"Deathsport" is one of those films that have been lying on my DVD-shelf unwatched since years already because, quite frankly, it always looked like a really stupid movie and I have to be in a rare and specific mood to enjoy really stupid movies. But right now I was in urgent need of a movie starring David Carradine and this was the only one within reach. Come to think of it, I ought to have selected a much better movie for my tribute to this terrific cult/action cinema legend that sadly passed away this week (3rd of June 2009). "Deathsport" is a prototypic Roger Corman product from the late 70's. Obviously cheap and rapidly put together in order to further cash in on the unexpected but giant success of the previous "Death Race 2000"; also starring Carradine and also set in a crazed futuristic setting. But apart from this handful of superficial elements (also including the similar title), there's actually no real connection between "Death Race" and "Deathsport". This is merely an attempt to imitate "Star Wars", with a lot of cheesy light-and-laser weaponry, and an unintentional predecessor to post-apocalyptic gladiator movies that became particularly popular during the 80's. In a very distant future, practically the entire world has been destroyed due to nuclear warfare. Only a few big cities are left, surrounded by endless wastelands where cannibalistic mutants are continuously on the prowl. Life inside the big city isn't that much better, though, as Lord Zirpola is slowly going bonkers through brain disease and becomes increasingly obsessed with "Deathsport". This is a Roman-type of arena battle and Zirpola ordered his right hand – the malignant Ankar Moor – to capture the mystically empowered Range Guides Kaz Oshay and Deneer to fight till the death. The Guides are good hearted nomads, however, and rather than to obey and fight, they flee into the wastelands. Okay, admittedly this sounds like a rather complex and ambitious plot, but I can assure you that "Deathsport" is actually a pretty brainless and rudimentary Sci-Fi vehicle. Everybody always complains about the low quality level of early 80's Italian apocalypse movies, but honestly flicks like "The New Gladiators", "The Atlantis Interceptors", "Endgame" and "The New Barbarians" are a whole lot better than this dud. "Deathsport" is boring and repetitive, with really laughable special effects (the vaporizing weapon looks like a vacuum cleaner) and pitiable scenery (the so-called Death Machines are ordinary bikes with a metal plant on the front). The only highlights in the film occur whenever Richard Lynch appears on screen, as he gives away a deliciously over-the-top cheesy performance as the evil and crazy-eyed Ankar Moor. Well okay, other highlights include Claudia Jennings' multiple nude sequences and the scene where a dude drives off of a tremendously high cliff in slow-motion. David Carradine is sadly mundane and uninspired in this lame production and this definitely isn't one of the movies he'll get remembered for. I can list at least two dozen of movies that I rather watched instead. Rest in peace, grasshopper. You were the total definition of cool and handsome.

Deathsport, was the sequel to Deathrace 2000. It stars David Carradine, and the late Claudia Jennings. Science fiction films were enjoying a resurgence in the late 70s, after virtually disappearing from the silver-screen, earlier in the decade. This was no doubt, due to the phenomenal box-office success of Star Wars. This film has lots of flashy special effects, noble heroes (Jennings and Carradine), sinister villains, high-tech weaponry, fast futuristic vehicles, etc., etc., etc. Only Deathsport is a film that takes place right here on Earth, rather than in outer space. So, that's mainly what differentiates it from the traditional science fiction movie.The dialog in Deathsport is excessively lofty, and winds-up being laughable as a result. You just can't take it seriously. It's a pity that both Carradine and Jennings, are stuck having to recite such hokey lines. The two of them, are what really holds this otherwise mediocre film together. Both Jennings and Carradine have a good chemistry between them, and are well-matched in their acting abilities.The performances of Claudia Jennings and David Carradine, are the only reason to see Deathsport. Otherwise it's a humorless, boring movie, and not worth your time.

This is the ultimate "get your freinds togeter and yell at movie"!! Agreed the effects are cheap, the acting bad, and the "jet" motorcycles. But it's endering in it's ineptness, defiately worth a rental.

The previous comments hit the mark perfectly. This is one of the clunkiest, most inept, most plotless post-apocalyptic "sci-fi" flicks you're ever likely to see. Claudia Jennings has a showstopping nude scene, but that's not a strong enough reason to sit through "Deathsport"'s awful sound effects, insufferably bad dialogue and lame action scenes. (*1/2)