CROSSWORLDS 1996
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1997 Timothy Voon
2 :-( :-( for going nowhere
Directed by Krishna Rao Cast: Rutger Hauer, Josh Charles, Stuart Wilson (II), Andrea Roth
On occasion I have a strange urge to watch a B-Grade science fiction thriller which makes a quicker entrance onto a video rental shelf, than one can exit the cinema. Crossworlds is no exception to the rest of the dime a dozen killer robot, mad alien, time travelling flicks that already swamp the Sci-Fi section at your local video store. If you look at what's available, one begins to realise that Sci-Fi movies are either exceptionally good like Star Wars, Star Trek, or exceptionally bad like Crossworlds. There doesn't appear to be any middle ground.
What begins as an interesting, though not original concept for a movie plummets to the ordinary and mundane within minutes. The movie is based on the theory that there are several dimensions to our universe, and if one has the key, one can travel through space and time. This idea will not be too unfamiliar for anyone who watches the weekly episodes of "Sliders". So the villains who threaten earth on this occasion are known as "Warlords". They have already conquered several other dimensions, and have their greedy eyes on puny earth. The catch is that they need the key, which comes in the form of a gem and a staff.
We are thus introduced to the guardians of the key. Rutger Hauer of "Blade Runner", and Josh Charles of "Threesome" and Andrea Roth of "Robocop" the series. Unfortunately, this threesome don't quite hit the right notes in bed with their perpetual arguments, bickering and indecision. However, the real disappointment comes at the hands of the director himself. His lack of imagination suggests that the way to cross to another dimension is to stamp your feet on the ground, wait for some wind to blow across your face, and when it stops, turn around and you have just crossed worlds. Somehow, I think I would have better luck if I sprinkled a bag full of Pixie dust over myself, before following the second star to my right, then going straight ahead. "I can fly, I can fly, I can fly."
Timothy Voon e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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