It's hard to believe that the pilot movie "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" was released to theaters in 1979 because it's so cartoony and the effects are downright lame compared to "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," which came out eight months later. Not to mention the original Star Wars Trilogy. Heck, the F/X don't even hold up to The Original Series of Star Trek that ran from 1966-1969. No kidding.
Yet, this doesn't mean that the pilot movie "Awakening" or the series isn't entertaining. It is, but don't expect the maturity or quality of Star Trek, although some episodes come close. Star Trek is dramatic science-fiction whereas Star Wars is a fantasy packaged as science-fiction or "space fantasy." "Buck Roger" — the pilot movie and the series — tries to walk the line between these two and ends up being inferior to both. But, again, this doesn't mean it's not entertaining, particularly for kids or adults who just wanna turn off their brains and have fun.
While most of the stories in series are okay at best, and often lame, the main protagonists and most of the guest stars are outstanding. Gil Gerard in the titular role, for instance, is just as effective as William Shatner as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, maybe even more so, if that were possible. And then there's Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering, one of the hottest space babes in the history of film or television. Not to mention, Pamela Hensley has the requisite "looks that kill" as the oversexed antagonist, Ardala (not that she trips my trigger). And then there's the gazillion of female guests throughout the series that are often even more beautiful than the aforementioned two, like Ryma (Brianne Leary) in "Planet of the Slave Girls" or Nyree (Liberty Godshall)in "Planet of the Amazon Women." Needless to say, "Buck Rogers" scores the highest possible points on the female front, particularly the 1st season.
While Thom Christopher doesn't appear in the pilot movie or the 1st season, he's a regular in the 2nd season and a highlight. He had the potential for greatness, like Spock, but it was never fully realized because the series lacked the great writing and rewriting of the creators of Star Trek (e.g. Gene Roddenberry, Dorthy Fontana and Gene Coon). Star Trek alumnus, Barbara Luna, is breathtaking as Hawk's wife, Koori, in two episodes of the 2nd season.
Speaking of the 2nd season, it's more dramatic than the 1st season with a more Trek-ian format and delivery, but it's still unmistakably Buck Rogers. There are less space babes and more attempts at serious space drama. Although it's generally inferior to the 1st season, it's superior in some ways and has its quality episodes, like "Time of the Hawk," "Journey to Oasis," "Mark of the Saurian," "The Hand of Goral" and "The Dorian Secret."
Then there's the curiously phallus-looking Twiki, a somewhat lovable robot who takes a backseat in the 2nd season to a more "Short Circuit"-looking robot (of course that movie didn't come out for another six years).
Buck Rogers (the series) is hard to rate because, on the one hand, the cheese-factor is so high with the comic book tone, (mostly) dubious special effects and banal stories, but the main protagonists and guest stars are outstanding and somehow pull off the often lame material. It's amazing, but true. There's also something to be said for the nostalgic and innocent style of the pilot and series. Nevertheless, I can't in good conscience give "Buck Rogers" a higher rating.
The pilot runs about 89 minutes while the double episodes run 97 minutes and the single-episodes 48 minutes.
GRADE: B- (but a solid "B" for overall entertainment)
Yet, this doesn't mean that the pilot movie "Awakening" or the series isn't entertaining. It is, but don't expect the maturity or quality of Star Trek, although some episodes come close. Star Trek is dramatic science-fiction whereas Star Wars is a fantasy packaged as science-fiction or "space fantasy." "Buck Roger" — the pilot movie and the series — tries to walk the line between these two and ends up being inferior to both. But, again, this doesn't mean it's not entertaining, particularly for kids or adults who just wanna turn off their brains and have fun.
While most of the stories in series are okay at best, and often lame, the main protagonists and most of the guest stars are outstanding. Gil Gerard in the titular role, for instance, is just as effective as William Shatner as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, maybe even more so, if that were possible. And then there's Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering, one of the hottest space babes in the history of film or television. Not to mention, Pamela Hensley has the requisite "looks that kill" as the oversexed antagonist, Ardala (not that she trips my trigger). And then there's the gazillion of female guests throughout the series that are often even more beautiful than the aforementioned two, like Ryma (Brianne Leary) in "Planet of the Slave Girls" or Nyree (Liberty Godshall)in "Planet of the Amazon Women." Needless to say, "Buck Rogers" scores the highest possible points on the female front, particularly the 1st season.
While Thom Christopher doesn't appear in the pilot movie or the 1st season, he's a regular in the 2nd season and a highlight. He had the potential for greatness, like Spock, but it was never fully realized because the series lacked the great writing and rewriting of the creators of Star Trek (e.g. Gene Roddenberry, Dorthy Fontana and Gene Coon). Star Trek alumnus, Barbara Luna, is breathtaking as Hawk's wife, Koori, in two episodes of the 2nd season.
Speaking of the 2nd season, it's more dramatic than the 1st season with a more Trek-ian format and delivery, but it's still unmistakably Buck Rogers. There are less space babes and more attempts at serious space drama. Although it's generally inferior to the 1st season, it's superior in some ways and has its quality episodes, like "Time of the Hawk," "Journey to Oasis," "Mark of the Saurian," "The Hand of Goral" and "The Dorian Secret."
Then there's the curiously phallus-looking Twiki, a somewhat lovable robot who takes a backseat in the 2nd season to a more "Short Circuit"-looking robot (of course that movie didn't come out for another six years).
Buck Rogers (the series) is hard to rate because, on the one hand, the cheese-factor is so high with the comic book tone, (mostly) dubious special effects and banal stories, but the main protagonists and guest stars are outstanding and somehow pull off the often lame material. It's amazing, but true. There's also something to be said for the nostalgic and innocent style of the pilot and series. Nevertheless, I can't in good conscience give "Buck Rogers" a higher rating.
The pilot runs about 89 minutes while the double episodes run 97 minutes and the single-episodes 48 minutes.
GRADE: B- (but a solid "B" for overall entertainment)