User Reviews

There was a time, after seeing Cronenberg's SCANNERS, that I wanted to see every possible movie starring Michael Ironside. I pretty soon stopped this silly quest when I realized the man had already starred in way too many boring below-average B-features of the police/thriller-type. NEON CITY, however, is one of his better B-movies, and it's actually one of the better MAD MAX-clones out there.

In the year 2053 the ozone-layer is destroyed and earth's population is divided in diseased mutants and healthy people. The wastelands are ruled by the merciless Skins and earth's ecosystem is completely out of balance. Outbursts of 'brights' can incinerate a person and poisonous Xander-clouds can suffocate you within seconds. There are safe-havens throughout the wastelands, Neon City being one of them. A group of 8 persons begins a journey in an armored vehicle towards Neon city.

Fans of Michael Ironside should see this flick, 'cause he plays the type of character that we love to see him play: A ruthless bounty-hunter with a soft spot inside. His prisoner, Reno, is played by Vanity, and knowing this lady you might expect her to show some skin, but she pretty much doesn't. The acting is pretty average, but it was fun seeing Juliet Landau before her BUFFY-period. The good thing is that all the characters have a bit of background and some of them turn out not exactly what they appear to be. The bad thing is that this movie could have used a bigger budget, especially in the special effects-department. The 'bright'-outbursts are just some silly colorization-effects and I expected to see an impressive futuristic Neon City in the end, but we see almost nothing of it. The action-scenes of Skins on motorcycles attacking the armored transport are average and certainly not as impressive as in MAD MAX 2.

But still, this movie manages to hum along nicely and you do wonder about who'll make it in the end and who won't. It's not an excellent movie, but it's not bad either. Worth a watch, especially for Ironside-fans.

"Take a deep breath, it may be your last. Welcome to the year 2053!" In the year 2053 the world is a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In this movie it is called "The Outland", with a blatant disregard for the Sean Connery film of the same name. "The Outland" doesn't have a lot of clean air or water. People are eating dogs for sustenance.

Enter Harry M. Stark (Ironside), a no-nonsense bounty hunter who looks like Jack Nicholson. His job is to bring Reno (Vanity) back to Neon City. He handcuffs himself to her because she is always escaping. There are so many outlaws in "The Outland" that one can collect "Red Star Credits" for bringing them to justice. What you can exchange these for aren't explained. Is it like Skee Ball tokens or "Coconut Coins"? The world may never know.

Luckily there is a bus going to Neon City. The movie never explains where they are and how long it takes to get to Neon City. The bus driver is named Bulk and he is played with aplomb by Lyle Alzado. As if the name "Bulk" wasn't enough, he is nicknamed "The Killer Tomato" because "He crushes people's heads as easily as an overripe tomato". Bulk and Harry don't get along at first because Bulk is an ex-con that Harry brought in.

Also going to Neon City in this bus are a bad stand-up comic looking for work, a sketchy doctor with a mullet, a spoiled rich girl and a woman who looks like Hillary Clinton. Riding shotgun with Bulk for most of the journey is a mysterious Asian man named Wing (Arsenio "Sonny" Trinidad) Along the way there are many obstacles and pitfalls. Besides the obvious personality clashes, there are roving bands of killers dubbed "Skins". They ride souped-up, broken down motorcycles if such a thing is possible. There are continuously chasing the bus and shooting at it. We don't know why. Stark shoots back with a laser that makes a classic laser noise: "Pew! Pew!" The many chase sequences are very repetitive and strongly reminiscent of the "Orange Grove Chase" from the classic "Cobra" (1986).

Other dangers our heroes have to face include something called a "Zander Cloud" which is a poisonous cloud. It would make more sense if it was a "Zzand Cloud". Similarly, there are some hot lights which are a silly menace that pads out the running time. Not to mention if they are so hot, why don't they melt all the snow around the area? They take a million breaks on the way to Neon City and they could have gotten there a lot faster. The importance to getting to Neon City is negated with all the breaks. One of the important breaks involves healing water that Harry and Reno take. It doesn't make much sense.

After all those breaks, they finally get to Neon City which is just a "Neon Room" (No city is actually seen) They are welcomed into the room by none other than "The Office's" Creed Bratton (Who was also a grip on the film). Already overlong at this point, after multiple endings Stark confronts his commanding officer (who is also evil) and is named "Jenkins".

