# Lawnmower Man, The (1992)

### reviewed by
Murray Chapman

                                 THE LAWNMOWER MAN
                           A film review by Murray Chapman
                            Copyright 1992 Murray Chapman

I saw "Stephen King's THE LAWNMOWER MAN" yesterday. Unfortunately, it looks like yet another Stephen King project has made a mediocre movie.

This movie is about research into virtual reality and intelligence enhancement. Resident Mad Scientist Pierce Brosnan takes the lovable and retarded man who mows his lawn and tries to increase his intelligence.

The movie's computer generated scenes are visually stunning, however the movie is so seriously flawed in other areas that I found myself squirming every time they switched to real life action.

The sets were dark and gloomy--I am surprised that nobody tripped over the equipment which littered the lab. The dialogue was *obviously* re-recorded: two characters talking in a large concrete room should have some sort of echo, right? The imminent presence of either (a) a supernatural force, or (b) massive computer power is signalled by puffs of smoke and/or flashing lights.

No character development. No plot surprises. Plenty of characters with vultures on their shoulders.

The only way in which this movie is similar to SK's short story is the fact that there is a Lawnmower Man in it: someone who mows lawns. SK *did not* write the screenplay, nor does his name appear anywhere but in the title. (He was not an executive producer or anything like that.)

Virtual reality was handled *much* *much* *much* better in BRAINSTORM. Go and see THE LAWNMOWER MAN if you want ten minutes of stunning computer graphics and 90 minutes of B-grade plot.

Stephen King has declared himself an unabashed fan of B-grade movies. Well, he should be just thrilled to bits with this one. It has all of the cliches' of horror films from the 1950's, and likewise degenerates to a predictable apocalyptic ending.

    Rating: 7 out of 10.  (5 + 2 bonus for the SPFX)

    Murray Chapman
    muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au

    .

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