Battletruck

source: Battletruck

Moviecut—Battletruck

Looking for a low-budget diversion packed with plenty of action, some beautiful scenery, and a pretty cool truck, then look no further than this New Zealand film from the early 80s. Though the budget is tiny, and the story seems derivative, there is enough here to hold your interest if you are into post-apocalyptic Mad Max type of stuff. The early 80s produced many, many low-budget films of this type, but nobody else, not even the Gibson franchise had THE BATTLETRUCK! The plot is familiar enough. We have a "not-so-distant" future where society has basically collapsed. A ham radio broadcast during the opening frames basically sets the table. Cities have collapsed, oil is increasingly scarce, and many people have migrated to the countryside to escape the urban chaos. However, there is no viable law enforcement outside of the cities, and its survival of the fittest. Some have adapted to commune style, ag-based living. Some, like our hero Mr. Hunter have found a way to live independently, using methane-based technology to remain mobile and self-sufficient. And then you have our villain... Mr. Straker. He is some would be military-style tyrannical dictator whose army of twenty or more pillage the countryside. It is they who drive the battletruck, and nobody can dare stand up to it with its weapons and technology. Its a shame this truck belongs to the bad guys, since that only ensures its later demise in a scene very reminiscent to the conclusion of Spielberg's Duel. The acting isn't bad at all. Michael Beck as the anti-hero Hunter plays his character with the kind of stoic toughness and resourcefulness he showed in The Warriors. He does well here. James Wainwright, as the villain steals the show, however. Maybe only the battletruck itself is more memorable. He plays the role with a sadistic overconfidence. An aloofness complete with a twinkle in his eye reminiscent of the late David Carradine. He had the chops to have done more than he did. Anne Mcenroe is better here than she was in The Howling II, but that isn't saying much. She does OK as the damsel in distress. And how about John Ratzenberger? Mostly known for his role on Cheers, think of his film career for a moment. Between 1980 and 1983 he appeared in the following films: Empire Strikes Back, Motel Hell, Reds, Battletruck, Outland, Firefox and Gandhi!! Wow! Who was his agent back then? Did he turn anything down?? Also starring here is the beautiful New Zealand countryside. This area they filmed in kinda looks like Utah in the wintertime. Rugged and pristine. The film is well-paced, and not really preachy in terms of environmentalism, but the message is clear. The human race's dependence on fossil fuels has always led to conflict, and could one day cause a societal collapse. Maybe. Hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime! I don't want the battletruck coming after me! 7 of 10 stars. The Hound.

In the wake of the innumerable "Mad Max II" ripoffs in the early 80s, this one--in spite of its unoriginal plot--packs sensational camerawork and stunts and vivid New Zealand locations. Well cast and features a soundtrack fat with Juno synth stingers and prog rock outbursts of guitar solo'ing. The finale is a beautiful capture of vehicular destruction. No Italian dubbing. No headbands. No stupid laser sound effects, either. Easily the best of all the imitators, this compared to trash like "Exterminators of the Year 3000."

It's possible for a sci fi futuristic pic like this, to misfire and be dull. That was the price of disappointment I got, watching this back in 84. When viewing it again, later in 95, only cause someone I knew, was an extra in it (my acting teacher at the time) it didn't impress upon me much more. It really has long spells of dullness. In no way, is it the actor's faults. They're all good, Wainwright, leaving his mark as the head villain of the show. I didn't know why he didn't go on to do more stuff, where there's a few who disappeared off the radar actors here. Wainwright and his posse of men roam around the mountains of beautiful New Zealand, in this monstrous tank truck, the battle truck, that occupies the front cover of the Roadshow titled movie, after no 1 commodity which is oil, shooting or killing anyone who gets in their way. Going up against him on his methane motorbike is Xanudu's Michael Beck, a likable hero. Standing between them is Annie McEnroe, who was Wainwright's ex once. She forms a relationship with Beck, where later she's kidnapped, and it's Beck to the rescue. Battletruck was just somewhat disappointing, who's American director, Harley Cokliss mad other films I liked. The actors have their moments and make some parts watchable, where they're are a couple of dead spots. Cheer's barfly, Ratzenberger was particularly good as Beck's friend who hides him out for a bit. For most part this full is on a par with dullness, the truck's fate into the path of dreck, the shining ray moment of this pic. Don't say I didn't warn ya.

