ROLLERCOASTER (1977)

A lone psycho is setting up small bombs at various amusement parks across the nation and if he doesn't get a million smackeroos quick he's gonna keep on doing it aaaaand...that's about the extent of the story.  The film opens with a small set-up and explosion that launches some roller coaster cars off the tracks killing a number of people.  After that, it's a strictly cat-and-mouse affair with the nameless bomber (Timothy Bottoms) using a structural engineer (George Segal) as the go between for him and the amusement park owners.  Of course, the FBI is hot on the case with agent Richard Widmark trying to apprehend the bomber.

There's really not a lot of excitement in ROLLERCOASTER, but at the same time the story just keeps on plugging along at a steady pace.  No big ups or downs, just enough drama to keep you interested.  One thing that I did find interesting was the crowd scenes of the people back in 1977.  The fashions and the way the people acted was just so foreign to me.  Everybody seemed sociable and happy.  No cell phones.  I know it's a just a movie and not a documentary, but it was still interesting.

Is ROLLERCOASTER worth watching?  If you're not into older films then probably not, but if you like classic cat-and-mouse style films then I say go for it.  Solid acting all around, nice supporting cast, quick pace, a young Steve Guttenberg and Helen Hunt, plot holes, tons of smoking, lots of telephone conversations and even a performance by Sparks.

Uncredited Steve Guttenberg.

A young Helen Hunt with Susan Strasberg.

THE GREEN SLIME (1968)

Pre-dating both ARMAGEDDON and ALIEN (by many years), THE GREEN SLIME tells the story of some brave men who drill holes into an approaching "global killer" asteroid and blow it up before it can collide with the Earth.  Unfortunately, while they were on the asteroid they picked up a hitchhiker in the form of an icky green slime.  Once they are back on their space station, the green slime grows into a nasty-looking creature that uses it's blood as a defense mechanism by reproducing whenever it bleeds.

That might sound thrilling, but THE GREEN SLIME is not what you would describe as "a well-made film".  The special effects are dated beyond belief, the sets look painfully cheap, the supporting actors often look confused, there's an endless supply of plot holes and worst of all: the ludicrous jockeying between the two officers in charge of the space station.  They literally argue the entire film!  It's ridiculous.  At one point all of the creatures are completely trapped in a confined area and the one dude goes out of his way to disobey the other guy's orders to not open the hatch and, of course, the monsters then proceed to wreck the entire space station.  What an idiot.  He does this over and over!

I remember seeing THE GREEN SLIME on TV (I think it was on Dr. Paul Bearer's "Creature Feature") when I was very young and it freaked me out, but watching it again now 30+ years later...it's pretty bad.  I did get a number of laughs out of it though.

Recommended for fans of cheesy 1960's sci-fi cinema.