound is available in Dolby Digital Surround and 5:1 Surround. The 26-minute "making of" featurette includes great behind-the-scenes footage, as well as interviews with cast members Dennis Hopper, Debi Mazar, and Stephen Dorff. Director Stuart Gordon's commentary is informative, revealing all the "making of" secrets and happy accidents during the production. (At times it seems his audio is mixed too low and the film's production sound drowns him out, so viewers will have to listen carefully.) One of the best features on the disc is the option of running storyboards that pop up with every new angle in the film -- it's like a visual subtitle that follows the action. Finally the DVD-ROM allows access to the complete screenplay as well as to relevant web sites. For a truly interactive experience with a DVD, viewers can't go wrong with this disc. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide