Name: Retro Film Review: Cyber Bandits (A Sailor's Tattoo, 1995)
Item: Cyber Bandits
Rating: 15
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

In future histories of world cinema mid-1990s are probably going to be referred as a very interesting period. In that time CGI technology became not only immensely popular film-making tool, but also stopped being in the domain of major studios, thus allowing filmmakers with lesser budgets to create fascinating new worlds of their own. This sea change could be best seen in so- called "futuristic thrillers" made in that period, and Cyber Bandits a.k.a. A Sailor's Tattoo, 1995 film directed by Erik Fleming, is just another example.

Plot, based on the screenplay by James Robinson and Winston Beard, is set in the near future and deals with Jack Morris (played by Martin Kemp), navigator who works on the yacht owned by technology tycoon Morgan (played by Robert Hays). Jack gets close with tycoon's wife Rebecca Snow (played by Alexandra Paul) who stole CD-ROM featuring data about new and all-powerful weapon. In order to escape, Rebecca encrypts the data and has it tattooed on Jack's back. Two of them begin their run from Morgan's goons and meet a variety of unusual characters.

Like in many similar examples, use of CGI technology leads to form being superior to content. The futuristic atmosphere of the film, created by few clever CGI-shots and the bar scene that would remind older viewers of Blade Runner, is probably the only good thing in Cyber Bandits. The rest is complete mess of bad acting and even worse plot that would insult viewer's intelligence (including the ridiculous concept of virtual reality as a doomsday weapon). Because of that, Cyber Bandits could be recommended only to those fans of science fiction cinema who need bad films in order to truly appreciate good ones.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on August 5th 2002)