Okay, so these were films I meant to review a while back, but with the horror movie marathon there just wasn't the opportunity.
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X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (1963)
A scientist is hoping for a breakthrough in eyedrops that allow you to see through material. However, the funders are unconvinced that the research is progressing fast enough. The scientist ends up trying out the eyedrops on himself, desperate to bypass the problem that animals do not seem capable of processing the extra scope of their vision.
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The film is quite fun and there are some great moments. Admittedly some of it is quite silly and the bit where the vision is used to see through clothes is often talked about. However, there's a lot of inventiveness in the ideas explored. Still, the film never seems quite sure where to go next. There isn't really a well-structured overall plot to the film, but more of a tragic downward spiral for the over-curious genius.
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The very end (to be vague on this) involves a religious figure getting involved. The ending is not anti-religious, but it's ambiguous enough that it doesn't have to be interpreted as pro-religious either. The issue I have with the ending is that I think whether you are religious or not, it's still pretty tough to take seriously.
This wasn't a perfect film, but it's fun, inventive, well-acted and well-paced.
B+
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The Road Warrior: Mad Max 2 (1981)
One friend said that the problem with the idea of a Mad Max reboot or a "Mad Max 4", which apparently director George Miller has been proposing, is that this film has pretty much already been remade twice already. The best of these remakes is apparently Mad Max 2 or "The Road Warrior". (Though for me personally, this is the only Mad Max film I've seen.)
It starts off with a quick recap on Mad Max's situation, before throwing us straight into the action. In spite of this, the early scenes are a bit slow and things don't properly picked up until we get to the central premise of the movie.
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Mad Max discovers a fort filled with oil which, while well-defended, is absolutely surrounded by a strong and cruel gang. It seems that the people currently staying at this fort are doomed. However, Max may be able to tip the scales so long as he gets a cut.
The central villain, Lord Humungus, sort of has a deep voice, but it's more like the guy from the "Ask A Ninja" videos rather than a properly scary voice like Darth Vader.
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In spite of silliness, campiness and a general sense of fun, the gang is genuinely threatening and there's actually a rape that is kind of disturbing, even if seen from a distance and even though the camera doesn't linger.
Bruce Spence (who some may know as "The Train Man" from those sequels to The Matrix which never happened), is absolutely great as the consistent comic relief character. That said, I find it hard to laugh at the way he's treated by Max. He never seems to get a break and I never really feel like he deserves the way he is treated.
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The pacing isn't perfect in this film, but overall the film is very satisfying and the apocalyptic imagery is fantastic. It's hard to believe that the director went on to make "Babe: Pig In The City" and the "Happy Feet" movies.
This is a neat little film and I found it very enjoyable.
B+
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Iron Sky (2012)
There is a lot to like about this film. It has an odd mood that it takes a while to get to grips with, but once you get into the mood it's very funny.
The premise is simple. As Nazi Germany was taken over by the Allies, the Nazis sent out a select few to start a colony on the moon. That Nazi Moon colony still exists and now it seems like they are finally planning to return and either destroy us all or force us to join them.
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The unnamed US president is now, pretty clearly, Sarah Palin. Apparently she's set up an impromptu moon landing as part of an election campaign and is upset when something goes wrong after the craft lands.
Not all the jokes work perfectly, with one unfortunately falling flat for me because I didn't initially get the reference. So that you all enjoy the film better, make sure you watch out for the scene which parodies that scene from "Downfall". (Yes, you know the scene. The one that's been used in hundreds of internet parodies with the subtitles being changed to various rants about inconsequential geeky stuff.) When the president's spin doctor's hands tremble as she puts down her glasses, that's the cue for an arm waving rant at her subordinates.
Still, there are a lot of other gags that work a lot better, particularly if you get yourself into the right mood.
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I don't know that the ending works as well as it is supposed to, but this is a very entertaining and often pretty funny sci-fi comedy movie. It's the best Moon Nazi movie of the year. :P
I found this was a lot of fun, but it's far from perfect as I've said. Still this is a good little sci-fi movie and I highly recommend it.
B+
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Lockout (2012)
So a while back there was a trailer for a movie starring Guy Pearce as a badass guy who has to save the President's daughter from a space station containing a huge number of convicts recently released from cryogenic stasis. The trailer mainly featured Guy Pearce's character making amusing quips while a large man repeatedly punched him in the face.
The movie looked likely to be AWESOME. So did it deliver on this awesome trailer? ... Absolutely!
There's great comic timing from Guy Pearce and wonderful chemistry between him and the Maggie Grace who plays the President's daughter. However, pretty much stealing the movie is Joseph Gilgun who many may know as Rudy from the fourth series of "Misfits". He's covered in tatoos with strange hair and a false eye, but he's like a twisted version of the persona he's used elsewhere. Just watch how he acts when told NOT to press a big red button...
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Is "Lockout" original? No, absolutely not. But does it bring the elements together in a fantastically entertaining way? Yes, absolutely! In fact I'm surprised that this is even an issue. No one could possibly hear the premise of this film and think "wow, that'll be original".
What Lockout does well is that it develops the characters well, it has them interact together in a fun way and the pacing whips you along. (It's like Avengers to that extent...)
