Iron Sky (2012)

Iron Sky (2012)
IMDB Rating: 6.0
Wilhelm Moment: - Nope
Genre: Action / Comedy / Sci-fi

Space Nazi's. From the Moon. It's a bold concept and i'd love to have been in the room when this was pitched. But given the only major studio involvement was distribution by Disney of all people, it's less surprising this combination Finnish-German-Australian got made.

Shhh, It's ok, we're making the Republicans look bad...
(floppingaces.net)

The makers have a history of shoestring budget films and have their own long running series of them entitled Star Wreck, the last major one in 2005 made for $13,000 and released under Creative Commons, so this was a pretty major step up.

This film is one where you don't really suspend your disbelief and enter the world the director has created, more set it down in long term parking and make a note where you left it. That's not to say it isn't good, but it's not good like say, The Godfather, Dogma, The Green Mile to name but a few from different genres are 'good' (probably doing those down a little with only 'good'). It's entertaining for what it is, which is an completely unrealistic journey into the mind of whoever wrote it, without a care for any realisms.

But then if you came for a film in which space craft smaller than the shuttle trip back and forth from Earth to the Moon without a care, you're watching the wrong thing. The fact that Sci-fi is third on the list in the genre should make it clear that this as it's priorities elsewhere.

Initially, it seems REALLY pro-Nazi, which is somewhat weird and shocking for a film of the last 70 years, let alone a modern film of the last decade, but it's pretty quick to make perfectly clear this is tongue in cheek. In fact it's beyond that too, the dialogue is stocked with more cheese than a delicatessen and yet the acting really isn't that bad. There are a lot more films which have more wooden acting. Götz Otto plays his part as well as anyone has ever played a Nazi, with the most serious of faces and commitment to the part. While Stephanie Paul, who plays the hugely Palin-esque President of the USA riles up exactly the same emotions of as the real Palin that it could just as easily be her.

When the heck did I film this?
(newsjunkiepost.com)

I wont spoil the plot here, not that there is much to spoil (Nazi's on the Moon, coming to Earth - simple!). Plus thats not what I want to do with these. Go watch it if you haven't already, even if it's just as a break between some more serious heavy weight films or part of a massive cheese-fest binge. 

Alas, there was no Wilhelm Scream in this film (if you don't know what that was, look here) which is a shame, as this is exactly the kind of film that could have made on fit somewhere without too much bother.

The rating on IMDB of 6 is fair, glancing through the reviews people pick up on much the same points. It's not to be taken seriously and in spite of a few suspect looking explosions (ok, there are a lot of suspect looking explosions) it's really not that bad. It apparently cost $10mil to make, and only took $8mil at the box office and yet, they're planning a sequel! And throwing an estimated $15mil at it to make it work. If they spend the extra $5mil making the explosions look better and fixing the notorious error of sound in space, they could have another fun movie on their hands that will make everyone wonder who has been smoking the most crack.

Summary 
VFX:
7/10 - They're good, barring the explosions, but still won an award for them.
Plot:
8/10 - For all out ballsy-ness, nothing more.
Acting:
7/10 - There are some good and there are some way over the top performances
Score:
6/10 - Nothing that hooks you, or really inspires, but it's far from bad. Does lack the Wilhelm scream.
Cinematography:
7/10 - There are a few time you see a shots been done to be cheaper, but its to be expected.

Overall:
7/10 (35/50) Go get some beers in, some snacks and watch this with your mates after a take-away.

Lockout (2012)

Lockout (2012)
IMDB Rating: 6.1
Willhelm Scream: Yes
Genre: Action / Sci-fi / Thriller

The opening of this film is great, a guy (literallly, Guy Pearce, playing Agent Snow) under arrest is being asked questions, and his smart responses getting him a beating. The pithy responses he gives are great and worthy of note for future use.

(yourmomjokes.net)

Joseph Gilguns Scottish accent is so impressive (given he's not Scottish) that i'm surprised there weren't subtitles. He plays an inmate (Hydell), thawed for an interview with the daughter of the US President who is investigating health claims in the prison. Maybe I missed why she specifically was sent instead of someone, perhaps say, qualified to the highest degree in a more psychological field than being the Presidents daughter, but I digress.

"No, it's fine. You go, we'll stay here"
(ohiospec.com)

So Agent Snow was arrested and convicted of something and in light of shit getting real up in space when a lot of grim people get woken up all at once, he's offered the chance to go and recover her from her first game of Interstellar-doctors-and-nurses instead of doing his time. Understandably, he's thrilled.

(catmacros.wordpress.com)

Shit gets out of hand and the film goes from there. Again I wont spoil it, needless to say, it's far from a routine visit. However routine a visit to an orbiting prison by a member of the first family could ever be.

The acting is pretty good all round, most notable is Gilguns lunatic convict, Pearce's continuing delivery of lines like a man who just doesn't give a shit anymore and Vincent Regan's portrayal of a genuinely intelligent criminal mastermind. As a bonus, there's an appearance by Lennie James, last seen (by me at least, he's had plenty of work) as Sol in Snatch (2000), trying to get a diamond out of a dog's stomach.

The stunts and visuals are good, although my pet hate of linear wire work (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) makes a brief appearance, but not enough to spoil the film. It's really not much of a surprise that the script is so good, written by Luc Besson (Fifth Element, Leon to name two) and there are noticeable similarities between Snow and Korben Dallas' dialogue. i'd say the IMDB rating of 6.1 is a little mean. With what is 'only' a $20mil budget and $32mil return (compared to say, The Fifth Element $90mil/263mil) this is really quite a good film. Snow is instantly likable (in my opinion anyway) mostly for his attitude, one rarely seen in many films since Die Hard.

Summary 
VFX:
8.5/10 - Nothing huge and amazing, but everything they do is done well and that's almost as important.
Plot:
8/10 - Why did she have to go up there anyway?
Acting:
8/10 - There are no really bad performances and some really great ones.
Score:
7/10 - The score works really well, no big tracks, just well put together.
Cinematography:
8/10 - Not much to be said, it's not awe inspiring, but it's well done.

Overall:
8/10 (41/50) Good all round Sci-fi/Action, suitable thriller, entertaining and worth watching.