Luke skywalker i et alternativt univers.

Luke skywalker i et alternativt univers.

Usually I don't watch many boxing movies but you add late 80s sci-fi camp to it and I will be seated!! This movie was so fun and I just loved the style of it. The awesome creature designs, the costumes, the characters fitting almost every boxing film stereotype...it's all very silly but that's what makes it so fun. It's bloodsport/rocky but in spaaaceeeee. This film is really impressive with its world creation and full sets you almost forget it's a low budget B-movie. The only flaws I will say are the fight scenes could've been a bit better, there could've been more of them in the actual arena, and the film tries to do that typical boxer starts strong, hits a low point, gets back up trope but the low point literally lasts like 2 scenes. Other than that this a really fun movie and one of the more impressive films in the Charles band catalog.

Usually I don't watch many boxing movies but you add late 80s sci-fi camp to it and I will be seated!! This movie was so fun and I just loved the style of it. The awesome creature designs, the costumes, the characters fitting almost every boxing film stereotype...it's all very silly but that's what makes it so fun. It's bloodsport/rocky but in spaaaceeeee. This film is really impressive with its world creation and full sets you almost forget it's a low budget B-movie. The only flaws I will say are the fight scenes could've been a bit better, there could've been more of them in the actual arena, and the film tries to do that typical boxer starts strong, hits a low point, gets back up trope but the low point literally lasts like 2 scenes. Other than that this a really fun movie and one of the more impressive films in the Charles band catalog.

Mos Isley meets Bloodsport. Oddly entertaining!

Mos Isley meets Bloodsport. Oddly entertaining!

A nice little B sci-fi to relax to after a long day. I'm surprised by how good make up and set design was. The story leaves a lot to be desired, though.

A nice little B sci-fi to relax to after a long day. I'm surprised by how good make up and set design was. The story leaves a lot to be desired, though.

Occupying a space between Star Wars and Rocky, Arena’s blend of sci-fi and sports flick is lesser than the sum of both genres. The incredible sets and the wacky costumes and effects make the visuals stand out but not against the noise of post-70s sci-fi flicks set in alien outer space. The sport at the center of it all, essentially boxing but with aliens and robots, is not shot in a way that best captures these concepts, as boxing as a sport is one typically shot from farther away during this time period. Lack of clarity and focus during these moments cause costumes and movement to blend together and unfortunately the story isn’t interesting enough to pick up any of the slack.

Occupying a space between Star Wars and Rocky, Arena’s blend of sci-fi and sports flick is lesser than the sum of both genres. The incredible sets and the wacky costumes and effects make the visuals stand out but not against the noise of post-70s sci-fi flicks set in alien outer space. The sport at the center of it all, essentially boxing but with aliens and robots, is not shot in a way that best captures these concepts, as boxing as a sport is one typically shot from farther away during this time period. Lack of clarity and focus during these moments cause costumes and movement to blend together and unfortunately the story isn’t interesting enough to pick up any of the slack.