Plot: What’s it about?
Science fiction films in the early part of the seventies were few and far between. It was even further when the subject of a story was set in the future. It came down to a well known screenwriter and two former writers of the Twilight Zone to give their take on the future. It deals with the palm of a human being’s hand, a funeral seen as celebration and a search for the truth that leads us from a person’s walk to Logan’s Run.
In this world every human being lives and breaths but when it comes time for birthday #30, your time in this world is up and brought in a celebration called Carrousel. This world is patrolled by Sandmen who are ready for action at any moment and two of the best are Francis 7 (Richard Jordan) and Logan 6 (Michael York). Life is good for the two of them until Logan is given an assignment to become one of the expired. The problem is once the system takes it away, there is no going back and Logan is not only tracking down stragglers but is being tracked down himself.
What starts off as a solid premise with some excitements turns into an average film that could’ve been so much more. Granted, the B-movie element is there but there is too much in the second half that is so uneven it literally sinks what started out as a very good film. The actors are fine and give it their all and the look of the film is decent and there is a lot to love with an edge of your seat feel in the first half of the film.
Unfortunately, there is so much thrown in during the second half that has little or nothing to do with anything as well as some extras that were rejected from Star Trek, that the overall film is a bit of a letdown and gave in too much too soon. Although there are some nice things to look at and this viewer wanted to like this film, there is much room for improvement and Logan’s Run is a disappointment on many accounts.
Video: How does it look?
Logan’s Run takes advantage of being shot wide in the 2.35:1 almost winning the award for “cheapest movies shot in that aspect ratio” (that award went to Grease) but in this anamorphic transfer onto DVD, the results are very much like the movie. The transfer is good looking and there are clean moments but overall there is more than less abundance of specks and debris and places where there should be clarity are hurt by little things that could’ve been improved on.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 is an improvement over the visual look of the film as the score comes out booming and the dialogue comes out clear but it does get a bit mixy in the middle and at some parts in the beginning where it can’t decide whether it wants to stick with it or turn a little more muted in the sound category. It does have a bit of random loudness particularly in the menu category and some of the film. This disc also has English and French subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
There are a few decent extras starting with a commentary with director Michael Anderson, actor Michael York and costume designer Bill Thomas. All three have a lot to discuss during the making of the film and they have very good memories of the film and though the film is weak at hand, it is a nice listen from all three participants.
Next there is “A Look into the 23rd Century” featurette made at the time of filming and it’s an interesting piece but it’s not as informative and is a little more fluffy. It’s in total fun.
Lastly, there is a theatrical trailer.
A decent DVD for a less that decent film, Logan’s Run is not a runaway smash nor a runaway DVD but it is saved from total disaster by a solid commentary.
