Main Cast: Richard Jordan, Jami Gertz, Jason Patric, Lukas Haas, James LeGros, Adrian Pasdar
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A futuristic dystopia is the setting for this tale about good versus evil and a magical space-sphere out to reestablish a civilized society. An orphanage in a bleak and deserted landscape imprisons a large group of youngsters who have divided into good and bad groups. One day, while competing at roller-skate ball, the teams come across a bowling-ball-sized sphere named Bodhi (a Sanskrit word equivalent to "enlightened compassion"). Bodhi communicates with the good kids, but the bad ones cannot understand the sphere's electronic burbles. The nasty Darstar (Adrian Pasdar) steals Bodhi and heads out into the forbidden world beyond the orphanage. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
A post apocalyptic flick for the kiddies, 1986's Solarbabies is a fanciful trip through nostalgia for some, and a slam-bam hunk of junk for those unrealistic souls looking for a bit more in their post-nuke roller skating flicks. No matter what audience it plays to, this sci-fi yarn is immediately alluring because of its cast, with Jami Gertz and Jason Patric palling around just a year before they steamed up the screen in The Lost Boys, never mind the appearance of a young Lucas Haas or Richard Jordan in yet another juicy villainous role. All in all, the whole flick is a pretty silly trip through '80s culture; with the presence of roller skates never really folded thoroughly into the slim plot. On the plus side, at least one magnificent killer robot makes an appearance, which in some people's boat, is just enough to warrant a guilt-ridden viewing. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Don Dossett - Art Director, Pennie Du Pont - Casting, Meg Simon - Casting, Bob Ringwood - Costume Designer, Alan Johnson - Director, Conrad Buff - Editor, Mel Brooks - Executive Producer, Maurice Jarre - Composer (Music Score), Eric D. Andersen - Camera Operator, Jose Maria Alarcon - Production Designer, Anthony Pratt - Production Designer, Les Tomkins - Production Designer, Peter MacDonald - Cinematographer, Jack Frost Sanders - Producer, Irene Walzer - Producer, Graham Summer - Set Designer, Graham Sumner - Set Designer, Richard Edlund - Special Effects, Chris Columbus - Screenwriter, Walon Green - Screenwriter, Douglas Metrov - Screenwriter, Richard L. Anderson - Supervising Sound Editor, Smokey Robinson - Featured Music
