The Shape Of Things To Come (1979)

Earth has been devastated by the Robot Wars and mankind has settled a colony on the moon and other planets in the galaxy. But when the power mad ruler (Jack Palance) of a distant planet attacks a lunar colony, a team of scientists launch a dangerous mission against the dictator and his rebel army. Based on the novel by H.G. Wells and directed by George McCowan (FROGS). Although credited as an adaptation of the Wells novel, other than its title and a few character's names there is nothing of Wells book here. This low budget (and it shows) Canadian sci-fi film attempts to ride the coattails of current (at the time) films like STARS WARS (including a "cute" robot) and TV shows like BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Simplistic and often incoherent, it's not even fun in the way bad sci-fi movies can sometimes be. Special effects are crude, the acting is monotonous and Palance's overacting comes as a relief as at least something lively is going on. With Carol Lynley, John Ireland, Nicholas Campbell, Barry Morse and Anne Marie Martin, who is billed as Eddie Benton, a name she used as an actress until 1981.