Very cheap but enjoyable sequel to Fortress, this time set in space. Christopher Lambert was the only actor from the original to sign up for the sequel; he has come a long way since Greystoke. A highlight of the film involves the prisoners using rudimentary tools to connect a camera to the optic nerve of a cockroach, which they then send to infiltrate the warden's office. There is also a small amount of kung fu fighting.
It's very difficult to believe that this craptastic sequel to Fortress was directed by Geoff Murphy who made the New Zealand sci-fi classic The Quiet Earth as well as Goodbye Porkpie and UTU. Even Murphy's Under Siege 2 is a masterpiece compared to this intergalactic alien turd. Nobody makes any effort to elevate this from the z-grade crap it was designed to be. Pity Patrick Malahide and Pam Grier, who rub shoulders with action journeymen like Nick Brimble, Carl Chase and John Sharian. It's hard ot watch in every way. At least Christopher Lambert began to redeem himself by working with the Coen Brothers, Richard Kelly, and Claire Denis more recently in the years since this was made, to show that he can act. But this one is hard to forgive and forget. It even makes the first one look like a lost classic.
Heh heh heh, indeed Monsieur Lambert...