There are some twists as far as relationships are concerned: Will Stark and Reno stay enemies or become an item? Will that annoying comic get his comeuppance for selling poison to cave-dwelling burn victims? And will Bulk get his wife's ring back from the "Skins"? and is Wing (once again played by Arsenio "Sonny" Trinidad) who he seems to be? All will be answered if you watch the entire thing.

"Neon City" closely resembles the recent box office smash "The Book Of Eli", obviously the Hughes Brothers closely studied this flick. Honestly, the movie is a "Mad Max" knockoff and scenes from it are ripped off wholesale.

Make sure to watch "Neon City" in the future! Interesting side note: Fan favorite Chuck Zito did some stunt work on the film.

Comeuppance Review by Ty & Brett For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

When I hear, or think of actor Michael Ironside. I'm so use to him in a genre film of this ilk playing the hissable bad guy/henchman, in one shape or another, so it was a nice change of pace to see him at the opposite end of the spectrum. His gruff, tough as nails anti-hero performance, ex-ranger turned bounty hunter, makes it worthwhile, as the straight-to-video "NEON CITY" is virtually unspectacular, yet a durable and smoky post apocalyptic low-budget action fare.

The story had its running themes, but for most part it keeps it simple and traditional in structure, like a western (that sees a small group of people travelling by vehicle through the harsh wasteland of erratic weather extremes and ravaging ozone affected nomads to reach their destination; "Neon City"), and something of a "MAD MAX" imitation.

Maybe it plods a bit after the hour mark; the humor can be dopey (a comic relief character that's virtually a standup comedian who does illegal business on the side) and the journey a little too low-scale at times, especially on the action front. But what we do get provides the rough and tumble, when it counts, even moments of slow-mo (showering), solar/sandstorms, cue in that synth, gushing blood and a little laser activity. All of this leading to a random, but amusingly over-the-top standoff, where Ironside doesn't want to disappoint. Also alongside him is Vanity as his feisty prisoner.

While I won't pick out the articulate details of the movie, or take an active defense as to why I thought this movie is good, I will say I really liked this movie. This has to be one of the better sci-fi movies I've seen.

Imagine it, you traveling across the continent to a safe-haven - the ONLY one left on Earth. Your transportation; a shoddy-looking bus with others, crammed like sardines. Your obstacles; everything. From crazed bandits to violent solar storms, this leaves you imagining yourself in place of one of the characters on that bus. Quite a thrill, isn't it?

Food is heavily rationed, medical aid is meager, and death is engulfing. Great, great setup for a storyline (which could have been better in several ways, although I'm fine with it as-is).

The plot: A bounty hunter joins a group of travelers seeking sanctuary at Neon City, a city deep in the dangerous, post-apocalyptic wastelands.

Neon City is obviously a big rip-off of Mad Max, but it also takes equal influence from old Westerns. Despite that, I still love this movie. Maybe it's the fact that Michael Ironside stars as a good guy, a rare role for this badass actor. Maybe it's because it rips off some amazingly awesome movies, and it reminds me of them constantly. Maybe it's because it was part of my college years, and I just couldn't get enough of these cheesy, late 80s/early 90s post-apocalyptic Mad Max ripoffs. Maybe it was because this is actually a pretty decent movie underneath the layers of "homage". I've always thought that this forgotten B movie could have been a cult classic if only it had gotten a little bit more attention.

If you're expecting a big budget, amazing sets, famous A-list actors, mind-blowing special effects, and an original plot, then, yeah, you'll be very disappointed. However, if you're a fan of B movies, then you'll probably have no problem overlooking the faults.

I'm pretty apathetic towards this film and don't like or dislike it. It has good cinematography and decent direction. It's just that the script is...eccentric. And the times when it tries for comedy are very tedious. The action scenes are boring, and...well, this is an example of a flick that is average in every sense of the word. Ironside is excellent.

