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Lifeforce" was released June 21, 1985 in the USA. I was 10 years old that summer. My family went to the movies nearly every week, but we skipped that one. I can't be sure if it was VHS or HBO, but one Saturday my dad puts on "Lifeforce". I was 10, 11, or at the latest 12. I'll never forget the craziness that showed up on the Zenith tube TV when that flick started.If you know "Lifeforce", you might think: "That is about as hard R rated as just about anything in the 80s, what the hell where your parents doing letting you watch that?!?"
That is my dad. My mom was always asleep when he put this kind of stuff on. I must conclude that he just didn't care about the ratings. I've asked him several times, and he just laughs. I saw "Aliens" in 1986 at the Movie City 5 theater in Woodbridge, NJ. I was 11, my brother was 8.5! I remember waiting in line and being in the theater more clearly than I usually remember today.
"Lifeforce" formed an equally monumental memory. I believe it was the first time I had seen a woman completely nude. When Mathilda May appears on screen, I remember looking at my dad shocked like I had just seen one of the secrets of the universe. He made mock big eyes, smiled, and we just kept on watching! I only now realize that she is only 10 years older than me. She was most likely 19 when they shot the film. If you told pre-teen me that she was still a teen, my puddle of jelly brain would have imploded.
I was vividly reminded of this because Roger Ebert has a long review, an essay really, of the film because it is being released on Blu-ray April 30, 2013. If none of that persuades you to take a gander at this hidden gem, then perhaps the presence of Sir Patrick Stewart in the cast will.
By the way dad, I'm glad you ignored the ratings. I love you! I'll try to closely follow your movie showing examples, but I don't know if I will let my oldest son watch this pre-teen. It will be on his must see list sooner rather than later…