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Lockout is not the best movie of the year. Far from it. (This has been a damn good year.) However, it is a great sci-fi action film.
A+
X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (1963)
A scientist is hoping for a breakthrough in eyedrops that allow you to see through material. However, the funders are unconvinced that the research is progressing fast enough. The scientist ends up trying out the eyedrops on himself, desperate to bypass the problem that animals do not seem capable of processing the extra scope of their vision.
The film is quite fun and there are some great moments. Admittedly some of it is quite silly and the bit where the vision is used to see through clothes is often talked about. However, there's a lot of inventiveness in the ideas explored. Still, the film never seems quite sure where to go next. There isn't really a well-structured overall plot to the film, but more of a tragic downward spiral for the over-curious genius.
The very end (to be vague on this) involves a religious figure getting involved. The ending is not anti-religious, but it's ambiguous enough that it doesn't have to be interpreted as pro-religious either. The issue I have with the ending is that I think whether you are religious or not, it's still pretty tough to take seriously.
This wasn't a perfect film, but it's fun, inventive, well-acted and well-paced.
B+
The Road Warrior: Mad Max 2 (1981)
One friend said that the problem with the idea of a Mad Max reboot or a "Mad Max 4", which apparently director George Miller has been proposing, is that this film has pretty much already been remade twice already. The best of these remakes is apparently Mad Max 2 or "The Road Warrior". (Though for me personally, this is the only Mad Max film I've seen.)
It starts off with a quick recap on Mad Max's situation, before throwing us straight into the action. In spite of this, the early scenes are a bit slow and things don't properly picked up until we get to the central premise of the movie.
Mad Max discovers a fort filled with oil which, while well-defended, is absolutely surrounded by a strong and cruel gang. It seems that the people currently staying at this fort are doomed. However, Max may be able to tip the scales so long as he gets a cut.
The central villain, Lord Humungus, sort of has a deep voice, but it's more like the guy from the "Ask A Ninja" videos rather than a properly scary voice like Darth Vader.
In spite of silliness, campiness and a general sense of fun, the gang is genuinely threatening and there's actually a rape that is kind of disturbing, even if seen from a distance and even though the camera doesn't linger.
Bruce Spence (who some may know as "The Train Man" from those sequels to The Matrix which never happened), is absolutely great as the consistent comic relief character. That said, I find it hard to laugh at the way he's treated by Max. He never seems to get a break and I never really feel like he deserves the way he is treated.
The pacing isn't perfect in this film, but overall the film is very satisfying and the apocalyptic imagery is fantastic. It's hard to believe that the director went on to make "Babe: Pig In The City" and the "Happy Feet" movies.
This is a neat little film and I found it very enjoyable.
B+
Iron Sky (2012)
There is a lot to like about this film. It has an odd mood that it takes a while to get to grips with, but once you get into the mood it's very funny.
The premise is simple. As Nazi Germany was taken over by the Allies, the Nazis sent out a select few to start a colony on the moon. That Nazi Moon colony still exists and now it seems like they are finally planning to return and either destroy us all or force us to join them.
The unnamed US president is now, pretty clearly, Sarah Palin. Apparently she's set up an impromptu moon landing as part of an election campaign and is upset when something goes wrong after the craft lands.
Not all the jokes work perfectly, with one unfortunately falling flat for me because I didn't initially get the reference. So that you all enjoy the film better, make sure you watch out for the scene which parodies that scene from "Downfall". (Yes, you know the scene. The one that's been used in hundreds of internet parodies with the subtitles being changed to various rants about inconsequential geeky stuff.) When the president's spin doctor's hands tremble as she puts down her glasses, that's the cue for an arm waving rant at her subordinates.
Still, there are a lot of other gags that work a lot better, particularly if you get yourself into the right mood.
I don't know that the ending works as well as it is supposed to, but this is a very entertaining and often pretty funny sci-fi comedy movie. It's the best Moon Nazi movie of the year. :P
I found this was a lot of fun, but it's far from perfect as I've said. Still this is a good little sci-fi movie and I highly recommend it.
B+
Lockout (2012)
So a while back there was a trailer for a movie starring Guy Pearce as a badass guy who has to save the President's daughter from a space station containing a huge number of convicts recently released from cryogenic stasis. The trailer mainly featured Guy Pearce's character making amusing quips while a large man repeatedly punched him in the face.
The movie looked likely to be AWESOME. So did it deliver on this awesome trailer? ... Absolutely!
There's great comic timing from Guy Pearce and wonderful chemistry between him and the Maggie Grace who plays the President's daughter. However, pretty much stealing the movie is Joseph Gilgun who many may know as Rudy from the fourth series of "Misfits". He's covered in tatoos with strange hair and a false eye, but he's like a twisted version of the persona he's used elsewhere. Just watch how he acts when told NOT to press a big red button...
Is "Lockout" original? No, absolutely not. But does it bring the elements together in a fantastically entertaining way? Yes, absolutely! In fact I'm surprised that this is even an issue. No one could possibly hear the premise of this film and think "wow, that'll be original".
What Lockout does well is that it develops the characters well, it has them interact together in a fun way and the pacing whips you along. (It's like Avengers to that extent...)
Lockout is not the best movie of the year. Far from it. (This has been a damn good year.) However, it is a great sci-fi action film.
A+