Neon City (1991) is a movie I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a not too distant future where the sun has scorched the Earth leaving small pockets of inhabitable land. A group of survivors try to make their way across a Baron waste land to a metropolis known as Neon City where they hope to start a new life. This movie is directed by Monte Markham (We Are Still Here) and stars Michael Ironside (Total Recall), Vanity (The Last Dragon), Lyle Alzado (Destroyer) and Valerie Wildman (Salvador). The storyline, look, feel, props and weapons all have a super strong Mad Max feel to it. The vehicles scenes as well as the shootouts were awesome...the hand-to-hand combat scenes, not so much. Ironside is awesome as the main character and I love his demeanor and constant sternness. The final action scene and shootout across the snow wasteland is awesome and has a classic 80s/90s action feel to it. Overall this is far from perfect but entertaining if you enjoyed Mad Max. I'd score this a solid 7/10.

It was the cast which includes Ironside and Vanity in what is advertised as a post apocalyptic actioner. And despite how boring it was I stuck it out.

On paper this should have been a low budget but fun action movie, there are numerous 90's post apocalypse movies which are a blast. But the mood of the whole film is too sombre to be fun. Too much is made of the eco disaster aspect and not enough violence and excitement.

Its just far too serious for what the film makers could actually deliver in terms of action and entertainment. Because the action in Mad Max was outstanding which fitted well with the serious tone. In this the opposite is the case. And that isnt the actors fault because many of these actors has proven themselves elsewhere.

For an action movie there is very little, there is maybe 2 road chases and a couple of explosions. As far as the characters go I was actually rooting for a few of them to be killed they were so annoying. Some major players die off camera which is pointless, especially when they matter to the story.

Its not surprising this isn't remembered fondly from the 90's, this is one of those movies that draws you in from the VHS cover and cast. But you end up resenting the cash you paid for the rental.

Okay, I for one liked this movie. Now granted, it doesn't compare to the special effects that are around today, but overall, I enjoyed it! It had an interesting plot, lots of action, nice character development, and an excellent performance by Michael Ironside. This movie held my interest all the way through until the last scene. It is categorized as science-fiction; however, there was very little scientific lingo, so it is easy enough for anyone to follow. I especially enjoyed how the characters began as strangers in the movie, and slowly melded together into a sort a renegade troupe, determined to stay alive. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who can get there hands on it!

Calling this a Mad Max clone is like calling diarrhea pudding. Other than Michael Ironside, who delivers his lines like he's waiting for his check to cash, this movie is terrible in every way. Pedestrian directing by Monte Markham, mostly terrible acting and script. "Action" scenes that can barely be justified to be described as such. This makes some of the Italian Mad Max rip-offs like "Rats: Night of Terror" and "Exterminators of the Year 3000", look like award winners. Really just bad in every way. Barely watchable and, after its been seen once, never worth seeing a second time ever again!!!

As previously stated, this flick doesn't stand out for good or for ill, it has a few shining moments, but for the most part it seems to be one long star trek reject script about how screwing around with the atmosphere (particularly ozone) will have dire consequences. Possibly considered a potential star vehicle for "Vanity" (remember her?). Has some of the strangest dialogue I've ever heard: "I was in private school in Sweden. We lived underground in caves. They eat chocolate & they're bloated & they never see sunlight & they're pasty pale..."

I can't imagine this *EVER* went to theatres; it must have been direct to video; it's too sickly even for made for cable!

The first 20 minutes were unimpressive and I thought about bailing on it, but the reviews here were positive so I decided to hang in there and I'm happy that I did.

This turned out to be a really well done post-apocalyptic action flick with well-realized characters, strong performances from an ensemble that has believable chemistry, a tight script, and good special effects. The ending is a bit meh, primarily because the script chose not to keep a certain character's proclivities a secret--ambiguity would have been a better choice, I think.

You could compare this movie to MANY others--MAD MAX chief among them--but few do it this well. If you're in the mood for serious action/western set after the world ends, check out NEON CITY.

