Comments on: Moontrap (1989)

By: Nick (from the mailing list)

Nick (from the mailing list) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:53:55 +0000

Great review of one of my favorite b-movies and the info on the comments is priceless. Cast my lot in with “this NEEDS a dvd release” crowd. I saw campbell live hosting an event and he answered some questions about it , i believe he said he took the job basically to brush up on his acting chops after a period of not working.

By: Robert Dyke

Robert Dyke — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:05:47 +0000

The (never disclosed) backstory ….. the humans came from an ancient advanced Earth civilization in which all remnants of their culture has vanished on our world.

By: Punchy

Punchy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:41:17 +0000

Maybe Mr. Dyke could give us a clue as to where the 14,000 year old humans came from. I wondered about that through the whole movie.

By: Robert Dyke

Robert Dyke — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:44:32 +0000

What you are suggesting is an illegal procedure. One of the reasons that there has not been a “legitimate DVD release” is because of such activities.

By: Nathan Shumate

Nathan Shumate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:10:30 +0000

It's better that they get this long out-of-print movie, which has never been released on DVD and which is only available legitimately on used VHS tapes over fifteen years old, by downloading it for free than from one of the for-pay bootleggers who are duping the old laserdisc to DVD and charging for it (here's one such source; it looks like there are at least a half-dozen). As soon as there's any sort of legitimate DVD release, there will be no need for the Tachyon City version. I'm okay with the ethics of that. I will of course accede to the request of any copyright holder to take down material at Tachyon City. Is that you?

By: Robert Dyke

Robert Dyke — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:52:36 +0000

And to Nathan Shumate, I certainly hope you do not know you’re advising folks to participate in an illegal activity when you tell them to download MOONTRAP “for free.”

By: Robert Dyke

Robert Dyke — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:31:06 +0000

Robert Dyke here. Still “cranking along” as Mike Jarema said in his review of MOONTRAP. Would like to clarify his comments about the money he says was owed him. I did invest in a set construction company (“Swain and Associates”) that eventually folded but had no involvement in its business activities. I was never sued in “small claims court” by Mike. In fact, any claims over $500 were not allowed in that Michigan court. And regarding my attorney getting “the claim dismissed” …. I haven’t a clue as to what he’s referring to. If Mike was owed $1,500 (and that may be accurate) by Swain and Associates, I suggest he pursue the matter with John Swain. Obviously, Mike has misinterpreted my on set glances at him some 20 years ago. I do remember him, however, as a very talented member of the special effects team. Hope he’s still active in the field.

By: Nathan Shumate

Nathan Shumate — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:30:08 +0000

You can download the whole thing for free here:
http://tachyon-city.com/moontrap-1989/

By: CrowdedCranium

CrowdedCranium — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:01:12 +0000

Ahhhh, so that was the title. Ok, I was watching this on the saturday afternoon lame movie. Was interested in the startup action and the Ex shut off the TV so she could more effectively bark about something her Sister said earlier. I did catch this from about halfway to nearly the end another slow afternoon in front of the TV.

I will have to dig around and see if I can find this so I can set back and watch it uninterupted.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:49:42 +0000

Hi, I’m a big fan of “Moontrap” from Europe and found this interesting review today. This was one of the first science-fiction films I ever saw, it was the early nineties and I was pretty stunned by the gory imagery in this movie especially because it was on TV early in the morning on Saturday or Sunday.
Ever since I asked myself why nobody around me knew anything about this movie since it had the look of a big production.
It took me many (I mean many!) years to see it again on another (now prime time) TV showing.
I’m proud to own it on VHS and Laserdisc nowadays and I can confirm that “Moontrap” did have a theatrical run in Germany. Another interesting fact is that the Japanese Laserdisc release contains several dialogue scenes that can’t be found in the R-rated US release. It’s nothing
of great importance (talk between Grant and his son and additional dialogue between Grant and Tanner on the moon’s surface) but it runs longer by about 5 minutes and is still THE version to go for. It’s pretty rare and cost me a fortune, but I adore it obviously.
In my book, “Moontrap” not only is an A picture but an immortal classic and will always be the one movie that hooked me to science-fiction when I watched it with my younger bro totally unsuspecting that well-remembered morning almost 20 years ago now.