Logan's Run [DVD]

I once saw this movie, right? And in this movie, The State had become a Youth-Oriented Death Cult. The citizens had been brainwashed to believe whatever they had been told. The State manipulated language by inventing new terms to push its agenda and by forbidding thought outside of The State's narrative. The State was a hedonistic and socialistic world in which very few had to work to ensure survival. However, the apparant freedom within The State was illusory as the people were told what to believe and do, and were in fact, deprived of both liberty and life by The State. The State enforced its regime through propaganda and the use of unwarranted violence. Youth was so exalted that wisdom had died inside The State long ago. The State's policy, intentionally, though not expressly, caused the citizens to move from lover to lover rather than develop lasting relationships as a family. The only reason for the police was the infliction of unwarranted violence upon those who did not honor the narrative of The State. The people were so brainwashed that when someone tried to tell them the truth about the evils of The State, they ignored or mocked the truth because of their preference for remaining brainwashed.The name of that movie was *The Nightly News* of 2008-2018.Oh sorry, I got confused. Actually the name of the movie was *Logan's Run* of 1976.

The charm of this movie resides in the actors performances and the limited technology of the 1970's that forces the viewer to rely on imagination to aid the story. In our present time with our ever-changing technological advances it's getting more difficult to spot some of the differences between what's real and what's CGI . Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the movie industry's technology of our present time but there's nothing like the PRE-CGI days of film. The sets and background shots on Logan's run weren't exactly realistic but they did provide viewers with enough material for their imaginations to fill in the blanks. For instance, the original Star Trek series of the 1960's had some of the cheesiest sets and props of that era and was blasted by a few critics and cancelled after just 3 seasons. Yet today it's considered a pioneer of science fiction television and films and many of the prop gadgets used on that series were used in later years as templates for some of our modern day gadgets. So whether you're a sci-fi fan or not, Logan's Run is a must-have. I definitely recommend this movie.

Not a lot of movies these days trust in the intelligence of its audience. Logan's Run takes that leap: it doesn't overexplain the mechanics of its world. It drops you into the thick of things, and through the eyes of a Sandman, lets you discover along with him the truth and fiction of a world made entirely of young people.The film presents its sci-fi effects gleefully like a proud child. Some are dazzling like the "Carrousel" scene, with the multicolor audience and Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics. Some...haven't aged as well, but maintain a level of charming cheese as you watch what is definitely a toy monorail model buzz through its mini scenery.The characters are also good...enough. Logan 6's motivations do seem odd and hard to completely follow (his genuine conversion to sympathize with runners occurs under our noses), and Jessica's curiosity and conspicuous independence from the beginning seem to dissipate until she's basically just Logan's female companion. But Michael York and Jessica Agutter are fine actors and sell the adventure anyway. (Farah Fawcett on the other hand...what was that about? Who decided to make her character a monosyllabic airhead caught in the headlights?)This movie, in short, is a genuine spectacle. It's a wave of sensations and sharps colors that wash all over you. Not all of it makes sense, but that's OK. By the end, you feel kinda like old Peter Utsinov being pawed at by wide-eyed 20-somethings -- just roll with it and see what happens next.

The book is better than the film, and the book ain't exactly great to begin with - but more interesting and less of a danger to your suspension of disbelief.For what it is, the film starts out well enough - setting up the Brave New World in all of its decadent-but-bland 70s glory, the filmmakers insert the social questioning, the official Sanctuary investigation, and the premise of an underground railroad of Runners. Pretty much everything is in place for shocking revelations and a dramatic escape attempt... which happens way too early and too quickly. Suspense and complexity are barely even allowed to build up before Logan and Jessica are out of The City, and mostly out of plot.From then on, it's all a bit limp and meandering. Imagine Planet of the Apes consisting mostly of the stuff that happened after he left the apes. The central idea of Francis stalking the Runners through the post-apocalyptic countryside is not a bad one; there are countless possibilities to show familiar locations transformed by war and time, and to invent inhabitants and dangers to populate these places. The TV show (did you know?) was a perfect medium to feature a new twist each episode - alas, it was as poorly executed as the film, and disappeared almost before its first season was over.From the time Logan makes his barely comprehensible decision to return to The City, the film is beyond saving. The climax itself seems only necessary to provide a pyrotechnic payoff to the time you've invested in the movie. Somehow Logan destroys the entire City and society by telling the computer something it didn't want to hear, and everybody is pretty upset until five seconds later when they see Peter Ustinov hanging out by his campfire. Roll credits. What?If it was just a little more kitschy, Logan's Run could be a fun cult sci-fi classic along the same lines as Flash Gordon or the wonderfully terrible Buck Rogers TV show. If it were just a little more coherent about its social criticism, it might be a valid work of speculative critique. The central theme - undoubtedly born from someone a bit suspicious of the Summer of Love - is one that should invite uncomfortable questions about a society that encourages and even mandates youth, ease and superficial pleasure as the ideal. It's both a mixed blessing and missed opportunity that the film doesn't spend much time with retrospective sermons about the perils of global war or overpopulation or social conflicts or ANYTHING like that. The closest the film gets to making a point is with the totally Brave New World observation that maybe people getting married and having children is better than soulless hedonism and child-rearing by the state. Maybe having the option to get old is better than being coerced into dying young. Wow, some edgy insights there.It's not the worst film you could watch. It's not even the worst 70's sci-fi film you could watch. If you go into it not expecting more than a channel-surfing late night/ rainy Sunday type movie, you won't be disappointed (well, the ending will probably disappoint you no matter how low your expectations are). It's fun to see the future imagined in the 70s, although it could have done with more kitsch flavor and a wackier synth soundtrack.

Despite being erroneously listed as Region A, this Blu-ray is Region Free and will play on any Blu-ray player, including UK units. The film is, of course, great if you love Sci-Fi from that period.

On of the best science fiction movies to 70's.Good quality on bluray.Interressant bonus material.

At the time I remember this as an interesting sci-fi movie but having looked at it again I don't think its stood the test of time. It isn't helped by the transfer quality which is very poor and no attempt has been made to clean up the audio or video. Its OK, but its not in the league of the classics such as Soylent Green of a similar period.

DVD did not work in Region 2. Donated to charity shop.

Surely this film proves that life at 30 doesn't have to end. At 37 years old it stands the test of time with memorable characters and a rather vivid view of a 'Paranoia-esque' society. Those familiar with the old rpg 'Paranoia' will understand and if you liked that, and haven't seen Logan's Run then surely you should remedy this as soon as possible. Recommended.