Saw it on the MGM channel a couple of months ago. Many good laughs and the film looks cool.
Goes down great with beer and pizza.
Arena is an American science fiction film directed by Peter Manoogian and starring
Paul Satterfield and
Claudia Christian.
Set in 4038, Satterfield plays Steve Armstrong, the first human in 50
years to compete in the intergalactic boxing sport called simply "The
Arena". 'The film was produced by
Charles Band and features original music by
Richard Band.
Steve Armstrong (Paul Satterfield) is working as a short order cook
on a space station somewhere in the galaxy. Overwhelmed by the volume of
orders, he repeatedly fouls up and soon finds himself in a
confrontation with an alien patron named Fang. After a fight which
smashes up the diner and leaves the alien injured, Steve and his friend
and co-worker Shorty (Hamilton Camp) are fired. As it turns out, Fang is
an Arena fighter, and his manager Quinn (Claudia Christian) confronts
Steve. Amazed that a human could beat one of her best fighters, Quinn
offers him a contract, but convinced that humans no longer have a place
in the Arena, Steve refuses, intending to make his way back to Earth.
Lacking sufficient money for a ticket, Shorty attempts to raise the
cash by gambling in an underground casino. The game is raided by the
authorities and in the confusion, Shorty pockets the money. Caught in
the act by crime boss Rogor (Marc Alaimo) and his enforcer Weezil (Armin
Shimerman), Shorty is held for ransom. Steve promises to pay off the
debt, so he reluctantly returns to Quinn and agrees to a contract.
Remarkably he wins his first match with an alien named Sloth in an
upset. He continues fighting, determined to prove that a human has what
it takes to be champion, and soon becomes a top contender. Despite
Rogor's multiple attempts to cheat, Steve ultimately wins the
championship from Rogor's top fighter, an alien named Horn (Michael
Deak).
Notes
- During one early scene, Armstrong's friend Shorty enters a seedy casino using the password "swordfish."
- The film's tag line "For a thousand years, no human has been the champion. He wants to be the first."
contradicts the actual plot as Marcus was the last human champion 50
years ago, and Steve describes him as the reason Steve became a fighter.
- Features future Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5
stars Marc Alaimo, Armin Shimerman, Hamilton Camp, Claudia Christian
and Shari Shattuck. Both shows also take place on a space station in the
future.
- Originally intended for a theatrical release, the film was released
directly to videocassette on September 19, 1991 by RCA/Columbia. On July
9, 2013 the film will be released on DVD as part of a 4-Pack with
America 3000, Eliminators, and The Time Guardian.