DVD Sit back and enjoy WIDB-TV channel 8's late night movie Amazon Women on the Moon without any interruptions for adverts or infomercials. Well, OK, maybe just a few ....
Details
No, pervert, it's not one of *those* late-night sort of films. Instead, this is a wonderfully chaotic send-up of dreadful late-night television - the sort of programming you stumble across at 1:37am while aimlessly channel-hopping in search of something, anything, remotely watchable.
The feature is centred around a fictional TV station attempting to show a bargain-basement 1950s-style sci-fi epic called Amazon Women on the Moon. A group of all-American heroes - plus a monkey called "Lunie" - head off on the first manned mission to the moon. They discover it isn't made of cheese, has an Earth-like atmosphere, and is inhabited by a tribe of lovely ladies who have never seen a man before. Hmmm. kind of sounds like one of those films now, doesn't it?
Of course, late night television is never that simple. Be prepared to have your viewing interrupted by bizarre adverts, strange shorts and totally weird "special features". Highlights include the hilarious Mondo Condo, where a rich and affluent Arsenio Hall struggles with technology, food and the fixtures in his apartment; Son of the Invisible Man, where a completely bonkers scientist becomes convinced he has turned invisible; and Bullsh*t or Not, where (with no expense spared on the special effects) Henry Silva investigates whether the Loch Ness Monster was indeed Jack the Ripper. Oh, and yes - there's also a spoof sci-fi movie in there somewhere.
The best part is the unpredictability: just as you settle into the moon nonsense, it yanks you sideways into another sketch. Not every gag lands, but when it does, it really does - and it barrels along fast enough that the weaker moments don't have time to fester.
Picture & Sound
For the age of the film the picture is surprisingly bright and colourful with a good level of detail and a high bit-rate throughout. There is no sign of artefacting, outlining or pixelisation and there's surprisingly little grain (except where the spoof sections deliberately call for it). The picture quality is also far superior to the original release which suffered from large amounts of grain and dust scratches, so if you own the earlier disc it may well be worth your while upgrading. A well deserved pat on the back is due for the guys at Universal for the effort put into this back catalogue release.
The sound is nothing to get excited about and the uninspiring two channel mono soundtrack can be listened to without a surround system breaking sweat. It's a shame nothing more was done to remaster it, but then again films made in the 1950s wouldn't have had anything like stereo, let alone a fully blown Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack with room-shaking LFE effects.
Menu & Extras
Unlike the original barren release, Universal have managed to find some extras - after all, it wouldn't be much of a Collector's Edition without them. The menu is a static and silent affair but the extras are reasonable enough and do add value to the package.
There are a number of deleted scenes which, quite frankly, are rubbish and deserved to be deleted, plus some rather amusing outtakes and the usual theatrical trailer and other film recommendations. It's also rather interesting that the internet has been buzzing with claims that some of the "deleted" material has appeared in previous television broadcasts. Are they therefore really deleted scenes at all? There are also whispers that this DVD version is still missing scenes. Are we to expect a super-deluxe director's edition of the film sometime in the future?
Overall
If you liked Kentucky Fried Movie then you'll love Amazon Women on the Moon. You only have to read the cast list above to see the vast array of comedy celebrities - and Steve Guttenberg - to know you're onto a winner. Some people may dismiss this film as stupid or boring, but then again these same people probably don't like spoof films full stop. OK, so it's no Monty Python and some jokes do fall a little flat, but the majority of it is properly funny and it's even better after a few drinks.
Fortunately, the deleted scenes have remained as such. I nearly always complain that cut footage should be restored, but the collection on offer here isn't funny at all, so leaving it out was a rare moment of editorial sanity. A definite good move.
You may have a large DVD collection, but how many of those films have you watched more than once? I can guarantee that if this sort of madness hits your funny bone then Amazon Women on the Moon will get a spin more times than the majority titles on your shelves. It's daft, it's ridiculous, it's hilarious and it's just my humour. Just remember to watch through to the closing credits for one final spoof feature on the dangers of youth and "social diseases".
Special features
- Original Opening Scene
- Deleted Scene from Roast Your Loved One
- Deleted Love Scene from Amazon Women on the Moon
- Peter Pan Theatre Directed by Carl Gottlieb
- The Unknown Soldier Directed by Peter Horton
- Outtakes
- Theatrical Trailer
- Recommendations
