- Actors: Sean Connery, Frances Sternhagen, Peter Boyle, James Sikking, Kika Markham
- Directors: Peter Hyams
- Writers: Peter Hyams
- Producers: Charles Orme, Richard A. Roth, Stanley O'Toole
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English, Arabic
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: 5 Sep 1998
- Run Time: 112 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CX8J
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,562 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Outland is another in a long line of Westerns retooled for science fiction. Writer-director Peter Hyams (Capricorn One, 2010, Timecop) re-stages High Noon in outer space, with Sean Connery as O'Neil, the marshal for a settlement on one of Jupiter's moons. While investigating the deaths of some miners, O'Neil discovers that mine boss Peter Boyle has been giving his workers an amphetamine-like, work-enhancing drug that keeps them productive for months--until they finally snap and go berserk. When Boyle sends killer henchmen to neutralize the lawman, O'Neil is unable to get the miners to back him up. Outland is no classic but it offers solid suspense in an otherworldly atmosphere. It also stars Frances Sternhagen, James B. Sikking (Howard on television's Hill Street Blues) and John Ratzenberger (later to become famous as Cliff on the sitcom Cheers). --Jim Emerson
Special Features
Wide Screen
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailer
Arabic
English
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailer
Arabic
English
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Criminally overlooked by the general sci-fi public. This is truly, a hidden treasure. A 21st century spin on the classic 'dodge city' style western where the new sheriff comes to town and is determined to run out the corrupt rulers of an off-world mining colony. Sean Connery very quickly finds himself alone against a huge corporate machine who will stoop to ruthless levels to protect their mining productivity. I won't spoil it by saying more, but if you like a good, well written screenplay, superb acting and a solid suspense, action/thriller - this will thrill you to bits!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
*WARNING: SPOILERS!*
'OUTland' (as it is spelt) is an interesting film: a take on High Noon and quite a few other Westerns but set in the future 'wild west' of Io - one of Jupiter's moons.
Sean Connery plays O'Niel, a marshall trying to prove his worth and claw back some self respect by taking on a drug ring operating in a mining colony. His family have abandoned him (understandably so, it has to be said) on Io and the big man has decided to start making a difference. On this level it really is about a man alone trying to prove his worth to nobody but himself. O'Niel is a loner - not by choice - but has one friend in the grumpy medical officer (brilliantly played without an ounce of pity by Frances Sternhagen). And when the drug ring hire killers to take O'Niel out, the marshall and the doctor team up to bring down the operating corruption of the mining colony.
The film is quite slow paced but looks and feels terrific. Sean Connery gives a brilliant performance - no twinkly eyed tricks and sleepwalking through the role here. Connery is a strong presence and the film is worth seeing for him alone.
Another plus is Jerry Goldsmith's score. It's a thrilling piece of scoring that sits well with the on-screen action without ever detracting from it. Along with some excellent production design, the film very nearly hits all the right notes.
Sadly, it falls to pieces in the climax where Connery - somehow - becomes the ultimate action hero and dispatches the assassins with ease (in earlier scenes, his character appears more natural and fallible in the fight sequences). And how many death's by exploding head can you have in a movie outside of Cronenberg's 'Scanners'?
Another annoyance is Peter Hyam's use of captions that seem to last an age (especially the tiresome opening crawl - it's really unnecessary) and at times you can look at 'OUTland' as a more violent template for '2010'.
Those expecting a fast, action-packed thrill ride might also be wearied of the rather languid pace the film. Personally, I think it works in favour of the film, also keeping in tone with the Western build up to the big showdown.
These minor gripes aside, 'OUTland' is well worth checking out. It holds the tension throughout the film, is paying a clever homage to the Western and contains one of Sean Connery's strongest performances.
'OUTland' (as it is spelt) is an interesting film: a take on High Noon and quite a few other Westerns but set in the future 'wild west' of Io - one of Jupiter's moons.
Sean Connery plays O'Niel, a marshall trying to prove his worth and claw back some self respect by taking on a drug ring operating in a mining colony. His family have abandoned him (understandably so, it has to be said) on Io and the big man has decided to start making a difference. On this level it really is about a man alone trying to prove his worth to nobody but himself. O'Niel is a loner - not by choice - but has one friend in the grumpy medical officer (brilliantly played without an ounce of pity by Frances Sternhagen). And when the drug ring hire killers to take O'Niel out, the marshall and the doctor team up to bring down the operating corruption of the mining colony.
The film is quite slow paced but looks and feels terrific. Sean Connery gives a brilliant performance - no twinkly eyed tricks and sleepwalking through the role here. Connery is a strong presence and the film is worth seeing for him alone.
Another plus is Jerry Goldsmith's score. It's a thrilling piece of scoring that sits well with the on-screen action without ever detracting from it. Along with some excellent production design, the film very nearly hits all the right notes.
Sadly, it falls to pieces in the climax where Connery - somehow - becomes the ultimate action hero and dispatches the assassins with ease (in earlier scenes, his character appears more natural and fallible in the fight sequences). And how many death's by exploding head can you have in a movie outside of Cronenberg's 'Scanners'?