The setting is a Mad Max style post-apocalyptic disaster land where dogs are a food staple. The lawless Outland, basically everywhere that is not an indoor fortress, is overrun by outlaws called Skins who ride low-end motorbikes and kill everybody for no reason. The viewer is not informed as to where they get fuel, a key story point in Mad Max 2. The story begins at a Bartertown-clone outpost, where bounty hunter Harry Stark (Michael Ironside in the sort of role he was born to play) has to transport wanted fugitive Vanity to Neon City for trial. The trip will be made in an armored truck, and the passenger list includes a socialite (pre-Buffy Juliet Landau), a not very talented entertainer (WKRP's Richard Sanders), and Stark's ex-wife in a not at all contrived coincidence. Driving the truck is former NFL star Lyle Alzado as a character unimaginatively named Bulk. There are a a few other passengers who may not be exactly what they claim, adding intrigue to the journey out into a hostile and unforgiving land. If this sounds like a setup for some kind of b-grade Stagecoach knock-off, well it is. On the plus side, the script is surprisingly good, with tight dialogue and sharply-drawn character business. This is unexpected in a low budget Max clone, most of which sound as if they were written by teenaged comic book nerds trying to sound tough, or (worse) by Italians who have never been to North America and have no idea how we talk. Yes, Antonio Margheriti, I am looking at you. The performances in Neon City are also surprisingly good, even from Vanity and Lyle. The drama plays out in logical and watchable fashion, uncommon in movies of this type where character interest is just filler between the action set pieces. The good cast and script unfortunately cannot overcome the film's other shortfalls. The chase scenes are poorly staged and not very interesting to watch, a fact which demonstrates a lack of understanding of action movie priorities. Action fans will overlook bad acting and clunky dialogue in the service of an adrenaline fueled stunt extravaganza, but not the other way around. Additionally, the environmental threats along the way, particle storms and hot spots, could also have been better staged and are hurt by the film's low budget. Damnation Alley this is not, despite superficial similarities. There is a decent shootout at an outpost along the journey, but not much else of interest to action hounds. Overall, Neon City is not a complete waste of time thanks to its cast and script, but has little to recommend itself as an actioner. It was directed by a TV actor and plays like a TV movie with some action movie business shoehorned in. There are much worse entries in this sub-genre to be fair. The JCVD vehicle Cyborg, for example, was certainly a waste of its admission price. But if you like Beyond Thunderdome, watch that, and if you like Stagecoach watch that. Do not settle for weak imitations.

This movie is pretty good its still watchable. It puts you in a different world and at the expense of very little. The budget may be small but the actors aren't bad except for that bad doctor he annoys me.

Michael Ironside shows a good performance as always. there is a sly Stallone kind of guy who is pretty cool a nice looking girl named vanity and a mystery Asian guy who is cool

The special effects aren't bad and there is enough gruesome violence to keep you posted. The annoyance to people may be the lighting but thats about it.

Just watch it and make your own judgment but I promise you wont be disappointed if you try not to compare this to mad max.

all in all if you like b scifi post apocalyptic movies I'm sure you'll enjoy this one.

P.S. its better than postman

Before seeing this I wrongly assumed that it would have been a bad copy of MAD MAX considering the poster but to my surprise it was very different from that and I ended up liking it for what it was.

The story is set in 2053 North America in the State of the western federation where the few survivors of an enviromental upheaval live in some diasporas across the desolated lands, and solar rays make impossible any improvement in the environment. Bounty hunter Harry Stark (Michael Ironside) saves Reno (Vanity) from death by mutant outlaws and has to take her to Neon city, a dangerous place since the environment condition are awful. Stark and Reno go in a tank-like vehicle where they will be joined by various bizarre characters and will survive an attack by a cannibal mutant tribe named Skins. In the end Reno will fall in love with Stark and they'll go together in the search of a better place for a future together.

The main reason for watch this is Michael Ironside's acting. Yes, he has many movies with low scores including this one but he often proves to be better than the movies themselves. Here especially shines just like in CHAINDANCE playing a character both gruff and yet likeable. As for the rest, yes it's still a post-apocalyptic adventure but still very entertaining especially in the assault by the Skin tribe.

Overall, if you are into post-apocalyptic movies then this one is for you tho you must be forewarned that is not exactly like MAD MAX.

BTW Vanity's character is named Reno and Ironside plays a former lawman now turned bounty hunter. Believe it or not this movie was made a year before they made the TV show RENEGADE with Lorenzo Lamas playing a former cop turned bounty hunter named Reno. Perhaps the writer Stephen J. Cannell saw NEON CITY and this movie inspired him for the concept and names of the characters, who knows?