I first saw this movie on TV in the late eighties. I always remembered the battle truck and hunter's rather futuristic motorbike. Having just watched it through you tube I still love it. The plot is typical post apocalyptic ww3 stuff but still OK and the characters are well done even the girl is a bit annoying at times. For what is obviously a low budget movie the stunts are very well done in the vein of mad max 2. It is pretty cool to see them construct a a vehicle for hunter from parts scattered around which ends up looking like a massive Volkswagen beetle! The ending reminds me of Shane, hunter could stay with them but still leaves to go off exploring I guess. I wish you could get it on DVD but sadly I don't think this will ever happen.

Now i remember seeing this film on late night television for the first time when i was around ten years old. I remember loving it then, mainly for the action and thinking the main character of Hunter was cool (he rode a kick-a** motorcycle). As i grew older i always remembered this movie and tried tracking a copy down to no avail. I always. Remembered the sweet title ; "warlords of the 21st century. Well to my surprise and great delight i found this title under a different title of "Battletruck". I had to pick it up! Now i've read plenty of reviews who put this movie down. I honestly don't know what else they would want or expect from a low budget action/sci-fi film. I've seen multi million dollar Hollywood films that were not as entertaining as this film. Its a highly entertaining good versus evil film, and it was just as magical and great as i remembered from my childhood. This is simply one mans opinion, I'm a huge nerd for independent films. All i can say is that if you too like me are a sap for low budget independent cinema you cannot go wrong with "Warlords of the 21st Century (aka Battletruck)". Check it out, hope you enjoy!

Reading the comments about this movie, for one, their not trying to sound like Americans, they are speaking New Zealand, thats the way we sound except for the odd over acted lines. i remember this being made and even seeing the land rover series one come to our school.knew the truck driver who drove the Mack, and even where most of the scenes where filmed. Alexandra right in the heart of central Otago. one scene where he is being chased though pines trees is 30 seconds out of Alexandra, heading north from Alex to Cromwell looked left and there you have it!! Back in the 80's this was great but now in the 2000 looks abit cheap. the original tidal was Battletruck but I see they changed to it warlords, Battletruck is better. Just finished watching again, been 24 years since i last seen it... brings back memory's!! But man as kids did we have fun with our toys after watching this!! Same with the movie Convoy....cool!

I watched this film mostly just because I am a fan of Michael Beck and his films. This film I think he did pretty well in. His character seems a bit dark and knows what he's doing kind of guy. So the story is pretty simple. It's about a futuristic war in the 21st century is looking for a new age in technology. That's about how the film is. I am not so interested in the film, but like I said, i'm a Michael Beck fan. His character's name is Hunter and tries to stop the terrorists. It isn't bad for it's time, but now it's not so great. I give it 5/10 stars. Also, I would have gave an R rating for this film. I mean it has swearing in certain parts of the film, and there are lots of killings in this. I mean a PG rating? It's not really that nice in the film. Just saying.

Another post-apocalyptic sci-fi, recently released on a DVD alongside Deathsport. Likewise, this one is very lowly rated (4.1 at the moment). I can understand that about Deathsport, but I think Battletruck (aka Warlords of the 21st Century) is downright good. I think the problem is that it's very similar to George Miller's The Road Warrior. Some IMDb reviewers even refer to it as a rip-off, but it was being made before The Road Warrior was ever even released, and, at least in most places, it was released almost at the exact same time (in the U.S. both were released in April of 1982). Compared to The Road Warrior, okay, Battletruck isn't nearly as good. But I won't hold that against it. The Road Warrior is all kinds of awesome. Battletruck is merely good, with a less ambitious story, though still probably too ambitious to completely succeed with the small budget it had. But still, it's pretty good. Michael Beck of The Warriors stars (though he doesn't appear for a good while into the film, which is a cool touch) as a lone wolf in this post-apocalyptic wasteland. He rescues Annie McEnroe (a character actress whom you might recognize from Beetlejuice and many other films), who has escaped her villain father (James Wainwright), but is left stranded in the middle of nowhere. Wainwright drives around in the titular truck raiding whatever settlements he can find and stealing all the oil and gasoline he can find. Beck takes McEnroe to a democratic settlement called Clearwater (among whose citizens is John Ratzenberger, who probably has more lines in this movie than any other before he started working with Pixar). They aren't all too trusting of Beck, who does some business with Clearwater but lives out on his own somewhere, and some of the citizens fear McEnroe's presence. That proves insightful when Wainwright comes along looking for her (and fuel). The action sequences in the film are well done, and the scenery is nice (it was filmed in New Zealand). Too bad it was shot in Academy ratio (or perhaps only still exists in that format).