Another annoyance is Peter Hyam's use of captions that seem to last an age (especially the tiresome opening crawl - it's really unnecessary) and at times you can look at 'OUTland' as a more violent template for '2010'.
Those expecting a fast, action-packed thrill ride might also be wearied of the rather languid pace the film. Personally, I think it works in favour of the film, also keeping in tone with the Western build up to the big showdown.
These minor gripes aside, 'OUTland' is well worth checking out. It holds the tension throughout the film, is paying a clever homage to the Western and contains one of Sean Connery's strongest performances.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Other reviews here describe this film as deserving of greater recognition so I though it might be worth explaining why you're likely to watch it and think "that was okay" rather than "wow!". I think there are two reason:
The first is that there are problems with with plot. It's a reworking of the western "High Noon" but whereas it make some sense that the marshal in High Noon doesn't just call for backup I did wonder why Connery's character didn't do that? Sure, the locals were all corrupt but a call to Earth would have resulted in there being more than one cat amongst the pigeons. He also made very little preparation for the arrival of the bad guys and even sits watching them on a video link while they disembarked the shuttle, assemble their weapons, and set about looking for him. Fortunately luck is on his side especially when it turns out that the bad guys can't shoot straight. The shame of this is that with a few tweaks it could have been much more sensible and with a more satisfying outcome.
The second issue is that the environment in which all of this takes place looks very much like the Nostromo from Alien. As I scan across the other sci-fi on my shelf I can identify similar plot issues in most of them but they all have their own unique sci-fi eye-candy. Outland doesn't because it's borrowed so heavily from Alien and I think that this is probably the main reason you haven't heard of it. Borrowed plot. Borrowed aesthetics. There's nothing new here to get excited about.
Outland is a worthwhile addition to any sci-fi collection but I don't anticipate that there are any sci-fi fans out there who would include this in there top 10. Not because there's anything really wrong with this movie, but because there are better movies to choose from.
The first is that there are problems with with plot. It's a reworking of the western "High Noon" but whereas it make some sense that the marshal in High Noon doesn't just call for backup I did wonder why Connery's character didn't do that? Sure, the locals were all corrupt but a call to Earth would have resulted in there being more than one cat amongst the pigeons. He also made very little preparation for the arrival of the bad guys and even sits watching them on a video link while they disembarked the shuttle, assemble their weapons, and set about looking for him. Fortunately luck is on his side especially when it turns out that the bad guys can't shoot straight. The shame of this is that with a few tweaks it could have been much more sensible and with a more satisfying outcome.
The second issue is that the environment in which all of this takes place looks very much like the Nostromo from Alien. As I scan across the other sci-fi on my shelf I can identify similar plot issues in most of them but they all have their own unique sci-fi eye-candy. Outland doesn't because it's borrowed so heavily from Alien and I think that this is probably the main reason you haven't heard of it. Borrowed plot. Borrowed aesthetics. There's nothing new here to get excited about.
Outland is a worthwhile addition to any sci-fi collection but I don't anticipate that there are any sci-fi fans out there who would include this in there top 10. Not because there's anything really wrong with this movie, but because there are better movies to choose from.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
'High Noon' in space? Not really?
I'm a big fan of 'High Noon' and when I heard that this movie was a) a remake of it b) directed by Peter Hyams I had to get it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anvil Echoes
Where a few have gone before....
Seen originally at a cinema and caught on DVD. No doubt - High Noon in Space; not as fun as Battle Beyond the Stars ( which is the Ateam and Magnificent Seven in Space). Read more
Published 3 months ago by Man from poundstretcher
Cheap & Cheerful
Sean Connery is a remarkable actor. He is the only one I can think of who can turn a mediocre movie into something really watchable. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Seatinthestalls
Reasonably entertaining, but an awful ending.
I'm a big sci-fi fan, and I bought this at a reasonable price to see what it was like.
It had a similar narrative to many of the other sci-fi films I've watched lately,... Read more
It had a similar narrative to many of the other sci-fi films I've watched lately,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. M. W. Lawson
Overlooked classic
I think this is a great story, set in a future where it is not clean and white like 2001 a space odyssey, but instead it is a hard life on grimy, cramped setting on a distant... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr T
Typical garbage
The story is basically non existent and the action scenes are just plain boring. A marshal boards a ship with a drug infestation, and he decides to take them all down because he... Read more
Published 16 months ago by words with wonder
Great film
Outland is an oldie but a goldie. Connery plays a 'sheriff' in space combating hired killers determined to 'take him out'. It's not a complicated plot, but it's a good watch.
Published 17 months ago by Ja macadam
Could be a classic
I bought this as I vaguely remembered seeing it when it came out years ago. Though a bit dated compared with modern technology in film making now, this is still a very good science... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Glyn
Outlandish
Seen quite a few Connery flicks in my time but never heard of this until recently. Its pretty good as it's a bit diferent to what he would usually do. Read more
Published 21 months ago by The bhoys
Outland!
Outland is an excellent film with Sean Connery playing the starring role as a Marshall on a remote mining outpost, where the miners use a drug to enhance their ability to... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Je Salter
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