As "Futureworld" opens, the Delos Corporation is determined to make up for all of the bad publicity they received when the robots of their Westworld environment malfunctioned. They invite several dignitaries, as well as reporters Chuck (Peter Fonda) and Tracy (Blythe Danner),convinced that they've eliminated the bugs in their program. Well, Chuck is suspicious from the start, even more so when he makes contact with a former Delos employee who wanted to spill some vital information. So when he arrives at Delos's vacation resort, he does a lot of snooping around before finding out that there's a nefarious plan being hatched by resort employees. As one can see from this synopsis, this sequel is more in the conspiracy thriller vein than the action movie vein. The summary in the Leonard Maltin paperback is quite accurate when it says "short on action, but intelligently done". It's an interesting plot, to be sure, not developing in the way one might expect it to. The pacing is deliberate, and things never really build to a fever pitch, which could disappoint those viewers hoping for a more exciting experience. It also reduces the memorable character of the robot Gunslinger (Yul Brynner briefly reprises the role) to an afterthought; it's truly disappointing to see it reduced to starring in a dream sequence. Still, this is pretty entertaining stuff that benefits from very good performances. Fonda and Danner are both appealing as always, generating some good chemistry. (One amusing touch is having Chuck always address Tracy as "Socks"!) The excellent supporting cast includes Arthur Hill as Delos employee Duffy, John P. Ryan as stiff and humourless scientist Dr. Schneider, Jim Antonio as upbeat guest Ron Thurlow, and the highly engaging Stuart Margolin as blue collar worker Harry, with bit parts played by the likes of Robert Cornthwaite, Darrell Larson, John Fujioka, and 'Password' host Allen Ludden. The film also has a good look going for it thanks to art director Trevor Williams and cinematographers Gene Polito and Howard Schwartz; the rousing music is courtesy of Fred Karlin. All in all, "Futureworld" isn't going to appeal to people who love a fast pace and major set pieces, but those looking for a more low key sci-fi flick just might want to give it a look. Seven out of 10.

"Westworld" was a very good adventure film...and I was very impressed when I re-watched it recently. However, I never got around to watching its sequel until now...and it's very good but also very different in tone from the original. Also, oddly, the sequel was released by American International and the original was from MGM.

When this story begins, you learn that after the Westworld disaster, instead of closing down the park for good, it was re-opened---and now it's much larger and with many new lands. However, when reporter Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda) talks to an insider about the park, he's told there is a big story....and the insider will tell Browning when they meet. Naturally, this means that by the time they meet, someone has attacked the whistleblower....and he dies in Browning's arms. Now Browning is determined to get to Delos and investigate...and he and his partner (Blythe Danner) enjoy Futureworld and its space theme. But it's not all fun and games....and soon Chuck's prying result in their learning the evil truth about the Delos Corporation.

So is it any good? Yes...just very different...which is a good thing. The story is creative, the acting quite nice and I enjoyed it. My only complaints are minor--such as some very broad stereotypes on the plane ride to Delos. It's embarrassing seeing a Japanese businessman holding a katana (WHO brings a Samurai-style sword with them when they travel) and his partner constantly snapping photos. And, a bit of the dialog is a cheesy. Still, overall an enjoyable and worthy follow-up film.

By the way, while you might not think it, the CGI in the film was pretty amazing for 1976.

When we left the resort of the super rich Delos it was in tatters after the robots revolted and left a lot of dead and devastation in Westworld. Now in the sequel Futureworld the place has been opened again for the rich and famous to indulge their fantasies.

Like Jurassic Park you'd think after the disaster they had in the first film the idea behind this would be dead and buried. But no Arthur Hill the new head of the corporation that runs Delos and the place is back better than ever just that the Westworld old west section of the resort is now shut down.

A dying man gives reporter Peter Fonda a tip that something is terribly amiss at Delos. Fonda goes on the story, but he's also saddled with a Katie Couric type news anchor in Blythe Danner who is doing a puff piece on the resort at Hill's behest. They work, not often in tandem to uncover the story.

Let's just say that Hill has found a new use for the robots at Delos, a combination of Frankenstein and The Pod people.

Yul Brynner makes a return as the robot gunslinger who seems to be back in working order after being demolished in Westworld. He gives Blythe Danner the time of her life, you know once you go robot you never want anything else. And as that song says, "save a horse, ride a cowboy".

Westworld was interesting but this was a markedly inferior sequel with parts of the story that were just too silly to be real.