Westworld

Before I begin my comments, let me admit right from the start that this is one of my very favorite movies of all time. I fell in love with it when I first saw it in the theatre at age 12 and I've never gotten over it. Even though I'm much older today, I maintain beyond personal nostalgic bias that WESTWORLD is a tight, brisk, intense, thrilling, totally satisfying 88 minutes of good fun. Somewhere in the near future, an enterprise called Delos has developed the ultimate vacation resort. For the cost of a mere $1,000 a day, adult guests may choose to live their fantasies out in one of three different environments: Romanworld, Medievalworld, or Westworld. These resorts are each populated by very human-like robots who are programmed to serve every whim of the customer. State of the art computer technology ensures that everything's safe and that nothing can possibly go wrong. Richard Benjamin and James Brolin are two cowboy-wannabe friends who choose the 1880's Westworld for their unusual getaway. They make love to robot saloon women, participate in wild bar room brawls, and frequently get bullied around by a tough humanoid gunslinger dressed all in black (Yul Brynner, spoofing his look from THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN), who is automatically obliged to get riddled up with bullets, repaired by technicians overnight as the guests sleep, and then shot up all over again for the next day. All is pure fun and games until something unidentifiable in the computer system begins to malfunction, and suddenly the world of Disney devolves into a place of horror. No longer taking orders to play dead, the robots are out to kill the guests, and the ominous gunslinger develops a frightening taste for the kill as he becomes an unstoppable walking menace, 10 years before Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator ever hit the screens. Author Michael Crichton (THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN) wrote the screenplay and directed his first film with WESTWORLD, and it's an impressive debut in that he's able to keep the action moving along at a comfortable pace, using a small budget to its full advantage, and fashioning a real good-time movie experience that is at the same time both fun and foreboding. James Brolin and Richard Benjamin are completely likable in their parts, but it is Yul Brynner's multi-layered conception of the gunslinging robot who changes from willing court jester to deadly assassin that's the main draw. Also a major asset is Fred Karlin's versatile music score. Changing from standard period western piano to a violins and whistles shindig, and finally to a weird techno-western mechanical hybrid when moods start to change for the worst, this is a very engaging soundtrack. So why don't you make arrangements to take the Delos hovercraft to Medievalworld, Romanworld or Westworld? Contact them today or see your travel agent. Boy, have they got a vacation for you...!

Westworld_360P

source: Westworld

Trailer—Westworld

Westworld

I think a lot of later evil robot films including 'The terminator' borrowed a lot of ideas from this film. Even 'The Predator' got a lot of ideas from this. (The robot vision mode, the heat sensing) This film is totally original. i don't see any title that came before this that had the same ideas. Michael Crichton is one of the most creative people in this business. Although i think he did re-use the Westworld amusement park concept with Jurassic Park (Carnosaur). Just replacing androids with dinosaurs. It pretty much the same concept: Man made environment that falls to chaos. And the most bizarre part of the film is the pervasiveness it transmits. Its so pervasive. It really titillates you with its concept. The female droids and how they are used. Its crazy. And the fact that three different cultures (The wild west, Rome, and medieval england) all spill over each other. That is really wild. Great movie.

Michael Crichton is a versatile man whose career as a novelist would seem to be satisfying enough without trying his hand at the movies. After all, most of his books have been adapted for the screen. This was his first attempt at directing a big feature. He showed in "Westworld" an affinity for the film medium. Mr. Chrichton employed computer technology that was in its infancy at the time. The result is a movie that is entertaining even after more than thirty years after it was released. Most of Mr. Crichton's books deal in science fiction. The best thing in the film is Yul Brynner, without a doubt. His presence dominates everything. As the Gunslinger, he shows intelligence and tenacity in dealing with those that dared to cross him. Richard Benjamin is also effective as the young lawyer who is fascinated by the things he finds in Westworld. James Brolin's character seemed to be on auto pilot as he didn't register much emotion throughout the entire movie. The film merits a look.

Westworld was the blueprint for what was later Jurassic Park. Here, Michael Crichton first envisoned Disneyland, if the Hall of presidents ran amuck. It provided many of the inspirations for later sci-fi films, like Terminator. It was a great blend of action, horror, and comedy. Richard Benjamin and James Brolin are the heroes of the film, but Yul Brynner is the star. He portrays a robot, based on his character from "The Magnificent Seven." Brynner is the relentless killing machine who fights until the end. With almost no dialogue, he conveys fear with little more than expression and body language. The film explores old themes, the dark side of technology, but it was ahead of its time in depicting the dangers of computers and automated systems. The effects are dated, but the story holds up well. The sequel, Futureworld, tried to add political intrigue, with less success. Definitely one for the sci-fi fan or collector, or cult movie lover.