Moon Zero Two

source: Moon Zero Two

Trailer—Moon Zero Two

Moon Zero Two

I first encountered this one recently when I read a comic adaption of it in an old magazine called 'House of Hammer'. The reputation of this movie isn't good - it was the one and only outer space adventure Hammer studios ever attempted. It was clearly surfing the waves left by 2001 and was about a moon-base, a sapphire asteroid and bad guys who are after it - it was billed as the first western in space! Well, all I can say is I totally disagree with the naysayers as this bit of sci-fi hokum was right up my alley! Nice sets, miniature work and costuming throughout. A group of dancing girls from the future, a fight in moon-gravity conditions and Catherine Schell looking slinky throughout. The effects are pretty good for its time really and it looked to me like this was quite high budgeted for Hammer. Ignore the negativity I say!

I saw Moon Zero Two in a theater as a little kid in 1970. Time passes, but I always remembered bits and pieces of the story, especially, a bar fight, a moon rover and a shootout on the surface of the moon. After decades, the movie is finally available and proves to be much better than I thought. James Olson, not the most charismatic of actors projects a certain dignity, suggesting Neil Armstrong. Appropriate considering the character he portrays is the first man on Mars. The story involving a very unusual asteroid is well done. Only the outdated 60s inspired wardrobe and music gives the production a camp flavor which the story is not. Produced a few years later without these over the top trapping, Moon Zero Two could have been a substantial hit. This is one of those rare films that satisfied both my childhood memories and adult expectations.

I saw this movie once on TV years ago, and loved it. It has a good cast with sci-fi credentials like James Olson from the Andromeda Strain and Catherine Schell from Space:1999. It had a great over the top 1960's pop score. It was one of the first movies I saw that tried to turn space into a western except with women in miniskirts and everything in bright euro 60's colors. Olson plays a down and out astronaut who once was famous for commanding the first mission to mars. He and his Russian partner run a charter space ship business on the moon. Their space ship, moon zero two, is old and barely up to code. But Olson is an old hand on the moon. He accepts two jobs that turn out to be related. A beautiful woman from Earth wants him to find her brother who is missing from his mining claim. Second a rich bad guy with a plan to crash an asteroid into the moon. This movie more then anything else was fun with a great deal of style.

"Moon Zero Two" was the most expensive film ever produced by Hammer Studios and is one of the oddest they ever created: a psychedelic western set on the moon in 2021 complete with claim-jumping, gunfights, zero gravity bar fights, candy colored space suits and go-go dancers. SF fans will enjoy early appearances by James Olson ("The Andromeda Strain") and Catherine Schell ("Space 1999"). Also Hammer alumnae Warren Mitchell as the chief villain, Adrienne Corri as a cop (loved her boots), Bernard Bresslaw as a heavy and, of course, Michael Ripper scarfing up distilled rocket fuel at the saloon. The special effects are not that bad. Great '60s kitsch and fun if you don't take it seriously, "Austin Powers" fans may dig it. When you see Eddie Murphy's upcoming "Pluto Nash" you'll be surprised just how many ideas were taken from this film.

"Moon zero two" does not deserve such a low rating ;it is very entertaining ,its screenplay -which sometimes looks like a sci -fi western: the "saloon" and the 'gold digger " brother - is never dull;it even displays some humor :the "Moonopoly" is a very good idea! The two plots -although implausible- are smartly connected.The special effects are not bad for the time ,considering a relatively low budget.Actually it could be a comic ,a Flash Gordon adventure ;if you are looking for "2001" ,you 'd better move on ;but if you simply want to have a good time,you can watch it. The only real horror is the cartoon of the cast and credits and an awful song.