Solar Crisis Movie Review

In 2050 the sun begins throwing off giant solar flares which turn the Earth extra-crispy. A space team is sent to divert the heat waves, but the mission falls prey to corporate sabotage. Eye-popping special effects highlight this futuristic disaster pic, an international co-production with a jumble of plot tangents that testify to much reworking and re-editing that compelled director Richard Sarafian to use the standard industry pseudonym of ‘Allen Smithee’ in the credits, a sure sign something went awry. Note the talking bomb (voiced by Paul Williams), a bit borrowed from the much cheaper and better-regarded Dark Star. Based on a novel by Takeshi Kawata.

1992 (PG-13) 111m/C Tim Matheson, Charlton Heston, Peter Boyle, Annabel Schofield, Jack Palance, Corin “Corky” Nemec; D: Richard Sarafian; C: Russell Carpenter; M: Maurice Jarre; V: Paul Williams. VHS, LV VMK