I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Great Film overall

A Masterpiece!

Although Saturn 3 is clearly a low-key effort I think it really manages to be an entertaining picture.Regarding sci-fi movies people seems to always expect too much on the basic elements associated to the genre, like special effects and scientific accuracy.Since the movie doesn't try to explore deeply the latter the special effects are the real story here.It is dated alright, but there are great movies that were made decades ago that we considere dated and don't hold any prejudice against them like the Christopher Reeve-Superman films which are still the best out of the Superman movie franchise.If we watch a movie even if its inept in some aspects but we still try to understand what the makers of the film were trying to tell us them we can start appreciating a movie that in other way we would most likely look down without trying to give it an open-minded view.I was open-minded enough to see how the robot Hector was one of the most menacing space robots ever and how dark and claustrophobic the movie was.Do not expect a rumination about future, space or other common themes expected in sci-fi movies here this is basically a slasher film with a robot as villain that only happens to be on space, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining, cause it is.It has the legendary Kirk Douglas but still the movie is so dark that even Spartacus himself is unable to defeat the enemy ( Hector the robot ) without sacrificing himself in the process.The movie has a bizarre almost dream-like feel I think it's part of the films ineptitude that helped it being atmospheric, and i'm not being sarcastic here.If you remember Alien that was released the year before Saturn 3 that movie was dark Ripley being the sole survivor along with Jones the Cat but at least she was able to escape from Nostromo and after a brief terrifying final encounter with the title character she escaped to safety.In Saturn 3 Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett ain't that lucky their spacecraft is destroyed by Hector while they're trying to escape trapping all three together in the space station in Saturn's third moon ( hence the title ) and by doing so one of them will have to sacrifice himself ( the man, of course ) to save it's companion ( Fawcett ). Well I would like to see Lieutenant Ripley in that kind of situation at the end of Alien, who she would sacrifice except her? Jones the Cat? I gotta say that this movie tried to be visually poetic at times for example Kirk Douglas imolation taking Hector with him with explosives was so visually grotesque.They exploding together inside on the water, slow motion, human flesh and robot parts flying with water splashing all over so grotesque it reminded me of the infamous nauseating death of the great white shark in Jaws 4 : The Revenge.Actually this scene specifically seems to be influenced by a similar scene from Michelangelo Antonioni's Zabriskie Point.Overall this movie is inept, bizarre, grotesque, incomplete, ugly, laughable and unfocused, but is also ambitious, dark, cruel, unsensitive, cold, nightmarish, violent, transgressive and allucinating.It is not as sharp intelligent as Alien but still if your'e looking for a science fiction film that doesn't talk about science fiction but crazy murderous robots on the loose and Kirk Douglas giving a bizarre hilarious speech before killing himself, then this is certainly a great messy fun.

This somewhat sordid sci-fi thriller certainly marked an offbeat choice of material for the veteran director Stanley Donen, who was better known for making films such as "Singin' in the Rain" and "Bedazzled". It's just quirky enough to be watchable, with the actors gamely going with the flow. The major triumph in "Saturn 3" is the production design, by Stuart Craig, and the lighting, by Billy Williams. This is a great LOOKING film, albeit a somewhat underdeveloped one. It might have been nice had we gotten to know the characters a little bit better, so our rooting interest could be stronger.Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett play Adam and Alex, two lovers working in an underground space station on Saturns' third moon, Titan. Their job is to try to develop new foods for an underfed Planet Earth. Then along comes the unstable Captain Benson (Harvey Keitel), who makes life miserable for the two of them. For one thing, he quickly begins lusting after Alex (but who can blame him?) and, when he builds a giant helper robot named Hector (!), he is able to transfer his thoughts into Hectors' brain matter. So what we end up with is a terminator with a sex drive.One of the most curious details is hearing actor Roy Dotrices' voice coming out of Keitels' mouth. This situation - could one consider it a sexual *rectangle*? - is enough to make this at least somewhat memorable. It's a fairly trim film at a mere 88 minutes in length, and it gets down to business with some rapidity. Hector "himself" is humanoid in shape but still very much a mechanical, and "his" design is amusing. Kirk and Farrah make for an unlikely but somewhat appealing couple. Keitel looks rather uncomfortable as the unsubtle antagonist.This may be worth a look for curiosity seekers but they're advised to not get their hopes up or anything like that.Six out of 10.

The aging Major Adam (an able and robust performance by Kirk Douglas) and his much younger distaff partner Alex (sweetly played with charming naiveté by Farrah Fawcett) are stationed on a lone station located on one of Saturn's moons where they are working on ways to grow food for the starving masses back on Earth. Their idyllic existence gets ripped asunder by the intrusive presence of the depraved and unhinged Captain Benson (Harvey Keitel in fine menacing form) and his equally dangerous robot helper Hector.Director Stanley Donen offers a chilling vision of a cold, grim, and hedonistic future, relates the dark and compelling story at a steady pace, and generates some real nerve-wracking tension in the harrowing last third. The intelligent script by Martin Amis addresses such pertinent issues as overpopulation, depletion of precious resources, invasion of privacy, and the dehumanizing impact of advanced technology on mankind's soul in a thoughtful and provocative manner. Moreover, this film makes a valid point that technology is only as good or bad as the purpose it's put to use for. The lavish set design and snazzy special effects are pretty impressive (the towering Hector in particular comes across as genuinely imposing and frightening). The fact that Keitel's trademark New York accent was dubbed by Roy Dotrice with a more "continental" voice adds to the character of Benson's overall creepiness. Elmer Bernstein's spare pulsating score hits the moody spot. The glossy cinematography by Billy Williams provides a pleasing polished look. A neat and unjustly maligned movie.

In the future, Earth is overcrowded and the population relies on distant bases to be fed. In the Saturn 3 station, Major Adam (Kirk Douglas) and the scientist Alex (Farrah Fawcett), who is also his lover and has never been on Earth, have been researching hydroponics for three years in the base alone with their dog Sally. Meanwhile, the psychotic Captain Benson (Harvey Keitel) fails the mental test required to travel to Saturn 3 and kills his replacement, Captain James, taking his place in the mission of assembling and programming the Demi-God series robot Hector to replace one of the scientists in Saturn 3. On the arrival, the mentally disturbed Captain Benson becomes sexually obsessed for Alex. Then he uses an interface to link his brain to program Hector, but incapable to control his emotions, he transfers his homicidal tendency and insanity to Hector. Now Major Adam and Alex are trapped in the station with a dangerous psychopath robot."Saturn 3" is an underrated sci-fi cult from the 80's with a dark story that has not aged. The plot is very simple but creepy and the cast is very well selected: Kirk Douglas very mature but still handsome, convincing that Major Adam is capable to seduce Alex. The underrated actress Farrah Fawcett in the top of her beauty and showing parts of her body, seducing not only the psychopath Captain Benson but ( I believe) most of the male viewers. And Harvey Keitel is perfect as a mentally unstable man with sex drive on Alex. The non-commercial conclusion is also excellent and perfect for the story. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Missão Saturno 3" ("Mission Saturn 3")