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The Manhattan Project (1986) DVD Review
The Manhattan Project (1986) DVD Credits:
The Manhattan Project (1986) Directed by:
Not available at this time
The Manhattan Project (1986) Written by:
Not available at this time
The Manhattan Project (1986) Cast:
Christopher Collet, John Lithgow
The Manhattan Project (1986) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
The Manhattan Project (1986) DVD Release Date:
18th June 2007
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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The Manhattan Project (1986) Synopsis:

In this nail-biting thriller, Paul (CHRISTOPHER COLLET), a bright 16-year-old, discovers that his mother's boyfriend Dr. Mathewson (JOHN LITHGOW) is refining plutonium undercover, right in their neighborhood. Intent on exposing the secret weapons factory, Paul steals some plutonium with the help of his girlfriend (CYNTHIA NIXON) and constructs his own atomic bomb. By the time Dr. Mathewson discovers the plutonium is missing and informs the government, the device is built - but the timer inadvertently turns on, beginning a countdown to nuclear catastrophe. Suspenseful to the last few seconds, this intriguing, provocative story takes its name from the real Manhattan Project in the 1940s that brought about the development of the first nuclear weapon used in World War II.

The Manhattan Project (1986) DVD Review:

In most films where intelligent teenagers or children accomplish something extraordinary they are painted out to be the perfect child as they are shown to be intelligent. There is something refreshing about The Manhattan Project, which has a smart-ass for a super-intelligent protagonist. Although only in high school and sixteen-years old, Paul (Christopher Collet) has the intelligence to outsmart and problem solve most adults he knows, but far more realistically so this makes him somewhat of a cocky prankster. He knows how to get away with a lot and being sixteen it is in his nature to mistrust most adults. The Manhattan Project is somewhat of a fantasy for children of a single parent as well, because the man trying to date his mom ends up being the ultimate challenge for Paul. Along the way he uses his brain for pranks more often than anything else, which makes The Manhattan Project a little more rebellious and fun.

For no reason other than boredom and teenage rebellion mixed with a little bit of cockiness, Paul decides to build a nuclear bomb for a science fair. After discovering that the man dating his mother, Dr. Mathewson (John Lithgow), is a scientist working in a lab that is creating concentrated plutonium, Paul sneaks into the lab one night during a storm and steals some of the plutonium with the help of his girlfriend (Cynthia Nixon). She helps him in order to write an expose about the nuclear experimentation in their neighborhood without the government informing the citizens, but Paul has a better idea. He figures that a teenager making a bomb is a much stronger message, and also one more likely to get him attention. The only problem is that once the missing plutonium is discovered the government comes after Paul, making it impossible for him to expose the building without threatening them with his home-made bomb.

Part teenage fantasy and part cautionary tale, the Manhattan Project is obviously meant to give pause to any thought about the creation of nuclear weapons, whether meant to be used or not. The film takes its title from the original Manhattan Project, which resulted in the development of the first nuclear weapon used in World War II. Unrealistic, we hope, as the plot may seem, The Manhattan Project is a convincingly exciting film, able to keep the suspense nearly the whole film through. The special edition DVD comes equipped with plenty of complimentary featurettes and a few great tracks to go over the film. There is an audio commentary track with the filmmaker and cast, but even more fun is the ‘80s Trivia track.

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The Manhattan Project (1986) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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