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starring: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyddirected by: W.D. Richter
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780792848509
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
ISBN: 0792848500
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: February 06, 2001
Running Time: 103 minutes
Sales Rank: 20595
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: August 15, 1984
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension is one of the most agreeably insane movies ever made. Peter Weller stars as Buckaroo, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, particle physicist, and, of course, rock star. He travels with the Hong Kong Cavaliers, a band of hard-rocking scientists who are also really good dressers. Buckaroo's interdimensional experiments with his Operation Overthruster throw him (and the Earth) straight into the middle of an alien war, and before you know it, he's got just a few hours to save the world. Confused? Hang on, we're only 10 minutes into the movie. Buckaroo Banzai hurls you right into the middle of its comic-book universe and keeps going at a breakneck pace. It's chock-full of overlapping jokes (even as we're trying to make sense of Dr. Lizardo's hospital room, a voice calmly announces that 'lithium is no longer available on credit' over the PA system), hilarious throwaway dialogue ('You're like Jerry Lewis: you give me hope to carry on.'), and weirdness just for the sheer joy of it ('Why is there a watermelon there?' 'I'll tell you later.'). You'll want to watch it at least twice--there's just no way to catch everything the first time around. Ellen Barkin has a terrific time doing a dead-on film noir moll parody as Penny Priddy, and John Lithgow turns in a brilliant manic performance as Dr. Lizardo/John Whorfin. There is no reason not to own this movie unless you are cold and dead inside. Laugh while you can, Monkey Boys. --Ali Davis
Amazon.com:
Peter Weller plays that Renaissance Man, Buckaroo Banzai, a neurosurgeon, car racer, rock singer, and alien chaser in this overdone sci-fi adventure from 1984. After crashing his nuclear-fueled race car and causing a disturbance in the eighth dimension, Banzai releases some extremely unappealing aliens into our atmosphere. First-time director W.D. Richter (Late for Dinner) pulls out all the stops, resulting in a manic dash that is often incoherent. The intent may have been to re-create old-time serials with a pulp-fiction bent, but the screenplay, full of macho dialogue and cool poses, tries too hard. We could have done with a less complicated story and more character development. Still, consider this flawed fun, because it may be silly, but it is also clever. Originally released as The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension. -- Rochelle O'Gorman
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Not so hip after all
Sadly this is a movie that has not stood the test of time. The jokes are dated, the performances are unconvincing, and what one seemed outrageous now seems tame. It's destined to be forgotten along with "Strange Invaders" and "Earth Girls Are Easy."
Rating:  - Wow
I was bored and thought I'd look for a good movie I haven't seen. Wow look at all the great reviews I'll give it a shot. The worse movie I've ever seen! Seriously it drove my friends out of the house during movie marathon night. Finished it just to say I did. Only thing good about it is giving it to the most hated person in the office during the company party. Yup I'll buy for those I don't like in hopes they also waste their life's watching it.
Rating:  - Perfect
The Princess Bride and Young Frankenstein perfect movies -- just like this one. If you've ever thought of yourself as a different sort of person, if people have thought you were wierd, this movie's for you. If you've never thought of yourself that way, this movie's still for you, because you'll laugh and change the way you look at things. Oh, for goodness sake, stop reading these reviews and just click on the darn movie!
Rating:  - Odd but interesting
This is definitely not something that will appeal to everyone. My opinion improved after repeated viewings.
Rating: - There's no there there...
I'm sorry but I have to go against the flow of positive reviews and say this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It has moments - isolated performances such as John Lithgow's speech to the other aliens - that are pretty funny, but as a film it is a completely disjointed mess. There are many scenes that don't seem to connect to anything. The editors could just have easily shuffled the scenes and put them together in random order since it doesn't make any difference (and maybe they did). ... Read More
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