Arena (1989)

A human becomes an unlikely rising star in the biggest fighting tournament in the galaxy that's dominated by alien species.

Director:

Peter Manoogian

Writers:

Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo

Stars:

Paul Satterfield, Hamilton Camp, Claudia Christian

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Satterfield	...	Steve Armstrong
Hamilton Camp	...	Shorty
Claudia Christian	...	Quinn
Marc Alaimo	...	Rogor
Shari Shattuck	...	Jade
Armin Shimerman	...	Weezil
Brett Porter	...	Wayne
Charles Tabansi	...	Troy
Michael Deak	...	Horn
Jack Carter	...	Announcer
William Butler	...	Skull
Grady Clarkson	...	Commissioner Dent
David L. Thompson	...	Doctor (as Dave Thompson)
Ken Clark	...	Marcus
Diana Rose	...	Space Lady in Nightclub

Storyline

Steve Armstrong is a human short-order cook in a fast food restaurant on a "starstation" where the most popular arena fighting tournament in the whole galaxy is held. Members of various alien species fight one on one, often dirty, to become the ruling champions of the galaxy. The restaurant's sole waiter and Steve's boss is Shorty, a short four-armed scheming humanoid alien. When Steve saves Shorty from a particularly unpleasant and violent alien guest, they're both fired by the restaurant's automated A.I. for brawling. Shorty shows gratitude and they become friends. However, without jobs, they'll both be kicked off the space station. Thankfully, Quinn, a human female no-nonsense fighting promoter, who's in quick need of new fighters, hears about Steve's fight with the alien guest and offers him sponsorship. Human fighters have traditionally been defeated easily by naturally tougher alien fighters in previous tournaments and Steve would be a real underdog. Shorty manages to convince ...

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Plot Keywords:

boxing champion | bruise | human | cheating at a game | event organizer | 

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Taglines:

For a thousand years no human has been the champion. He wants to be the first.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film takes place in 4038.

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Goofs

Near the end of the movie when Mr. Weasel and Shorty are fighting above the ring Weasel repeatedly calls Shorty a Nebuloid the actual name of Shorty's race is Nebulite. Correction. As the makeup artist who handled the Weezil makeup, plus stunt doubling the character, I can say this definitely wasn't an error. Earlier in the film. Weezil refers to Shorty as a Nubian. I was on set when this was added and decided to continue the dialogue once I briefly took over the role.

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Quotes

Space Comic: Oh, I could stay all night, folks, but I gotta go. A hand for the boys in the band, and remember, I hate your guts!

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: The Killer Eye, They Bite, and Xtro (2013)

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Soundtracks

Living in the Galaxy
Music and Lyrics by Paolo Rustichelli
Performed by Shari Shattuck

User Reviews

Cheesy goodness from the 1980s.

Filmed in Italy by Charles Bands' Empire Pictures company, the likably cheese ball movie "Arena" is good fun for an undemanding viewer, comfortably predictable and with the usual assortment of good guys and bad guys. It's your basic tournament-based action flick, but with a twist: it takes place in a sci-fi setting, and most of the fighters are alien monsters. The champion among them is an egomaniac named Horn (Michael Deak, "Abominable"). Our hero is nice guy Steve Armstrong (Paul Satterfield, "Creepshow 2"), who only really wants to return to Earth. But when he needs to come up with some money in a hurry to pay off a smooth criminal, Rogor (Marc Alaimo, "Tango & Cash"), he agrees to participate in the tournament.

One gets no prizes for guessing what ultimately develops in this script, written by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo, the guys who concocted "Trancers" among other comedies and genre pictures. But there's still a reasonable amount of fun to be had in watching this stuff. You sure don't have to spend any time exercising your brain. You just enjoy the comedy, the sets, the basically decent acting, and the impressive display of masks and makeup effects created by John Carl Buechler and company. There's a lot of variety in their work. Also lending his abilities is unsung talent Screaming Mad George. The fighting is never exactly that great, but it is good for some laughs here and there.

Supporting Satterfield are a group of familiar faces. Hamilton Camp ("Evilspeak") is four armed Shorty, Steves' loyal sidekick. The stunning Claudia Christian ('Babylon 5', "The Hidden") and Shari Shattuck ("The Naked Cage", 'The Young and the Restless') as irresistible eye candy, Armin Shimerman as Weezil (buried under heavy makeup a couple of years before assuming his signature role of Quark in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'), William Butler ("Night of the Living Dead" '90) as Skull, and legendary comedian Jack Carter as an enthusiastic announcer. Shattuck also gets to perform two songs.

Overall, an amusing 94 minute long diversion.

Six out of 10.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arena

Filming Locations:

Empire Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Empire Pictures, Altar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Telecolor)