Circus Galaxus (sci-fi, action)
Circus Galaxus Logline: A trickster hero in the deadly world of the ultimate gladiator game show.
Once upon a time…
ALEC Gonzales works as a greeter at Leo’s Gym – moonlights as a clown (good physical skills – juggling, etc.). Like Rodney Dangerfield, he just doesn’t get any…
LEO (yes, Leo of Leo’s Gym) kicks sand in Alec’s face – challenges him (if he has the balls) to try out for Circus Galaxus. Of course EMMA is right there watching.
At the tryout: Arnold, Lou, Sly, Vin – you know the ilk. Alec is the shrimp in this sea except nobody expects his impressive physical gifts (think Steve Martin in the opening duel in “Roxanne.”) Alec wins a slot on “Team America.”
Sequestered in a warehouse, the training sessions begin under the tutelage of CHIRON – a powerful, wise Game-Master whose humanity one might question.
And then the mysterious transport into orbit – or is it? This is a Hollywood game show, right? Have the powers that be shipped us into some grandiose “Truman Show” set or is this really space and are these real aliens?
Escorted into the first round of the competition, dead bodies stacked in the hall – holy shit! Could this be Tropic Thunder instead of Truman Show?
It’s Tropic Thunder as each team is winnowed down to four members through bloody attrition. Alec’s physical gifts keep him relatively unscathed. Leo and Emma get through as well.
Something truly horrific is going to happen to everyone on Earth, except for twenty million who will be spared - seed stock for some off-world existence. And the surviving gladiators determine the criteria for who is evacuated to safety.
So far Alec has been able to best opponents with trickery (and fabulous physical skills) but when he sees that Emma is about to be killed, Alec sacrifices his innocence – kills her opponent. Alec’s trickster heart is (apparently) dead.
He “gets the girl” - and the respect. Now the question is, “Can we stand by while all humanity dies?” And the answer, “No, we can’t!”
Alec – clown turned leader – unites the battered remnants of all the teams and together they storm the bridge.
ALIEN CAPTAIN: “If you kill us, other ships will come. But you have given us great entertainment and for that you will be rewarded. One of you will face our Champion in a final Grudge Match – to the death. Win and we will leave Earth alone for a thousand years. Lose and all will perish.”
That would be Alec against Chiron. Cage match. Two souls enter…
But Alec has a secret (think “crane technique”). Not only does Alec win, Chiron’s death may not be what it seems (think the pon farr episode of Star Trek). Has Alec tricked death?
Alec and his rag-tag survivors return to Earth (or were they there all the time?) to a hero’s welcome, with Chiron as a powerful foe-turned-ally.
It’s Hollywood – happy ending. (Or were those aliens real?)
Once upon a time…
ALEC Gonzales works as a greeter at Leo’s Gym – moonlights as a clown (good physical skills – juggling, etc.). Like Rodney Dangerfield, he just doesn’t get any…
LEO (yes, Leo of Leo’s Gym) kicks sand in Alec’s face – challenges him (if he has the balls) to try out for Circus Galaxus. Of course EMMA is right there watching.
At the tryout: Arnold, Lou, Sly, Vin – you know the ilk. Alec is the shrimp in this sea except nobody expects his impressive physical gifts (think Steve Martin in the opening duel in “Roxanne.”) Alec wins a slot on “Team America.”
Sequestered in a warehouse, the training sessions begin under the tutelage of CHIRON – a powerful, wise Game-Master whose humanity one might question.
And then the mysterious transport into orbit – or is it? This is a Hollywood game show, right? Have the powers that be shipped us into some grandiose “Truman Show” set or is this really space and are these real aliens?
Escorted into the first round of the competition, dead bodies stacked in the hall – holy shit! Could this be Tropic Thunder instead of Truman Show?
It’s Tropic Thunder as each team is winnowed down to four members through bloody attrition. Alec’s physical gifts keep him relatively unscathed. Leo and Emma get through as well.
Something truly horrific is going to happen to everyone on Earth, except for twenty million who will be spared - seed stock for some off-world existence. And the surviving gladiators determine the criteria for who is evacuated to safety.
So far Alec has been able to best opponents with trickery (and fabulous physical skills) but when he sees that Emma is about to be killed, Alec sacrifices his innocence – kills her opponent. Alec’s trickster heart is (apparently) dead.
He “gets the girl” - and the respect. Now the question is, “Can we stand by while all humanity dies?” And the answer, “No, we can’t!”
Alec – clown turned leader – unites the battered remnants of all the teams and together they storm the bridge.
ALIEN CAPTAIN: “If you kill us, other ships will come. But you have given us great entertainment and for that you will be rewarded. One of you will face our Champion in a final Grudge Match – to the death. Win and we will leave Earth alone for a thousand years. Lose and all will perish.”
That would be Alec against Chiron. Cage match. Two souls enter…
But Alec has a secret (think “crane technique”). Not only does Alec win, Chiron’s death may not be what it seems (think the pon farr episode of Star Trek). Has Alec tricked death?
Alec and his rag-tag survivors return to Earth (or were they there all the time?) to a hero’s welcome, with Chiron as a powerful foe-turned-ally.
It’s Hollywood – happy ending. (Or were those aliens real?)