★ 6 / 10
This sci-fi/war film is a perfect example of
tmdb76622195
This sci-fi/war film is a perfect example of the word "average." This is average in every way. Tim Thomerson is the Sarge in charge of a squad during WWII in…
This sci-fi/war film is a perfect example of the word "average." This is average in every way.
Tim Thomerson is the Sarge in charge of a squad during WWII in Europe. His men are ambushed and only three others survive: Timothy Van Patten, Art LaFleur, and Biff Manard. Van Patten is an aw-shuckser who reads pulp sci-fi comics. LaFleur is the tough corporal, and Manard is the combat reporter. The group knows they are behind enemy lines, but they do not know where because all of their compasses are out of whack, due to some strange happenings in the nearby forest. LaFleur and Manard are captured by the Nazis and discover an alien as their fellow prisoner. At the same time, Thomerson and Van Patten stumble upon a crashed space ship. Thomerson destroys the craft, they rescue their comrades, and the five now try to get the alien home. A group of aliens lands to get their own back, but refuse to help our soldiers, who are being chased by the Germans.
The film is less than an hour and a half, but it still feels padded by about twenty minutes. The alien they find looks nothing like its rescuers, which made me think they were going to drag in a subplot about warring alien sides as well...no such luck. The four leads are immensely likable, and you find yourself cheering for them. The film makers take themselves a little too seriously, but make up for it with the cast and very good filming locations.
A special mention about the special effects: they suck. The creature effects are awful, as are anything involving the aliens' weapons, which deteriorate down to weak glowing animation. The only impressive effect comes from the set department, who build a huge crashed space ship that looks big and is totally convincing. Also, listen for Richard Band's musical score, which sounds suspiciously like a few bars from the themes in "Star Wars."
"Zone Troopers" is a harmless, goofy film that has a good cast and a good idea, but no way to make this really outstanding. Close, but no edible Lucky Strike cigarette (the alien eats tobacco for food), and I do not recommend this film.
Read full review
★ 6 / 10
Surprisingly good...
paul_haakonsen
When I sat down to watch the 1985 movie "Zone Troopers", I must admit that I was expecting nothing really, because the synopsis sounded really corny, and the…
When I sat down to watch the 1985 movie "Zone Troopers", I must admit that I was expecting nothing really, because the synopsis sounded really corny, and the movie's cover was very low budget. But I opted to sit down and watch what writers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo had to offer with this 1985 sci-fi action adventure, as I hadn't already seen it.
Needless to say that I had never even heard about this movie from director Danny Bilson as I stumbled upon it here in 2022. But I have to admit that director Danny Bilson delivered a surprisingly entertaining and enjoyable movie here. I was genuinely entertained by how this movie turned out.
The storyline was actually nicely written and entertaining, and it was enjoyable from beginning to end. Especially so as the story mingled classic World War II action with sci-fi in a good manner. And I will say that the World War II elements were really great, and it was such a pleasure to experience the German soldiers actually speak German, and not just English with a thickly added accent.
The acting performances in the movie were good, with the likes of Tim Thomerson, Timothy Van Patten and Art LaFleur on the cast list.
Visually then "Zone Troopers" was okay. The costume and props department did good jobs in bringing the American and German soldiers to life. And the alien creature design was actually also pretty good. Sure, the special effects were somewhat outdated, but it fit the movie well enough.
I can actually warmly recommend "Zone Troopers", because it is a good movie.
My rating of "Zone Troopers" lands on a six out of ten stars.
Read full review
★ 6 / 10
One of Band's better movies
mhorg2018
In WW2, a group of lost US Soldiers, led by the great Tim Thompson, finds a lost alien. A shapeshifter, the creature is also sought by the Nazis. A fun movie…
In WW2, a group of lost US Soldiers, led by the great Tim Thompson, finds a lost alien. A shapeshifter, the creature is also sought by the Nazis. A fun movie with a lot of goofs in it, it's still worth watching.
Read full review
47%
AUDIENCE
· 100 ratings
5.3/10
2.2K
•••
omg! Metal Slug back in 85 film!