Scott LeBrun "Gone in 60 Seconds" mastermind H.B. "Toby" Halicki basically plays himself in this ass kicking tale guaranteed to please car enthusiasts and action movie junkies everywhere. Harlan Hollis is a junkman who's made good with a drive-in car chase classic and who is now set to attend a festival honouring film legend James Dean. However, the trip there proves to be an extremely eventful one as somebody has decided that it would be a very good idea to bump off Harlan. So he has to dodge assassins left, right, and centre while pretty much every vehicle in sight is destroyed in extravagant fashion. When Harlan is thought to be dead, he realizes it's good cover while he hightails it to L.A. to find out the brains behind the operation.Halicki delivers plenty of good, straightforward, unpretentious nonsense that's very easy to watch. The acting won't win any Oscars but it's just right for this sort of thing. Halicki is reasonably engaging in the lead, receiving fine support from Christopher Stone ("The Howling", "Cujo") as P.R. man Michael Fox, Susan Shaw as newswoman Susan Clark, who does some sleuthing of her own, Lang Jeffries ('Rescue 8') as Arthur, and Dan Grimaldi ("Don't Go in the House") as flustered news producer Larry Bergleman. Cameos include Freddy Cannon and the Belmonts, Lynda Day George ("Pieces") as a reporter, car customizer George Barris, and Hoyt Axton ("Gremlins") as both himself and a character in a film-within-the-film.The non-stop assortment of eye popping vehicular stunts is simply spectacular. "The Junkman" set a record for over 150 vehicles destroyed in one way or another. Best of all is the memorable gag of jumping a car *over* a plane. Halicki even works the use of the Goodyear Blimp into the proceedings!This is pulse-pounding visceral entertainment that really hits the spot.Seven out of 10.

Mr X I mean, you read the comments and reviews, and you'd expect this movie to be on the same level as Gone in 60 seconds. It's just not. Worst, one reviewer even says that this is way better than the Gone in 60 seconds remake with Cage. I can't understand why so many people would bash the remake. It doesn't do justice to the original OK, but it's a fun movie... you guys are just getting old and your time has passed and you can't accept it. That's just life. Don't take it out on Cage. Considering the garbage Cage has played in in his life, the remake accounts for one of his best. But back to this piece of junk. Hey listen. In no way do I want to show any lack of respect for Halicki. His death is sad, and Gone in 60 seconds will always stand as a masterpiece of the genre - and it's amazing this was shot and there are no special effects - and the guy died doing what he loved. Most of us will die in a retirement home mostly senile because we live so (too) long. For me Gone in 60secs is on par or better than stuff like Vanishing Point and such. Someone said Ronin, right on, great car chases there. Personally I think Diesel did something great with Fast 4 and especially 5, but it's really not the same era and there are so many special effects today and I don't want to further upset the old crowd.I mean, let's be sincere. OK, a few stunts here and there are fun but that's it. Of course you see Halicki's toy collection, cars but this movie is just plain bad. Luckily Halicki himself shines on the screen. He's just intense and good looking.The first part of the movie is so dull and long (the part when they try to kill him). OK the opening sequence is fun. Otherwise it's like some walk down memory lane with the references to James Dean etc. Maybe it means something to you guys. Well not to me. And yeah those small planes are fun. But it really shows that many of the sequences are played in fast motion to increase the speed. It's immensely tedious.The movie kicks in after, when Halicki tries to figure out who did it. It somehow kept my interest for some time. The yellow corvette ride is nice. But hey that's it. You could put any music there but nothing will save this movie. Which is why Halicki was working on a sequel to Gone in 60 seconds. So for me the "Junkman" stands as a slapstick piece for the hardcore fan. It's almost a self-portrait of some kind. Only in that way can it be understood. But don't say this is a good movie.May he rest in peace.

Woodyanders Stunt driver, filmmaker and shaggy-haired, Elvis chop-sideburned, ultra-macho "I do whatever I please" millionaire H.B. Halicki, the unfairly neglected genius who gave us the awesome 70's drive-in car chase humdinger "Gone in 60 Seconds," basically plays himself in this stupendously crazed vanity project. Halicki stars as Harlan Hollis, a filthy rich moneybags with three blockbuster pictures and a teeming amount of cash to his name. While en route to the James Dean festival to promote his latest movie a bunch of assassins attempt to punch Halicki's mortality ticket, which results in a truly amazing all-out frantic mondo destructo car chase punctuated with grueling slow motion, occasional freeze frames, wired, hyperactive, tirelessly mobile cinematography, a wild score which neatly combines loud-blasting rock'n'roll with kick-up-the-dirt lively country tunes, bright yellow explosions, generous dollops of lowbrow humor, punchy editing, a swift, unflagging pace, and a strange conclusion at the Hollywood Cineramadome.As with "Gone in 60 Seconds" both the plot and characters are tissue thin, with a noted emphasis instead on wall-to-wall vehicular carnage. Over 120 vehicles get spectacularly demolished: assorted vans, trucks, campers, souped-up hot rods, pick-ups, and more police cars than you can shake a nightstick at smash into each other, go off cliffs, veer all over the road, break in half, barrel down hills, create massive pile-ups, crash through houses, and generally make enough twisted scrap metal for a dozen junkyards. Add some nifty behind-the-scenes film-with-a-film footage, a snazzy cast which includes late, great folksy singer/songwriter Hoyt Axton, Christopher Stone as Hollis' brother-in-law, and Lynda Day George as a festival news reporter, a musical guest appearance by Freddy Cannon and the Belmonts, Eleanor the Mustang from "Gone in 60 Seconds," and a total dearth of needless high-falutin' pretense, and this baby's status as a surefire winner is completely in the bag, buddy.

coho22 I just picked up this little gem on DVD. If you are a fan of 1980's era car chase flicks then this a fun, cheesy ride. While not as gritty as the legendary GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS(a true classic of outlaw filmaking,) this one boasts slicker production values and the World's Record for most vehicles wrecked in a movie. Full of thrilling stunts, gratuitous car crashes, sexy eighties ladies and a prize winning pig. By the way, the DVD is great. Great picture and lots of bonus footage(A peak at H.B. Halecki's car and toy collection is a treat.) Have fun.