RAIDERS OF ATLANTIS (1983)
AKA ATLANTIS INTERCEPTORES
Label: Severin Films
Region Code: A
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 92 Minutes
Audio: English and Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Ruggero Deodato
Cast: Christopher Connelly, Gioia Scola, Tony King, Ivan Rassimov, George Hilton, Stefano Mingardo, George Hilton, Michele Soavi
Italian maestro Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust) directed this hi-octane 80's action-adventure flick starring Christopher Connelly (Manhattan Baby) as Mike and Tony King (Cannibal Apocalypse) as Washington, both former military men turned Miami-based mercenaries. At the start of the film abduct some poor guy reading in his comfy chair at his mansion and then stuff him into a body bag and zip-line him out a second story window, later handing him off to some shady guys who hand them a stack of cash and tell them to lay low for a while. Afterward they board a boat to head somewhere tropical to lay low for a bit, it's a goofy start to a fun bit of 80's insanity that's quite entertaining.
On their way to wherever they recover a team of scientists led by Professor Peter Saunders (George Hilton, All the Colors of the Dark) and pretty archeologist Dr. Cathy Rollins (Gioa Scola, Conquest), and scientific henchmen Bill Cook (Ivan Rassimov, Eaten Alive!), whose ocean platform lab/oil rig has been obliterated by freakish storm that caused gigantic waves that demolished the bathtub miniatures.
They had been investigating a carved stone tablet believed to be from the lost city of Atlantis, while also trying to recover a Russian nuclear-sub... anyway.
They end up on an island that at first appears to have been deserted, only to discover a post-apocalypse nightmare of Atlantean punk-rock marauders with mechanized war vehicles, none of which would be out of place in Mad Max 2. The marauders are lead by the aptly monikered Crystal Skull (Bruce Baron, Ninja Destroyer) who wears a clear skull-shaped helmet that encapsulates his whole head. Of course eventually this all leads to everybody converging at the recently risen domed-city of Atlantis where things get absolutely bonkers with all sorts of post-nuke styled mayhem including a marauding biker's decapitation by stringing a metal wire across the road and some Atlantean future tech (i.e. 80's lasers) and lots of explosive Strike Commando type jungle action.
Audio/Video: Raiders of Atlantis (1983) arrives on Blu-ray from Severin in 1080p HD framed in 1.85:1 widescreen scanned 4K from the IP. This appears to be an HD master licensed from Studio Canal based on seeing their logo pop-op before the film started. The source is in good shape and offers plenty of color but can be a bit soft spots, with some dirt and debris in the optical shots, but overall a very pleasing image that
Audio comes by way of English and Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with optional English subtitles. The disco-friendly score from Guido & Maurizio De Angelis (aka Oliver Onions) (Yor: The Hunter from the Future) sounds solid, especially the full-on disco anthem "Black Inferno" - it's a shame that this one didn't get a soundtrack CD as a bonus.
Extras kick-off with an brand new Audio Commentary with Vinegar Syndrome’s Brad Henderson and Actor Tony King, is a breezy listen and Henderson keeps things moving, prodding the actor to dig deeper into his recollections about the making of the film, his early days in the NFL, and some interesting career changes later in life working for NYC rap-legend's Public Enemy. We also get the 21-minute Ruggero And The Fate Of Atlantis – Interview with Director Ruggero Deodato who looks back on the making of the film, shooting in California, Rome and the Philippines, where he met with Imelda Marcos, producer Amato, the script and his relationship with actors and crew, and how the stigma of Cannibal Holocaust followed him through the years. Up next is the 12-minute Quest For Atlantis – Interview with Cinematographer Roberto D’Ettore Piazzoli who talks about various films that he has worked on, his collaboration with Deodato and a falling out they had because of Cannibal Holocaust. The disc is buttoned-up with a 3-minute Trailer for the film. The single-disc release arrives in a black keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring the fantastic illustrated movie poster.
Special Features:
- Ruggero And The Fate Of Atlantis – Interview with Director Ruggero Deodato (21 min)
- Quest For Atlantis – Interview with Cinematographer Roberto D’Ettore Piazzoli (12 min)
- Audio Commentary with Vinegar Syndrome’s Brad Henderson and Actor Tony King
- Trailer (3 min)
This chunk of 80's exploitation cheese is not always coherent in it's storytelling but it is a batshit goodtime that's loaded with action and 80's machismo. I loved the Atlantean action-adventure fun of it as well, and the well-executed action scenes - definitely not a film that's never boring. If you're into 80's action-cheese along the lines of Strike Commando, Invaders of the Lost Gold and 80's post-apocalyptic Italian films this is something you're absolutely gonna love. I appreciate Severin Films for making this one widely available with a solid transfer and extras, it was a hard one to come by for years!
Screenshots from the Severin Blu-ray:
