Excellent Film, both Un-Dated and Underrated

D_Burke

I bought the DVD of this movie at the local rental place for just six dollars. I was tentative about the movie because the DVD had no special features whatsoever, and Christian Slater has made some bad movies over the last few years (e.g. "Alone In The Dark" (2005), "Hard Rain" (1998)). This film, however, is up there with Slater's best such as "True Romance" and "Murder In The First".

This film was made just as the decade of cheesy teen flicks had come to a close, which is why I originally thought this film would fall into that category. However, this film is remarkably good. It's so good in fact that I have already seen it twice, and will soon see it again a third time.

So what makes this movie so good? For one, the insight of Hard Harry is often times hilarious, and the music he played on his pirate radio station literally foreshadows the ends of the hair metal days and the beginning of grunge. There are no hideous trends capitalized in this film, and no dated catch phrases. If this movie came out today, it would fit in pretty well aside from the fact that there are no computers in the film. Besides that, though, the film is timeless.

Some people had some quarrels with the ending where you hear a collage of voices on other pirate radio stations. Some people said it was too cheesy, especially the part where the girl said, "Can anyone hear me out there?". I didn't think so, though. I thought the movie ended on an inconclusive but appropriate note, and without being too over the top.

If there was one thing I would have liked to have seen added to this film, it would have been more in the beginning about Christian Slater's character building the radio station. I would have liked to have seen how he did it, and also how he began building a huge following. But then again, that kind of beginning would have focused more on the rise and fall of the station than what Slater had to say as Hard Harry. It would make for a pretty good prequel though, if anyone wanted to make one by now.

Overall, though, awesome film that is a vital component of my DVD collection. If you who are reading this review ever get a chance, pick up a copy at your video store. Not too many rental stores have it to rent, but Netflix probably does. Check it out for yourself.

score 9/10

D_Burke 9 August 2007

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1708813/