Arena (1991)

I wanted to but couldn't!

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

In the future the best fighters from all over the universe compete in a brutal gladiator-type sport called Arena. Tough and resourceful Steve Armstrong (a solid and affable performance by Paul Satterfield) becomes the first human brawler to participate in the event in a long time. However, nefarious alien crime lord Rogor (nicely played to the slimy hilt by Marc Alaimo) plots to stop Steve from winning the title of champion. Director Peter Manoogian, working from a clever script by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, relates the predictable, but still engrossing and entertaining story at a brisk pace, squeezes plenty of impressive production value out of the modest budget (Screaming Mad George's extraterrestrial make-up designs and the special effects are surprisingly pretty good), and stages the big matches with gusto. The neat array of funky aliens are a lot of fun to watch while the colorful characters are drawn in engagingly broad strokes. Moreover, the game cast have a ball with the quirky material: Claudia Christian as feisty fight promoter Quinn, Hamilton Camp as Steve's hearty and loyal diminutive pal Shorty, Armin Shimerman as short-tempered lackey Weezil, Shari Shattuck as sultry and deceitful moll Jade, and William Butler as wormy small-time hustler Skull. Michael Deak cuts a fearsome figure as ferocious and formidable reptilian reigning champ Horn. Jack Carter has a lively small part as an enthusiastic announcer. Both Richard Band's robust score and Mac Ahlberg's slick cinematography are up to speed. A really cool little flick.

Filmed in Italy by Charles Bands' Empire Pictures company, the likably cheese ball movie "Arena" is good fun for an undemanding viewer, comfortably predictable and with the usual assortment of good guys and bad guys. It's your basic tournament-based action flick, but with a twist: it takes place in a sci-fi setting, and most of the fighters are alien monsters. The champion among them is an egomaniac named Horn (Michael Deak, "Abominable"). Our hero is nice guy Steve Armstrong (Paul Satterfield, "Creepshow 2"), who only really wants to return to Earth. But when he needs to come up with some money in a hurry to pay off a smooth criminal, Rogor (Marc Alaimo, "Tango & Cash"), he agrees to participate in the tournament.One gets no prizes for guessing what ultimately develops in this script, written by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo, the guys who concocted "Trancers" among other comedies and genre pictures. But there's still a reasonable amount of fun to be had in watching this stuff. You sure don't have to spend any time exercising your brain. You just enjoy the comedy, the sets, the basically decent acting, and the impressive display of masks and makeup effects created by John Carl Buechler and company. There's a lot of variety in their work. Also lending his abilities is unsung talent Screaming Mad George. The fighting is never exactly that great, but it is good for some laughs here and there.Supporting Satterfield are a group of familiar faces. Hamilton Camp ("Evilspeak") is four armed Shorty, Steves' loyal sidekick. The stunning Claudia Christian ('Babylon 5', "The Hidden") and Shari Shattuck ("The Naked Cage", 'The Young and the Restless') as irresistible eye candy, Armin Shimerman as Weezil (buried under heavy makeup a couple of years before assuming his signature role of Quark in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'), William Butler ("Night of the Living Dead" '90) as Skull, and legendary comedian Jack Carter as an enthusiastic announcer. Shattuck also gets to perform two songs.Overall, an amusing 94 minute long diversion.Six out of 10.

I haven't watched this film for a few years now but I remember it well as it was a real no brainer fun watch that I viewed several times on a battered old VHS copy. The plot is paper thin and not much above the usual T.V. sci-fi episode in fact I'm sure the an episode of Babylon 5 has a similar plot (TKO in series 1 or 2 I think a coincidence as Claudia Christian appears in both). The effects are basic the budget was probably minimal but this doesn't matter it's the vision of the future that sells this film you need to let go and use your imagination and when you do it kinda works. If you just let the poor effects go and some hammy acting in places you'll get some solid entertainment but you really do have to be in that B-Movie kind of mood to enjoy it.The fights have to work around some ambitious (for the budget) alien anatomy and thats this films creates strength it tries to stay away from all aliens being basically humanoid shaped and throws the occasional curve-ball in there.Solid not spectacular with a better budget a few extra sub plots this could have been very good as is a solid B-Movie effort no more, no less 5/10.

I stumbled across this movie one of the 5 million times that HBO showed it my Junior year of College...If you like cardboard cutouts in the crowd...wrestling moves that are supported by visible wires...and a plot that a monkey could write...then rent this movie...Terrible...awful...but not the worse...there is always Congo...where you want to make an ash tray out of the stupid monkeys head...but that is another rant...If you want to see a good action space movie...that is brainless...see the motion picture classic and guilty pleasure Starship Troopers...lead by Doogie Howser...stay away from this piece of garbage that could of been shot in someones garage...