Adam From-Columbotron Zoid Now THIS is a FILM!! A REAL FILM, from top to bottom, inside and out. It was made for people who love film. If you have seen the trailer for this film and are wondering if the actual movie lives up to the trailer, well that trailer doesn't even scratch the surface. Even though the trailer too is awesome, this movie itself is a million times better than you think it will even be after watching the trailer. I'm sure you have read the synopsis, so I will spare you going over the plot points here and just tell you why you should see this film. From the very first frame to the vast last, even after the ending credits have rolled, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X is a true MASTERWORK of Art and Wizardry, through and through. Such fine care and attention went into every last detail and frame of this film, that I feel blessed to be able to sit back and witness the final vision and you should too. What I respect about it most is that it has such an extraordinarily strong sense of self identity, that it does not falter from it's unique and strange personality for even a second. This film lives in its own universe. It does not care to please the masses. It only cares to be itself...to live and breathe in the universe that it is.Both Quintin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez could learn more than just a thing or two from watching this film. This film reaches a point of greatness that those two have been TRYING to reach their whole careers but nearly always seem to just fall short of; here comes Paul Bunnell seemingly out of nowhere to show them how it's really done. The Johnny X film does not attempt greatness, it IS greatness! Everything from the directing, cinematography, slick camera work, lighting, editing, set designs, musical numbers, and the writing are all exceptionally on point. The whimsically rhythmical pacing of scenes and shots plus the purposeful overly theatrical acting also make this extremely fun to watch. Then there is the dialog... there is no shortage when it comes to ingeniously witty comedic dialog that will have you literally laughing out loud throughout the length of the film. The unbelievably brilliant wit and perfect comedic timing of the dialog makes this film absolutely HILARIOUS and worthy of multiple viewings! I've seen this movie twice now, and it's even better the 2nd time around. If this particular B&W Kodak Film Stock had to go out, then I'm glad it went down in a blaze of Johnny X glory. It's better than Sin City in every single way. Not since Road Racers has Rodriguez even come close to touching Johnny X.If you were able to take and combine Robert Rodriguez and Quintin Tarantino, bring them back to their glory days and make them way better at what they do and took away the extreme violence and mean spirited nature of their films and replaced it with superior quick wit and musical numbers, you would still only be looking at mere surface of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X. It's time put on your specks and watch this film for yourself and see what I'm talking about!! This movie is better than any hype I could give it. It is destined to become a cult classic.The Ghastly Love of Johnny X is a film that is more than deserving of the Criterion treatment. Not only does this film stand up tall along side the best movies ever made, it is also historically significant being the last feature to ever be shot on the B&W Kodak Plus-X film. I wouldn't be at all surprised if at some point soon we see a Johnny X blu-ray as part of The Criterion Collection.

jamesjohnson78 This movie has great possibility, good directing, well-matched casting, and a campy fun theme song. The ideas, locales, retro feel, editing, and all else were pretty darn good too. But like most of the others have pointed out, the SCRIPT.If we are too assume a faithful translation, then we get a roller coaster of a plot with quite a few holes. And a movie that in the end does not feel certain of what it is. Is it a father/son film? Is it a period comedy musical? Is it a science fiction film with all of this rolled into one? There seems to be almost 5 to 10 minute chapters where the whole tone of the film shifts from serious to funny, cheese to drama, all on a flip of a fade-out.I do not want to get down on the guys who brought us this, it was really good for a first attempt. But might I make a few suggestions? Why is the second-rate group member not considered equal and eventually goes on a rampage? What is "The Pill", and what does it do? Why did Johnny almost out of nowhere like the Soda Jerk? (Its hinted at, but just not brought over the edge of belief.) And while the ending does provide a clean break to possible love triangle, it still feels somewhat somewhat flat. The last minute choice at the ending for Johnny makes sense though, and I would like to see Keenan play that character in a possible future escapade. Please just iron out the overall feel of any future scripts and I will happily buy that DVD.

lhumbird This is a unique kind of a movie, no question there. The genre is more or less unclassifiable.Let's get to the point. For all the ways I wanted this movie to be great, it's so-so at best. It's disorganized and inconsistent.But the movie has one high point: De Anna Joy Brooks. She plays "Bliss", a member of the Ghastly Gang from another world, sent to earth as punishment or perhaps redemption. Brooks literally steals the movie with one song and dance routine, "These Lips That Never Lie." She is positively dripping with personality and suave. I wish I could say that about the rest of the cast, but De Anna is the only one who's clearly overqualified for this movie.Overall, I'd say skip this movie. But don't miss De Anna's dance number, perhaps on YouTube, etc. I've watched it a dozen times and never tire of it.

photoenthusiast It has been many years since I've seen a movie as intriguing, bizarre, and fun as THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X, and that is the truth. This big screen spectacular is a crazy concoction, consisting of juvenile delinquents from outer space, assorted low-budget B-movie plot devices, and a cast of characters prone to bursting into song at a moment's notice. Yes, this is a comedy. In fact, it is actually a sci-fi/musical comedy with film noir thrown in for good measure, a genre (or sub-genre) with very few examples to speak of. The whole thing is beautifully photographed in black and white, and it all comes together thanks to the vision of director Paul Bunnell, who assembled a dedicated team both on and off-screen. The result is a movie overflowing with energy and good old-fashioned showmanship.The plot revolves around Johnny X, just your average leather jacket wearing bad boy from another planet, exiled to Earth with his devoted gang, known as The Ghastly Ones. Bliss is a former girlfriend trying to escape Johnny, and Chip is the naive soda-jerk who gets involved in her plight. These roles are well played by a trio of talented and attractive young actors. De Anna Joy Brooks as Bliss delivers cutting remarks and sultry solos with equal aplomb, while Les Williams is sincere, likable and properly earnest as Chip. Will Keenan as the title character is the glue that holds the plot together, dark and brooding, with tongue firmly in cheek.Other stars include Paul Williams as talk show host Cousin Quilty, and Reggie Bannister, as hapless concert promoter King Clayton. Creed Bratton is very effective as the outrageous and twisted Mickey O'Flynn, The Man with the Grin. Film buffs take note: This movie also includes veteran actor Kevin McCarthy's final on screen performance!A tremendous asset to the movie is the music, an infectious blend of surf-guitar rock and Broadway show tunes. All of the songs are excellent, with my personal favorite being the sizzling "These Lips That Never Lie", performed at an old Drive-In theater. Another number - "Big Green Bug-Eyed Monster" - is exciting as well as dramatic. The musical arrangements are stylized and pleasingly retro, and I hope a soundtrack cd is forthcoming (the music is that good!).No major flaws come to mind, although in my opinion the time period is not immediately evident. It seems to be set in the past, due to certain props, the use of vintage automobiles, and the fact that the Ghastly Ones are clearly fans of 1950s-era clothing. However, other visuals and references place the story in contemporary times. Best to assume the movie takes place in the present, just in its own special universe, and not worry too much about it!Ultimately, the movie works thanks to the efforts of the extremely talented cast and crew, and their obvious love of the various film genres being parodied. They took a truly wacky concept and hammered out their own little cinematic masterpiece. It certainly deserves a healthy theatrical run, and I can easily see it continuing beyond that on the midnight movie circuit. THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X is tuneful, suspenseful, and full of genuinely funny dialogue. Above all, it is entertaining, and that is exactly what a good movie should be.