Some scientists team up with a duo of Vietnam vets to fight make-up wearing biker punks from the lost city of Atlantis which reemerges from under the water due to a sunken Russian submarine's radioactive missiles. Just typing that previous sentence makes my brain hurt and I haven't even gotten to the more nonsensical stuff. Ha.

OK, the plot is ridiculous and the film itself doesn't make a lick of sense, but this b-movie is amazingly fun and doesn't let up on the action. Think of it as a cross between Assualt on Precint 13, and mad max. If you loved those films, are willing to keep and open mind, and can turn your brain off for the duration of the film, you'll like this one a lot as well.

My Grade: A-

Side note: This movie can be found on side A of Disc 2 of the Grindhouse Experience 2 four DVD set, alas it's from an old VHS dub and the picture is far from optimal. Hopefully this unsung b-movie classic will be re-released in a remastered form (ok, probably not, but one can hope)

THE ATLANTIS INTERCEPTORS is a somewhat quick and slapdash addition to the Italian mini-wave of post-apocalypse movies that came out in the wake of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and the first two MAD MAX movies. This one is directed by Ruggero Deodato and it's fair to say that it's not one of his best films, lacking the raw power of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST for example. However, it does still manage to be one of his more entertaining efforts despite the shortcomings.

The first thing to mention here is that THE ATLANTIS INTERCEPTORS makes little sense in terms of plot. Atlantis rises to the surface after a nuclear accident and is protected by a giant plastic bubble. The inhabitants are the usual weirdly-dressed goons from the MAD MAX films, presided over by cult ninja star Bruce Baron playing a guy called 'Crystal Skull'. His appearance has to be seen to be believed.

Against them are a motley group of heroes played by the usual Italian stars like Ivan Rassimov and Christopher Connelly. Even Antonio Margheriti Tony King is here as the token black guy with a talent for kicking ass. What follows is an endless stream of action scenes as the plot barely strings together one set-piece following another. There's a siege on a house, a foot chase, a chase in a bus that directly references MAD MAX 2, and even some helicopter action. The ending goes into overt sci-fi territory and is the worst part of the movie, making little sense.

The sheer wealth of action in this film is what keeps it moving. There's the occasional gore effect of a decapitation or slashing but mainly this is about firepower, explosions, and stunt men earning their money. The early scenes in which the characters explore their newly-destroyed world are quite eerie and atmospheric, but these are soon dispensed with in favour of endless cheesy action. What harm is there in that? None in my book. THE ATLANTIS INTERCEPTORS is shallow but never less than fun.

A group of scientists and a pair of rough'n'tumble Vietnam veterans run afoul of a vicious bunch of crazed biker thugs who are direct descendants of the people from the fabled lost city of Atlantis. Said bunch plan on taking over the world. Can they be stopped before it's too late? Director Ruggero Deodato, working from a gloriously ridiculous and eventful script by Tito Carpi and Vincenzo Mannino, relates the delightfully wild'n'crazy story at a constant snappy pace, stages the exciting and plentiful action with rip-roaring panache, and sprinkles in a few nice bits of gore for good measure (a grisly decapitation rates as the definite splatter highlight). Moreover, the enthusiastic cast has a ball with the wacky material: Christopher Connelly displays mucho macho flair to spare as the rugged Mike Ross, Tony King holds his own as Mike's equally hard-bitten buddy Mohammed, the fetching Gioia Scola brings a spunky charm to her role as the feisty Dr. Cathy Rollins, Ivan Rassimov does well as the tough Bill Cook, Stefan Mingardo contributes an engaging turn as hearty criminal Klaus Nemnenz, George Hiltin is solid as the amiable Professor Peter Saunders, and Bruce Baron makes for a suitably menacing lead villain as the savage Crystal Skull. Both Roberto D'Ettorre's slick cinematography and the spirited funky jamming score by Oliver Onions are up to speed. Best of all, this film is done with a fiercely tight, brutal, and straightforward verve that gets right down to stirring brass tacks and delivers the satisfying loopy goods like nobody's business. A really fun flick.