Outland

Retro one, this. From waaaay back in 1981...
I told my mate, Adam, I had this to watch: "Oh yeah, I remember that..."he said, face screwing up like a bulldog chewing a wasp, "...it`s a bit crap"...
Thanks Adam, but I gave it a whirl anyhow. I`d heard Outland described as `High Noon in Outer Space` - well, I can`t remember High Noon, but the movie does have elements of the classic Western, and it is set in space, on Io, one of Jupiter`s moons.
Sean Connery plays Marshal O`Niel, on a new annual tour policing the mining colony of Con Am 27. Bizarre death`s are taking place amongst the workers, and O`Niel attributes it to a strong amphetamine drug which produces increased stamina but has psychotic side-effects. The drug is being pushed by the crooked Company Manager, Sheppard, who is challenged by O`Niel to quit supplying the drug. Sheppard reacts by hiring two hitmen to take out O`Niel, they`ll arrive on the weekly shuttle...
Okay, some of the sets look like something out of Thunderbirds, and at times the acting is poor and cheesy. But, Connery is good as O`Niel and the fist-fight scenes are good and brutal. The best bit is the exciting, clock-ticking suspense as the shuttle (with it`s two killers) gets closer to Io...
C`mon, it`s nearly thirty years old! It doesn`t have all the spectacular effects of modern movies, but I thought it was pretty cool. Give it a chance, it`s certainly not "crap"...