The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!

Starring: Peter Weller, Jeff Goldblum, Ellen Barkin, John Lithgow, Christopher Lloyd, Robert Ito, Carl Lumbly, Den Hedaya, Clancy Brown, Pepe Serna, Billy Vera, Vincent Schiavelli, and Lewis Smith
Director: W. D. Richter
Running time:103 minutes

(Retro Love.... Released: 1984)

Adventurer/surgeon/rock musician Buckaroo Banzai and his band of men, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, take on evil alien invaders from the 8th dimension. 

Good Morning Boys and Girls Not of the 8th Dimension!!

As I'm sitting here contemplating the next great read of this week (4 books are counting).., I flipped on the big screen to discover a delivery as arrive via Mr. Peabody's wayback machine. So, everyone, make sure your hands and feet are tucked safely inside the machine, sit back, and strap in because it's going to be a wild freaking ride!

I have a guilty little secret.... I have always been and will always be.... a freaking HUGE fan of Buckaroo Banzai... there's just something about this movie. Everytime it's on, I have to watch (this is the second time I've watched it today.... please someone HELP ME!!  I'm trapped in retroville and can't get out!!) LOL

Honestly, I love this movie, everything about it. The humor, the sarcastic remarks, the play on words, the characters, the freaking Hong Kong Cavaliers!

*****

For those of the uninitiated... The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension is a scifi fantasy romantic spoof of all the Hollywood greats and wannabes.  

The lead character, Dr. Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller), is a neurosurgeon, particle physicist, rock star, race car driver, comic book hero, adventurer, and the would be savior of the world.

 (Buckaroo Banzai's Comic Book)

His Japanese father and American mother were scientists working with the very first jet car equipped with an Oscillation Overthruster, a device which allows their jet car to pass through solid matter. While testing their device, they are tragically killed while young Buckaroo looks on...

 (Sandra Banzai [Jamie Lee Curtis], Masado Banzai [James Saito] and
young Buckaroo Banzai [Greg Mires] during the first jet car experiments of 1955... deleted scene)

He is then raised by their trusted colleague, Dr. Hikita (Robert Ito). Unbeknown to Dr. Hikita and young Buckaroo, his parents invention was sabotaged by the mastermind criminal, Hanoi Xan.

 (Dr. Hikita - Robert Ito)

This causes Buckaroo to take up his parents dream to create an operational Oscillation Overthruster, and he succeeds!!

 

Success at last!!

(Oscillation Overthruster)

 Just a man and his jet car....

But, after a hard day of neurosurgeoning and jet car driving.... he comes out of play with the Hong Kong Cavaliers.

(rock star incarnation...Leader of the Hong Kong Cavaliers)

The Hong Kong Cavaliers - Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller), Rawhide (Clancy Brown), Reno Nevada (Pepe Serna), Perfect Tommy (Lewis Smith), Pinky Carruthers (Billy Vera) and New Jersey (Jeff Goldblum) There are others, but these are the only ones in the movie....

Motto: Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse.

Perfect Tommy... just because he's perfect... and eye candy pretty..

(Hero... No matter where you go, there you are...)

But with success, comes the consequences.... 

Dr. Lizardo, housed at the Trent Home for the Criminally Insane, escapes to try to steal the overthruster. Dr. Lizardo was at one time a legitimate scientist, attempting to create his own overthruster. Major fail, but he was thrust into the 8th  dimension where a Red Lectroid, John Whorfin, stole and inhabited his body. Red Lectroids have been banished to the 8th dimension for trying to take over Planet 10.  

 (John Whorfin/Dr. Lizardo [John Lithgow])

And, his followers.... working under the guise of Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems for the US government in Grovers Mill, NJ. You remember Grovers Mills, right? Just a reminder.. War of the Worlds.. was it a hoax? Ever been to Grovers Mill? Lots of Johns there.. John Smallberries, John Bigboote, John Ya-Ya..

(as usual, the government is clueless as to what's going on, and that these supposed good guy are the bad guys)

 (Black Lectroids - the good guys)

The Black Lectroids, the rulers of Planet 10, will do anything to keep the Red Lectroids from escaping the 8th dimension... including starting a fake nuclear attack, thus starting World War III and the annihilation of the Earth! It's up to Buckaroo and friends to find a way to avoid war.

(Black Lectroid ship as it circles the Earth, preparing to take action!)

John Parker (a Black Lectroid - the good guys) and Buckaroo Banzai

 (The President and Secretary Smirnoff)

(Yeah.. these guys might need the short form.. emergency use only)

To bring a conclusion to this wandering tale.... Buckaroo has to defeat the Red Lectroids to save the Earth from destruction. There are various government officials warbling in and out of the storyline, causing more damage than good (say it ain't so..). But it's Buckaroo and The Hong Kong Cavaliers along with Penny Priddy (Buckaroo's murdered wife's long lost twin sister separated at birth and who he's inexplicably drawn to) with the help of the Blue Blazer Irregulars and the Rug Suckers who save the day! Thwarting the evil doers is what they do!

(Penny Priddy - Ellen Barkin)

(Fellow neurosurgeon and Hong Kong Cavalier... New Jersey.. Jeff Goldblum)

(Buckaroo's bus)

And... as the movie closes....

(Never came to fruition.... studio went out of business)

And finally, I leave you with a peek at the movie in all it's awesomeness! (the ending celebration...)

Penny Priddy's Song

Until next time Buckaroos!! The 8th dimension calls!