The One That Got Away
I titled this review, "The One That Got Away" because this movie as it is now being presented is not the exact same movie I fashioned my temporarilly pointless life after in the 80's. I remember a scene (which is now missing) where Otto was in the market holding a can which read "MEAT". He asked a store clerk (female), "what kind of meat is this?" and she replies, "what difference does it make?", classic! But gone.

In the special features section they have a bunch of deleted scenes...why were they deleted in the first place? Reviewing these deleted scenes out of context only peeved me further. I can't give the movie a bad rating because I love it so much, it's one of my favorites. I'm only upset at the choices (cuts) made on this DVD. I will buy the original on VHS and see if that will do the trick. Until then enjoy!

A movie destined to be a Cult icon: The dark side of Pop culture.
Whitout a trace of a doubt, this movie is the very synonym of what a cult film is meant to be, in every single possible aspect that can be analysed on the mad lab of filmic culture, a larger than life experience about the most true and substancial feelings, atmospheres and aesthetics, fibers and existential layers required for a cinematic work to be considered a cult icon. "Repo Man" is the flag, the standard of the underground, B-style, drive-in cult films of all times. If there's an encyclopedia of cult films, this stunning on-the-edge work of art, spawned from the rotten entrails of the mid 80's pop culture, car repossessions, radioactive alien conspiracies and government chases, punk rock mayhem, and cynical goofy revisions of american society values of an infamous decisive decade, must be on the cover with golden frames written with large gothic imprints. To describe this passionate and iluminated milestone of the B-movies country is just as hard as it is breathtaking, the experience provided can't possibly be told in simple words. Not because we are facing an astonishing description of life on the streets combined with notorious wicked-fun and bizarre fiction, but because our very world is absorbed by the truth implied in this 94 minutes hilarious evaluation of the human struggle to overcome the economic and moral concepts of poverty, in a society dominated by TV ideals, learnings, and stereotypes of happiness and golds in life.

Alex Cox's directional debut must be the most entertaining synthesis of cheap science fiction, suburban punk rock culture, and teenage dissapointment ever portrayed on film. The targets chosen for this awesome satiric tale of humurous profanity, conspiracy and post-modern deception, are the generic food and consumers products industry, UFO and pseudo-religion cults, the automobile worship and the human angst from the very bottom of the social scale, all combined in the most wicked, amusing and lovable critics to mid 80's monopoly of materialism.

This affectionate sci-fi comedy-parody leads us to the life of suburban slacker Otto (Emilio Estevez's fresh, warm but cyinic agressive charm, stealing every scene), a misfit punk rocker who've just lost his job and girlfriend, and meets Bud (Harry Dean Stanton, in a superb laid-back but intense performance) just to end up being envolved in the underground car repossession bussiness. When a reward of $20.000 comes along for a 1964 Chevy Malibu, a car obviously over-priced and driven by a lobotomy freak scientist who keeps a very glowing and deadly secret in the trunk, Otto jumps into one of the most bizarre and unbeliavable adventures a simple kid can get: a surreal, in-tune, modern-noir atmospheric tale of chases, incongruous but intelligent gags fulled of the most memorable dialogues of the pre-Tarantino era, and a truly beatnik-cool style that was the very landmark for other styles to come for the genre.

In a straight competition with these authentic and solid graphic circumstances, the music score must be heard to be believed: The travesty of distant Spaghetti western stereotypes combined with ferocious punk rock soundtracks by the classic bands "Fear", "The Plugz", "Suicidal Tendencies", and the main theme performed by our dear lunatic Iggy Pop, are the surface, the perfect adjunct for the movie, creating a world that trascends the screen, breaking into our nerves and consciousness for the ride of our lives. Fasten your seat-belts for this off-screw travel to the other side.

This milestone in grindhouse filmaking is a must see for every movie fan of the cult-film genre, and i dare to admit that it's almost impossible to apreciate the genre itself without admiring this outstanding piece of art. Every minute of this film reflects a phase of what we know, love or consider "B" in the cinema industry, in such a quality, rhythm and balance of diverse recognizable elements, that the very reason why we love to seat in front of a screen to spend our precious beloved time, is fully justified.

In conclusion, an entire chapter in the philosophy book of coolness, one of the ten commandments in the history of B-movie culture, and a classic film of epic proportions. The only way to vindicate your honor for the shame of not knowing this film, is to get it...25 years ago! MANDATORY viewing, required to enter the realms of Valhala!

Plate o'shirmp
The Noir Family favorite! No-good-nik punky teenagers run amok. Great 80's music. A runaway mad scientist with aliens in his trunk. Watch what happens when the policeman opens it up to see what's in there! The best character is Miller, the insane philosopher of the Re-possession company who doesn't drive. The more you drive the stupider you get, he asserts. It all ends up too whacked out to actually admit to following along but there is an encounter of the third kind. Sort of. Anyway.

Classic DVDs Your the best
I never realized it was a special edition DVD absolutely fantastic deal. Brought back memories of when my car was repossessed

Repo Man
This film with it's nihilist basis and emphasis on the healing power of alien cultures and technology, became a family favorite during the toughest years of blending. No holiday was complete without it. As a movie, I dunno, there's something new in it every time you see it. Hundreds (it seems) of subtle bits of humor. Family conversation is filled with little one liners like "put it on a plate, you'll enjoy it more". Repo Man isn't for everyone.
If you have strong religious convictions, better skip it. If you enjoy the humor in the dark side of human experience, consider giving it a try. The character's language is working class vernacular.