Low-tech space opera, played for laughs, has been a science-fiction staple at least since "Dark Star" and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" developed cult followings. A silly, sepia-toned Italian variation, "Apollo 54" (playing tonight and Sunday at the Harvard Exit), is the first feature-length creation of a gang of merry pranksters called The 54 Group. It follows long-haired scientist Bobby Joe and his dimmer co-pilot, Jim Bob, as they test the limits of space and time. Bobby Joe is fond of making pretentious announcements that explain each new twist in their adventure, while Jim Bob just wants to find a way back home. But making lunch is frankly more their speed. Slurping spaghetti and gorging themselves on subway sandwiches, they do battle with a space dragon that looks a lot like a roasted chicken once they're finished with it. Soon they're fighting over who gets to "analyze" it by taste-testing.
John Hartl,
Special to The Seattle Times
Today's schedule
Benaroya Hall
7:30 p.m. — "Alexander Nevsky"
Egyptian
3:30 p.m. — "The Secret of the Grain"
7 p.m. — "Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Tennis Shoes"
9:30 p.m. — "Visioneers"
Harvard Exit
4:30 p.m. — "Fields of Fuel"
7 p.m. — "The Bluetooth Virgin"
9:30 p.m. — "Apollo 54"
Pacific Place Cinema
4:30 p.m. — "Postcards From Leningrad"
7 p.m. — "Frozen River"
9:30 p.m. — "Leroy"
SIFF Cinema
4:30 p.m. — "Theater of War"
7 p.m. — "Love and Other Crimes"
9:30 p.m. — "Fairytale of Kathmandu"
Uptown
4:15 p.m. — "Lady Jane"
7 p.m. — "Summer Heat"
9:30 p.m. — "Perfect Match ... "
See Also
