See Logan Run! Run Logan Run!

Slightly later than expected, my review of Logan’s Run.
Well, not a review, so much as just my general enthusiastic observations. Review was a stupid word to use, because I don’t like ‘reviews’ generally and also, it’s a film that’s over 30 years old, who reviews those?
Anyhow, it’s a sci’fi classic that I hadn’t watched before, so it qualified for my nerd days.

And it’s pretty awesome. I think everyone’s aware of the general plot, it’s a future utopia but people only live to age 30. Those who want to go on living have to go on the run and end up killed. Sounds simple. So it’s a warning of the price of paradise kind of thing?

So my first observation is that the utopia 200+ years from now, 70’s hairstyles are back! Actually, you can say of any film that portrays the future that they assume the hairstyles of the present day are back in by then. But then let’s observe the fashions. Wow! Those are some pretty crazy clothes.
So Logan’s a ‘Sandman’? This appears to mean he get’s better outfits than most! Must be reasonably warm in this bio-dome as a lot of these costumes look pretty flimsy.

So quite quickly we pick up that the population is kept in some kind of optimum balance, new children are ‘grown’ rather than the normal conception, birth and raising, and when necessary to replace those who’ve reached thirty and gone to ‘renew’. Renewing seems to imply some kind of afterlife, or possibly rebirth in the new babies? And if you run, you won’t get to renew. Oh, and renewal seems to be a big show. We actually get to see it, it’s Cirque du Soliel! Man, all those fancy acrobatics people are so amazed by, turns out those ‘acrobats’ are renewing! No, wait, they’re exploding! Awesome! People flying up to the ceiling and exploding is now added to the list of awesome things to happen in films!

I hope there’s a skidding tank soon!

Logan is called away from the spectacle of exploding aerialists to chase down a ‘runner’. This runner has watched exploding acrobatics and come to the conclusion that it’s not for him and he’s legging it to try and live to 31.

Hurrah, Logan’s been to Stormtrooper weapons training! He’s an awful shot! Even at close range he can’t hit the guy! Eventually Logan’s mate shoots the runner, who for extra effect stumbles over a railing to plummet several floors. The two Sandmen check the body and Logan robs him! Sees an Ankh shape necklace and just nicks it! (sadly it’s not a skidding ankh!)

Now follows two of the greatest acheivements in this futuristic utopia.

The first one is Logan’s nightwear. He’s relaxing in his Sandman pad and he has the most amazing dressing gown on! It’s brilliant! It’s futuristic and so marvellously camp! Though I think Michael York wears it that way. So bored of an evening, Logan uses some high tech gizmo in the corner to beam himself a sex buddy into his flat! Yep, he flicks through a variety of people, with a comedy refusal of the muscular man, but then with that dressing gown, are you surprised he tried? Finally he settles on Jenny Agutter (known as Jessica) who materialises in his living room!

Yep, people get horny, they just put themselves into this system, known as 'The Circuit' (i.e. 'The Game'?) so anyone who takes a shine to them can beam them into their flat! It’s like a weird sex based facebook with a transporter.

A little small talk and then Logan pretty much shouts at the poor girl, ‘ALRIGHT, LET’S HAVE SEX!!’

Strangely, she doesn’t want to. They have a long chat about their respective status in society, Logan still trying to figure out how his shouting chat up line could have failed until Logan’s mate returns with 2 far more willing young ladies. So Logan gives up on his lost cause and starts trying it on with the girl his very thoughtful friend picked up for him. Meanwhile, Jessica leaves, and have we all noticed, she’s also wearing an Ankh necklace? We should, it’s probably going to be important later!

Logan later reports to Sandman HQ, where he must turn out his pockets to be scanned by computer. The computer goes a bit funny when it picks up the Ankh he swiped from the runner earlier. Excellent, Logan’s computer boss is going to chew him out about robbing from corpses! Comeuppance time for you Logan, you theiving ghoul!

Nope, it the computer gives him a secret mission! He’s to infiltrate the runners support network and find the place known as ‘sanctuary’ so the Sandmen can eliminate it. Clearly the governing computers are sick of people avoiding their high wire exploding. To help Logan infiltrate the group, the computer system winds his life timer forward to start flashing, the sign of hitting thirty. Logan’s ready to leave and begin his mission, but wants to check his timer will be wound back again afterwards. The computer stays quiet about this. I half expected it to start whistling innocently, or la la laaing to drown out the question. See Logan, this is what comes of stealing! Good moral lesson here!

So Logan begins his investigation and ivites Jessica back to his flat. Nope, he’s not trying for the sex again, he seems to have made the link between the ankh he found and the city’s computer told him was a symbol of sancturary and the exact same massive ankh that she wears quite prominantly in plain view! Helluva detective.

She agrees to set up a meeting with Logan and the people who help runners, with the intention of having them kill him. Then she changes her mind, and she accompanies him tracking down a runner.

Now it appears there’s a section of the city that’s completely blocked off to everyone else, where they keep the wild, feral children. Though it seems to be indicated that when the kids hit mid teens, they’re forced back into normal society. Not sure how they function then... Anyway, Logan catches his runner, a woman who claims that her life timer’s broken and she’s only 22. Yeah, you’re fooling no-one there. But Logan lets her go to prove how he’s changed to Jessica and they set off. But Logan’s sandman mate Francis comes along and shoots her anyway. Actually, I wonder if Logan really wanted to let her go, or just didn’t want to show Jessica what a bad shot he is?

So with Francis in pursuit, the pair try to get to Sanctuary. Sadly, Logan, thinking they’re in, summons his other Sandman colleagues and most of the runner-aiding resistance gets toasted. Logan and Jenny carry on with Francis still in pursuit.

They get out of the city and find their way into some ice caves where after Jessica strips nekkid and wraps herself in fur, they meet Box.

Oh my goodness! Box. There’s not much I can say about Box, the mad robot who’s freezing humans and is just generally mad. He is absolutely amazing. If there was one reason only to watch this film, (though there are several) it would be Box. You just have to see him.

The pair then wander on through peaceful countryside, realising their lifetimers have turned white away from the influence of the city. There we have it, the representation of freedom regained by turning away from the seeming idyllic life!

The discover some familier landmarks representing the giant president of old and finally come across andother person! Hurrah! And it’s the oldest man they’ve ever seen!

Peter Ustinov’s turn as the old man is funny, sad and heart warming. You do feel teribly sorry for this man who’s lived alone for so much of his life, only a bunch of cats for company. But he’s managed quite well and has some brilliant moments as he tries to explain his life to his visitors.

After a fight to dispatch Francis, they take the old man back towards the city. Then they leave him outside while they go in to tell everyone about an outside world where you can get old. Of course they’re promptly arrested. However, the computer systems try to probe Logans mind and end up blowing up! Not sure what that says about Logan. Naturally this explosion engulfs most of the city’s systems so the populace are forced to evacuate and this is when they emerge into the world to meet a scruffy old bearded man.

Brilliant! This movie is so much fun! You can have fun with the silliness of it, some of which I think is intentional and fun with the crazy sci-fi action. There’s a number of interesting themes and ideas, though most of them don’t get explored that much. But then it’d make for a longer film. I’m left with a number of questions about the society in the dome, many of which about the raising of children. I’m re-watching this with my fiancee soon and it should be interesting to hear her take on the society. And Box the robot!