Logan's Run (1976)

If you can stifle the urge to laugh at its pastel unisex costumes and futuristic shopping-mall décor, this extravagant science fiction film from 1976 is still visually fascinating and provocatively entertaining. Set in the year 2274, when ecological disaster has driven civilization to the protection of domed cities, the story revolves around a society that holds a ceremonial death ritual for all citizens who reach the age of 30. In a diseaseless city where free sex is encouraged and old age is virtually unknown, Logan (Michael York) is a "sandman," one who enforces this radical method of population control (but he's about to turn 30 and he doesn't want to die). Escaping from the domed city via a network of underground passages, Logan is joined by another "runner" named Jessica (Jenny Agutter), while his former sandman partner (Richard Jordan) is determined to terminate Logan's rebellion. Using a variety of splendid matte paintings and miniatures, Logan's Run earned a special Oscar for visual effects (images of a long-abandoned Washington, D.C., are particularly impressive), and in addition to fine performances by Jordan and Peter Ustinov, the film features '70s poster babe Farrah Fawcett in a cheesy supporting role. Jerry Goldsmith's semi-electronic score is still one of the prolific composer's best, and Logan's Run remains an interesting example of '70s sci-fi that preceded Star Wars by less than a year. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

About What You'd Expect From Aging Sci-Fi

I have to admit that I liked the epcot-esque city in which this story is based. Its retro sci-fi look is great and lends itself well to the story. The special effects range from "good for the time" to just plain "bad". The story itself drags on a little too long. There is no reason this movie should be 120 minutes. The premise, however, is good and has not been well duplicated since the original. I simply wish sci-fi movies could have avoided "coming of age" during the time of psychedelic filmography. Hard core classic sci-fi fans might be intrigued, but I fear most everyone else will be bored with this film. I can say it's average, and that's about all. May 10, 2008

Run Logan Run!

Logan's Run is just a cool flick any way you slice it. I'm not what you'd call a hardcore sci-fi fan(unless you're talking B flicks like It Came From Outer Space or Cat Women Of The Moon), but I do have an attraction to sci-fi films of the 70s. As far as Set and Production design, special effects, music, and just the overall look of a lot of those films, I think they're the coolest thing. When most folks talk about Logan's Run, they seem always seem rather quick to throw out the words, "cheesy" and "dated". Even if they like the film they tend to throw this out right up front. The thing is, damn near every film ever made is dated. You think today's big budget Hollywood sci-fi films won't be referred to as having a dated look or cheesy music or FX when reviews are written 30 years from now?? If not, you'd better enjoy Transformers while you can. As far as FX go, ya gotta realize that they were working with what they had, and it was high tech at the time just as CGI is high tech now. In the end, FX will always take a back seat if the storytelling is good because that's the one thing that will ruin the movie if it isn't done right. I also don't know where people are getting the idea that the acting is terrible. It isn't terrible, it's just different from what we're used to seeing in modern day movies. Jake Lloyd in the Phantom Menace is an example of rotten acting, not anything in Logan's Run. But as I said before, I totally embrace the "cheesy" and "dated" aspects of the 70s sci-fi film. Most folks know the plot to Logan's Run, but allow me to.....ahem....run through it again(actually I just needed an excuse to work that lousy pun into the review)
It's set in a futuristic utopian society where people live in a domed city and haven't a care in the world but indulging in whatever activities they find pleasurable. Kind of like a horny version of the Eloi from the Time Machine. The catch is that when they hit the age of 30, they will either die or be "renewed" through a ritual called the Carousel. If they decide to just try to go AWOL or "run", they get blasted to smithereens by the Sandmen, a kind of police force that kills "runners". Logan(Michael York) is a Sandman. One day he's given an undercover assignment to seek out a place spoken of in whispers called "Sanctuary". Sanctuary is supposedly a place Runners try to escape to. Logan is 26, but is immediately stepped up to Runner status so he can get in with the folks who will show him the way to Sanctuary. The sexy Jenny Agutter becomes his traveling companion(after refusing his sexual advances, but don't worry coz you know she's gonna give in), and ultimately his love. Logan soon finds that practically no one is on his side anymore and breaks free of the dome only to find that Sanctuary isn't quite what everybody thought it was.
A very cool movie for sure. It's full of sexuality that definitely wouldn't pass for a PG rating today. It's got some cool twists and turns, a snazzy soundtrack full of electric beeps and squiggles(perfect for this kind of movie), laser surgery and a killer robot. What the hell more can you ask for? That's right, Homie-NOTHING! You owe it to yourself to check it out if you haven't already. But if you ever watched TBS than you've probably seen it many times along with The Beastmaster. Watch it again anyway. April 27, 2008

A blast from the past

I enjoyed this series when it first was aired on TV and now I enjoy the DVD as well. I highly recommend the movie in DVD format. April 13, 2008

Classic Sci-Fi

I liked this movie when it first came out and for me it hasn't lost its appeal. It's a story of a post-apocalyptic future where in an enclosed city a vast computer network takes care of its inhabitants every need...up to a certain point. Human life has little value here past a specific age and those who try to escape risk the rath of the the Sandman, a police unit designed to eliminate runners. Until one day, a Sandman is given the assignment to find out about a place called Santuary... April 7, 2008

Logan's Run-Only "So-So" Even for 70's Sci-Fi

I saw Logan's Run in 1976 and about the best I can say about it is that it was "so-so" even for the science fiction films of that year. As one writer has stated, the same can be said about the DVD transfer. I must reluctantly give this film three stars and think I am being generous.

The best feature of this film was beautiful Jenny Agutter who played lovely Jessica while Michael York played Logan by the numbers. Peter Ustinov was as good as could be expected playing an "old man". I don't see how he let them talk him into making this movie.

I also think the film may deserve an "A" for effort for the model work done to produce the many exterior views of Logan's City. However, in execution it only came off like a very well done train layout of the 50's. It just wasn't something that professional special effects people or cinematographers could be proud of.

After seeing the groundbreaking work of Kubrick's 2001, this film just couldn't be considered good sci-fi. It really was a major disappointment and I was embarrassed to have suggested seeing it. I purchased the DVD just to remind myself to try to make better film suggestions.

This happened after promising my new bride of a couple of month's marriage that our visit to the theater wouldn't be a complete waste of her time. How could I know it would be this poor? I read about how grand it was in the newspaper. She looked at me when we left the theater and I didn't say a word. Needless to say I was in for a couple of "slice-of-life" movies after this turkey.

Students of architecture will appreciate that the great city of Logan's Run was prophetic of the construction materials and style of many of the modern malls popping up across the country. Perhaps this has more to do with the price of contemporary construction materials of that time than in any visionary thinking on the part of the set designers.

In my defense, the newspapers wrote promising hype about upcoming grand science fiction films to be released starting in 1976 and mentioned Logan's Run as one outstanding example. As you would imagine when I went to see the film in an excellent theater with good sound and a large screen I was beyond disappointment. It was only when we went to see STAR WARS that I was partially redeemed and my wife would again allow me to suggest a movie without too much discussion.
February 28, 2008

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