At the Movies with Fatwayne

This is the big screen sci-fi/comedic version of  the 1960′s TV series of the same name starring Robert Conrad. In this incarnation, Capt. James West is played by Will Smith and Artemus Gordon is portrayed by Kevin Kline.  Kenneth Branagh does the honors as the quite mad but ingenious Dr. Arliss Loveless.

This version has all of the gadgets and gizmos of the TV series and a whole lot more. There are flying discs meant to decapitate its victim, flying machines and a giant mechanical spider just to mention a few.

The story is about a mechanical genius and ex-confederate soldier Dr. Loveless and his evil plan to get the Civil War started again to aid his ultimate quest of world domination. Although small in stature since he lost everything from the waist down during the war,  he has no problem compensating with his brain and huge ego. When he needs legs, no problem, he makes a “deadly set”.  When he wants to travel distances, he has a special train and a giant spider contraption to take him where he desires.

President Grant (also played by Kline) wants to stop this menace and knows of only two men who would have a chance against this mad man.  They are, of course, Capt. James West and his inventive partner and master of disguises, Artemus Gordon.

And so our adventure begins and a grand adventure it is. The movie is full of one-liners such as the comment West makes to the lynch mob just before he is about to be hung – “never drum on a white lady’s boobies at a big redneck dance.  Got it?”  Then he continues to chide the mob about slavery by saying “….. I mean, are you going to get your big fat ass out of bed and pick your own damn cotton!”  There are plenty more where these came from.  The story can also boast of some clever special effects which are fun to watch in the context of the time frame which is the 1860′s

When the movie came out, it was panned by the critics but was a box office smash in the summer of  ’99. I fall on the side of the public who loved it.

Rated  -  PG 13  -

Fatwayne’s rating   –