Michael_Elliott Deathsport (1978) * 1/2 (out of 4)Many people, magazines and books have called this a follow-up to DEATH RACE 2000 but I really don't see it as such. Yes, this film takes place in the future, has David Carradine and deals with a violent sport but I personally saw no connection to the previous film and not to mention Carradine is playing a different character. Set a thousand years in the future, an evil lord (David McLean) has eliminated the death penalty and instead inmates must earn their freedom by taking part in the "deathsport," which is a violent game on dirt bikes. A man (Carradine) and woman (Claudia Jennings) are selected to take part in the game and of course they're better than anyone who has played before. DEATHSPORT easily is no where near the quality of the original film (hey, I'm a fan) but at the same time it is so bad that I think bad movie fans might be able to have a good laugh at it. Whatever the budget was the majority of the money had to go towards the stunts in the film but more on that in a sec. Outside of the stunts everything in this film looks about as cheap as cheap can get and this includes the silly, futuristic dirt bikes, the silly looking swords and the countless bad costumes that are worn by everyone. Even worse is that the story itself really makes very little sense and in fact not too much happens throughout the running time. Those wanting gore will be disappointed because the majority of the kills are down with some sort of ray guns (obviously ripping the laser stuff from STAR WARS) that just make the people vanish into thin air. Both Carradine and Jennings are good sport about their roles but neither one exactly shines. Former Playmate Jennings has all sorts of nude scenes here so fans should at least enjoy this. Just wait until you check out the electrocution room and how it makes her jiggle for you. The stunt work here is actually rather incredible as there are all sorts of dangerous things being done. The highlight deals with an explosion where a man gets set on fire and he's in the middle of this amazing fire. I'm not sure how they did this stunt the way they did but it was very impressive to watch. Still, DEATHSPORT is pure cheapness from start to finish and only fans of the bad need to view.

Coventry "Deathsport" is one of those films that have been lying on my DVD-shelf unwatched since years already because, quite frankly, it always looked like a really stupid movie and I have to be in a rare and specific mood to enjoy really stupid movies. But right now I was in urgent need of a movie starring David Carradine and this was the only one within reach. Come to think of it, I ought to have selected a much better movie for my tribute to this terrific cult/action cinema legend that sadly passed away this week (3rd of June 2009). "Deathsport" is a prototypic Roger Corman product from the late 70's. Obviously cheap and rapidly put together in order to further cash in on the unexpected but giant success of the previous "Death Race 2000"; also starring Carradine and also set in a crazed futuristic setting. But apart from this handful of superficial elements (also including the similar title), there's actually no real connection between "Death Race" and "Deathsport". This is merely an attempt to imitate "Star Wars", with a lot of cheesy light-and-laser weaponry, and an unintentional predecessor to post-apocalyptic gladiator movies that became particularly popular during the 80's. In a very distant future, practically the entire world has been destroyed due to nuclear warfare. Only a few big cities are left, surrounded by endless wastelands where cannibalistic mutants are continuously on the prowl. Life inside the big city isn't that much better, though, as Lord Zirpola is slowly going bonkers through brain disease and becomes increasingly obsessed with "Deathsport". This is a Roman-type of arena battle and Zirpola ordered his right hand – the malignant Ankar Moor – to capture the mystically empowered Range Guides Kaz Oshay and Deneer to fight till the death. The Guides are good hearted nomads, however, and rather than to obey and fight, they flee into the wastelands. Okay, admittedly this sounds like a rather complex and ambitious plot, but I can assure you that "Deathsport" is actually a pretty brainless and rudimentary Sci-Fi vehicle. Everybody always complains about the low quality level of early 80's Italian apocalypse movies, but honestly flicks like "The New Gladiators", "The Atlantis Interceptors", "Endgame" and "The New Barbarians" are a whole lot better than this dud. "Deathsport" is boring and repetitive, with really laughable special effects (the vaporizing weapon looks like a vacuum cleaner) and pitiable scenery (the so-called Death Machines are ordinary bikes with a metal plant on the front). The only highlights in the film occur whenever Richard Lynch appears on screen, as he gives away a deliciously over-the-top cheesy performance as the evil and crazy-eyed Ankar Moor. Well okay, other highlights include Claudia Jennings' multiple nude sequences and the scene where a dude drives off of a tremendously high cliff in slow-motion. David Carradine is sadly mundane and uninspired in this lame production and this definitely isn't one of the movies he'll get remembered for. I can list at least two dozen of movies that I rather watched instead. Rest in peace, grasshopper. You were the total definition of cool and handsome.

MARIO GAUCI I distinctly recall this being on Italian TV when I was still a kid and, as far as I can tell, I watched it along with another violent David Carradine sport flick CANNONBALL (1976); however, at this juncture, I couldn't remember any of the details relating to its plot (if so it can be called)! The film is confused (a mix of DEATH RACE 2000 and ROLLERBALL {both 1975}) and dreary post-apocalyptic junk passing off as thrilling entertainment: apparently, the world has been reduced to two warring factions – gladiator-type 'runners' (complete with anachronistic skimpy costumes), among them Carradine, son of a legendary female leader, and vicious motorcyclists determined to eliminate the former, including Richard Lynch (who had already killed Carradine's mother); ruling the planet, then, is an old man slowly succumbing to brain damage! Of course, a tough woman (Claudia Jennings) is bound to figure in all of this – even so, her most notable contributions are a couple of totally gratuitous nude torture sequences! The repetitive action, hampered by the obvious low-budget, isn't exactly exciting and certainly not credible (definitely seeming silly in the age of STAR WARS [1977]); predictably, it all ends with a duel-to-the-death between Carradine and Lynch – no guess as to who emerges victorious either! I guess the film is a harmless way to kill 80 minutes, but there's nothing remotely remarkable about it – which is why it's so forgettable in the first place!

tenmd There was no discernible story. They noise (I suppose it was a soundtrack) was horrific. Half the film was motorcycles driving about without any discernible direction. The acting was awful. Seriously folks, how could any one rate this above a 1, let alone a10!!!