Just perfect...

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Great Film overall

Good movie but grossly overrated

After a series of contrived events, an earthquake sends a scientist and a young bickering couple into another dimension when they fall into a matter transmitting device in a laboratory. They wind up on the planet Vonya and are forced to battle all manner of unusual villains.Prisoners of the Lost Universe was quite clearly an attempt to redo the sword and sorcery flick Hawk the Slayer (1980) with a sci-fi premise. After all, two actors from that movie essentially reprise their quite specific roles, with Peter O'Farrell once more playing an impressively irritating comic relief dwarf/small man and Ray Charleson is on hand again to play a mysterious elf/green being. Both movies also both possess an American b-movie stalwart in the role of the nasty chief villain – in 'Hawk' it was Jack Palance, while here we have the legend that is John Saxon. And to be perfectly honest, while this move is ostensibly a science fiction flick, it is to all intents and purposes essentially another fantasy adventure. The sci-fi is more or less the MacGuffin which is used to take two characters from Earth into another world where swords, sandals, hearty ale drinking, monstrous beings and beards are the order of the day. 'Prisoners' is certainly the lesser of the two movies but in all honesty there isn't a massive amount in it. 'Hawk' was low-budget and laughable in many respects and is certainly more of a cult item than a benchmark in fantasy film-making nowadays and 'Prisoners' is certainly from the same basic ballpark, even if it does lack the overall charm of the earlier movie.John Saxon is good value as always as the despotic leader of a band of evil-doers, while everybody else does what is necessary and not much more, with the exception of O'Farrell who again goes the extra mile in being successfully annoying. The film basically works because it throws a succession of creatures and baddies at us at such regular intervals that we never really get the chance to be bored. The production values are low but they still manage to rattle up some decent enough make-up and costuming, with the exception of the chauvinistic male 'hero' who sported a checked shirt throughout the picture which became slightly grating to look at when he was thrust into a fantasy environment I thought.At the end of the day, I think this movie deserves a bit of credit for at least trying. It is certainly entertaining and has a few memorable moments. If you have an appreciation for ropey early 80's fantasy-adventures, I would say that this is one that deserves to be added to your watch-list at the very least.

By accident a scientist by the name of "Dr. Hartman" (Kenneth Hendel), a young television reporter known as "Carrie Madison" (Kay Lenz) and a maintenance man named "Dan" (Richard Hatch) find themselves transported to "a strange and violent land" existing in another dimension. Once there they encounter a number of hostile people and creatures in a desperate struggle to survive. Anyway, so much for the plot. As far as the movie is concerned it pretty much featured one ridiculous "comic book" scenario after another filled with corny dialogue, bad acting, cheap costumes and ludicrous characters. It was pretty bad. As a matter of fact, about the only thing worth mentioning was the presence of Dawn Abraham ("Shareen") and the aforementioned Kay Lenz who at least added some nice scenery to an otherwise totally wasted effort. In summation, my strong recommendation is that you spare yourself from wasting an hour and a half on this drab and uninteresting film. You will be doing yourself a huge favor.

None seems to at least have noticed that this is comedy; one for grown—ups, though, despite the mindless fantasy plot. Now here is a movie that will likely change your world-view. Kidding, of course. It most certainly won't. POTLU at least begins as a lighthearted romp with a female lead, blonde—none other than Kay Lenz. From the very first scenes you have the assets—crazy science, danger, sexiness; the music plays like STAR WARS for the fair. The ground is shaken by an earthquake; the blonde fears a proposed spanking, the mad scientist she then meets looks a bit like the apologist and don Lewis. The flick is '80s; which, basically, means sloppy, vulgar and funny, replete with goofiness—where '70s would mean vulgar and unfunny, suffused with sentimentality. When talking about goofiness, it doesn't matter whether its use is deliberate—but whether it's clever. In POTLU, the use of the goofiness isn't particularly clever. Yet psychologically and humorously, it's sound—even transported in another dimension, a guy needs to feel a lady's ass. (The lady's crisp reply is a bit popular among fans of such C flicks.) So, the basic human drives abide. A blonde and her sidekick slide into another dimension, in a Conan world where they meet strange races, various attackers, and the blonde is kidnapped by a warlord. So that, after the first several minutes, the movie gladly switches to fantasy, and the Sci—Fi is over. After dropping this promising Sci—Fi intro, 'Lost Universe' goes on as a silly comedy, aimed at undemanding adults. (2) The mean guy is Saxon, a cult—actor, the mean son of a bitch, the missing link between Reynolds and Ironside (all three came in Connery's footsteps, as it has been said about Stallone and Brando; from the trio, I enjoy Ironside, I occasionally watch Reynolds, and I dislike Saxon—save for an Italian western he redeemed himself with, once …); to enhance his barbarity, Saxon wears some red trousers. Saxon is mainly mean, dull, and _charmless. The fights are mostly slapstick. It's a goofy comedy, so they all behave like crazy buffoons. It's so mindless, and it's basically not for kids. (3) The main reason for a guy to see 'Lost Universe' is Kay Lenz; but the girl next door, if you can get her, is a lot better than Kay on the screen. Kids might enjoy the adventures of the three sliders, as well. It's a movie people like; a silly comedy, careless and goofy, with a handful of slapstick. And for fans, like myself, of sexy starlets, this flick provides a chance to enrich their shrine (I began with Drew Barrymore, Lara Flynn Boyle, Shannon Tweed, Lysette Anthony, Tanya Roberts, Joan Severance, Patsy Kensit, Penelope Ann Miller—and Jessica Lange, probably not fitting that label, though!)—I mean, Kay Lenz. (4) The IMDb writers I'm reading now are Nuschler (who seems to have ceased writing …) and Gridoon (who's a bit dismissive at times, a bit unfair—but please read him on PILLOW TALK, THE SALTON SEA, PRISON SHIP, etc.)—so make this a tribute to them. (5) So, have a nice time watching 'Lost Universe', or thinking about it. Yet, instead of focusing vainly on Kay's ass, check out the girl next door!

I remember watching this movie when I was a child in the 80s! Recently, as a birthday present for my dad, I bought him a 100 movie pack SciFi classics (can be found on Amazon). Upon looking through the DVDs, I saw this one and remembered it from when I was little. Sure enough, I found it just as good as I remembered it then except I acknowledge how campy it is. But I still love it! Anyway, if you want this movie, it is available in the 100 movie pack/SCIFI Classics which is selling for about $39.99. NOTE: the quality is basically as if someone took the original movie and just transferred it onto DVD. There's no touch-ups or remastering. Each DVD contains about 4 movies, 2 on each side. Have fun watching! I did!!