"On November 21, 1990, when hit theaters, it was met with bad reviews, but it was also quickly forgotten, which revokes its "worst thing ever" status immediately. And 35 years later, the crime of Robot Jox isn't that it's forgettable or egregiously poorly made. Those things are true, but what's really interesting is that it was very clear, almost very good."
"Robot Jox takes place in a near future in which nuclear conflicts have led to war being made illegal. Instead, two major global powers remain, and in order to settle conflicts over resources and territory, they're required to have two massive human-controlled robots duke it out. Yes, the combatants are inside of massive esque battle mechs, decades before Pacific Rim, but with none of the charm. Instead, the goofy robot battles are made far less enjoyable by the bleak, Cold War-obsessed themes."
Robot Jox is set in a near future where nuclear conflicts led to a ban on war, and two dominant powers resolve disputes through gladiatorial matches between giant human-piloted robots. Combatants control massive mechs to settle resource and territorial conflicts, creating spectacle but limited charm. The two powers are clear stand-ins for the United States and the USSR, producing dated Cold War–obsessed themes. Characters include the abrasive Russian pilot Alexander and heroic Achilles, whose accidental knockdown of a mech injures spectators. The film opened November 21, 1990 to poor reviews and faded quickly, yet it displays moments of clarity and near-success amid uneven execution.
Read at Inverse
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