The Lawnmower Man (New Line Platinum Series)

Experiments change a simple lawnmower man into a superhuman being. The stage is set for a dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde struggle for the control of jobes mind the professor wanting to help mankind the other a group wanting to create an invincible war machine. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 02/03/2004 Starring: Pierce Brosnon Jeff Fahey Run time: 108 minutes Rating: R Director: Brett Leonard

In 1992, The Lawnmower Man was hailed as a CGI (computer-generated image) breakthrough. It's fascinating to consider it in a historical context, knowing it came just a year after Terminator 2: Judgment Day and was followed by Jurassic Park a year later. Written and directed by Brett Leonard, The Lawnmower Man focuses on a scientist (Pierce Brosnan) trying to utilize technology for governmental gain. As with all top-secret government projects in the movies, it goes horribly wrong. Forced to progress from a chimp to a human subject, Brosnan secretly recruits local backwards boy and lawnmower pusher Jobe (Jeff Fahey). The increases in intelligence are alarming. He learns Latin in two hours, becomes an object of sexual desire (apparently all it takes is cowboy boots), and then develops telepathic and telekinetic abilities. What the film ought to be remembered and appreciated for are the visuals, which undoubtedly advanced the arcade and home computer game industry. --Paul Tonks