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Reviews
Gaia (2021)
Is this as none canon prequel to Last of Us?
A couple of environmentalist stumble upon a father and son who have lived in the forest on the basics that nature provide. Those basics include a worship of a fungal "deity".
It's a little slow and you could see where the plot really needed tightening, but it does introduce an idea that nature is not happy with mankind and is preparing to strike back.
The possessive father figure (priest), son (apostle) and Gabi (unbeliever) interact within a small cabin. Slowly we get to understand what the father is hiding. Not until the very end do we understand what Gaia has planned for humanity, and to my eyes this looks like a perfect prequel to the 'Last of Us' series (although there is no official link).
Not an action film, not particularly deep on the theology as the father figure comes over as a bit of a mad biblical Abraham. But it does have a nihilistic message if you are in the mood.
War Wolves (2009)
very well written and acted, but SFX are limp
The films approach is light hearted with some tongue in cheek nods to the X-files conspiracy theorists. It's not an SF gore fest, in fact they go out of their way to avoid the gore we've come to expect with such a sub-genre.
The writing is excellent in places and overall you engage with the protagonists- watching Tim & John is really entertaining (in a good way). I think with lesser leads this would have sunk without a trace.
It only seems to drag with the antagonists are on screen as the wolf SFX leave a lot to be desired. They throw in some matrix style fight scenes, but they aren't amazing.
Watch it for Tim & John if nothing else- great scenes.
The Yakuza (1974)
When is it coming out on DVD?
An East meets West culture clash - old versus new traditions intertwined into the plot - that delivers a gripping thriller that has some stunning and very real looking sword fights. Treachery and honour in equal measures, plus some twists you'll have to wait until the end to understand fully . The clothes may date it,but the script, direction and acting soon make you forget all about that.
Everyone puts in corking performances, although the younger cast members get a little left in the background. Ken Takakura and Bob Mitchum put in grim character portrayals against the soft back drop of Eiji Okada (of Lady Snowblood fame) character, who is caught between 'n' betwixt the two men in her sad life.
At the end of the day it's the fight scenes and the meaning of Japanese honour that will stay in your mind. Whereas the later "Blackrain" got a little silly about it's chase scenes, Yakuza keeps it's feet firmly on the ground.
Only one question remains, why the heck isn't it out on DVD? 29-04-06 update: A-ha! I found the Warner VCD version in the Philipines. This will have to do until they release the DVD.
Inseminoid (1981)
oh dear....
The script is the main culprit, with terrible lines and cliché scenes written for 4 year old to ponder upon: The number of times the cast members are sent out into the corridor (ones & twos) to be done-in by a rabid Ms Gleeson beggars belief! And each time they fall over\ stand still so as to allow themselves to be dispatched in some very poorly choreographed fight scene- did I say fight scene? I meant rolling around on the ground. I can only guess that they ran out of plot devices on day 1.
The Director should also stand up and take a bow, as a lot of the fault lies there. The subject matter may have been "maverick" but it was executed in a terrible way- B movie slasher style. He should have realised that this plot line was about as believable as politician election promise.
My sympathy goes to the cast, who were made to say the lines and roll around on the ground. They put in bad performances all round, with only Ms Gleeson showing an occasional dabble of acting skill.
If MST3K ever wanted to do a schlock SF horror, this would be the one to go for.
Ao no roku go (1998)
An undiscovered gem for most
As long as you get the 3x disc Special Edition (not the cut for TV version) you should expect a good evenings entertainment.
It's a cracking good SF eco\ action story that manages to make it's point and stay entertaining at the same time. Once the action starts in episode 1 it's a roller-coaster ride to the very end. And you'll find your emotions and view point change more than once as more of the story is revealed.
The characters are stock in their (anime) attitudes, but the animation brings them to life. And it's the animation that takes the biscuit, with stunning 3D effects that they are only now beginning to match- it was ahead of it's time for sure.
As to why it's stays so undiscovered remains a mystery, every reviewer of note has given this anime a well deserved A, yet it stays in R1 land! Anyway, lets continue to keep it our little secret ;-)