50 years after a nuclear war, the two superpowers handle territorial disputes in a different way. Each fields a giant robot to fight one-on-one battles in official matches, each piloted by a man inside, known as robot jockeys or jox. The contest for possession of Alaska will be fought by two of the best. The conscientious Achilles fights for the Americans. Opposing him is a Russian, Alexander.
Practical Effects
Full-scale robot suits and stop-motion that aged like milk wine.
Direction
Stuart Gordon doing sci-fi after Re-Animator is a choice.
Director
Stuart Gordon
Gary Graham
Achilles
Anne-Marie Johnson
Athena
Paul Koslo
Alexander
Robert Sampson
Commisioner Jameson
Danny Kamekona
Dr. Matsumoto
Hilary Mason
Professor Laplace
Michael Alldredge
Tex Conway
Jeffrey Combs
1st Prole
Ian Patrick Williams
Phillip
Jason Marsden
Tommy
Gary Houston
Sportcaster
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon
Kate
Thyme Lewis
Sargon
Geoffrey Copleston
Confederation Commissioner (as Geoffrey Coplestone)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film's $10 million budget made it the most expensive production in Charles Band's Empire Pictures history—then it bombed so hard it helped sink the company.
Released the same year as Japan's Patlabor, this is America's sweaty attempt to answer the question 'what if mecha anime but with Reagan-era anxiety?'
US
