HONEST FILM REVIEWS
SCI-FI/FANTASY FILMS
HEART OF STONE (GERMANY 1950) Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Hailed as the first coloured feature by East German studio DEFA – the very same production house behind the inventive collection of sci-fi movies released in the Strange New Worlds box-set by Eureka Video just prior to this – Heart of Stone is a fantasy film from 1950 that plays like a mix of Darby O'Gill & The Little People (1959) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) with a dash of The Never Ending Story (1984). Of course, this particular film predates each of those productions by years, yet proves to be just as entertaining and captivating with it's gorgeous cinematography and engaging storyline. The film is based on a fairy tale of the same name by Wilhelm Hauff, originally published in 1826...
The story follows the muddled life of Peter the charcoal worker – played wonderfully by the handsome Lutz Moik – and his strife as a poor man in winning the woman he really loves. Jealous of the rich and powerful Ezechiel, who is forever taunting and bullying Peter, the young man makes his way into the Black Forest in search of the Glass Imp, a forest spirit who grants wishes. After finding him, Peter is offered two wishes and quickly passes them off – ignoring the advice and warnings of the Imp who attempts to help him in gaining a better life overall. Later, and after he loses his new found riches due to a technicality in the wish he made, Peter turns to a a giant warlock named Dutch Michael is offers to give Peter anything he desires – but only if he is willing to trade his heart for one made of stone. Believing he can handle it, Peter agrees and sets off again to win his bride, his money, and a better life; yet his happiness is destined not to last!
What a surprise this film was! I really didn't know what to expect, but from it's opening scenes highlighting Germany's unspoilt natural beauty, some gorgeous cinematography, and the huge smile of Lutz Moik, I was ready to take in this classic piece of German cinema. And I was not disappointed. Somewhat whimsical, creatively weird and definitely macabre in some respects, Heart of Stone was a refreshing change for me from watching so many Asian action films and loud Hollywood blockbusters, resulting in a fantasy film I'd happily go back to again and again. Although 75 years old at the time of this release, Heart of Stone has never looked better, presented with a stunning new 2K restoration that highlights just how beautiful and colourful it really is. The film was directed by Paul Verhoeven, a film and TV director who made his feature debut in 1937 and worked right through to the mid-70s before passing of a heart attack in 1975. Interestingly, he died while delivering a eulogy on stage for a recently deceased actress. As mentioned, the handsome Lutz Moik stars as Peter – the naïve and jovial young man who just wants to enjoy his life as much as everyone else. It is said that this was his breakthrough film, and it's easy to see why. Entertaining, cute and funny, Moik definitely owns it and is worth the price of admission alone...
Accompanying the film on the disc is a number of great extra features. This begins with professor of German and DEFA historian, Sean Allan, who gives an interesting audio commentary that really puts in place the events in and around the movie as well as offering some great insights to those involved. Soviet cinema expert Claire King gives 24 minutes of her time in Once Upon A Time In The East, taking a look at Heart of Stone and children's media in East Germany during this time. Mary Going delivers an informative 22 minutes on East German folk tales, gothic horror, and the film itself, of course – I really enjoyed this piece myself. The Bremen Town Musicians and The Magic Ring are two 20 minute animated films based on old folktales and told completely in silhouette, while a third animation – Thumbelina's Adventures – is done in the fun style of the old Merrie Melodies cartoons. And finally, the original theatrical trailer completes it, running just under 3 minutes in length with a new HD restoration; a great finish to a great release. (4/5) George @invincibleasia
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STRANGE NEW WORLDS: SCIENCE FICTION AT DEFA (GER. 1960-76)
Released in a gorgeous box set by Eureka Video, the Strange New Worlds collection features four previously unreleased sci-fi movies (over three discs) from the now defunct German film studio, DEFA – a studio established in the aftermath of WWII that saw a host of films made as co-productions between German and Polish film-makers that delivered some gems of Socialist cinema. While it's catalogue offers a wide of genre films from action to fantasy, Westerns to thrillers, the studio focused on a range of sci-fi adventures throughout the 1960s and 70s, of which four of it's finest are included here – The Silent Star, Signals: A Space Adventure, Eolomea, and In The Dust Of The Stars...
The first film of the set is The Silent Star from 1960, which is based on Stanislaw Lem's The Astronauts, and a film that genuinely blew my mind as one of the most unique takes on other-worldly visions – especially when you consider when it was made. I'd never seen anything this original from any Hollywood studio, and in offering such a diverse cast which was so refreshing. Also known as First Spaceship On Venus, the film tells the story of an international team of astronauts that are sent into space after an alien artifact is found on Earth. Believing that it had come from Venus, the crew make their way to the planet where they are confronted with some surprising sights, natural elements, and dangers in their search for some answers. Interestingly, this movie was once covered on an episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 – a cult show that mocks the movie it's screening and often shows some of the worst productions ever made. While I can understand that a poor quality cut-and-dub version of this may just give enough camp qualities, I feel that the true beauty of this film has totally been missed; until now that is! Thankfully, with this new and stunning HD 2K restored release from Eureka Video, viewers can see the film how it was meant to be watched highlighting the gorgeous colours, cinematography, and clever practical effects that were pretty damn impressive. While it may certainly seem cheesy when compared to today's sci-fi cinema or acting style, The Silent Star was an incredibly creative achievement for it's time as well as offering some genuine morals and drama on humanity and nature, proving to be an incredibly striking and thoughtful sci-fi adventure complete with a cute little robot.
Included alongside the main film on the disc are a wealth of extras alongside a great audio commentary such as a 32 minute feature called Red Skies, in which Soviet cinema expert Claire Knight breaks down all the films in the set while delivering a highly informative and interesting piece on Socialist cinema at this time. The Robot is a 15 minute cartoon from the DEFA studio that offers some old school chuckles and tells the tale of a robot that escapes his master and befriends two children. It reminded me of the old Pink Panther cartoons and other animated shorts of this time, and isn't the only animated piece of the collection. A short archival newsreel from 1959 gives us a look at some behind the scenes footage of The Silent Star, documenting Anthony Asquith's visit to the set, while another archival piece from the same year – called A Rocket In The Soviet Zone – gives us a quick 40 seconds of news coverage on set. Aside from that we have a wonderfully unrestored original trailer for the film – I urge you to check this out before going into the movie, if only to appreciate the stunning restoration on offer – and a fantastic HD trailer for the Strange New Worlds collection. An incredible start to an incredible set!
Signals: A Space Adventure follows – a story set in the 21st Century that sees the spaceship Ikarus hit by meteorites and leaving it lost in space. Soon after contact with earth has stopped, the spaceship Laika is sent out to find the Ikarus and those aboard it; but it's going to take 300 days to get there. While very beautiful in this new restoration and delivering some stunning space scenes that were genuinely wonderful to watch – with model work and clever FX that match the quality of those seen in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) of which this was seemingly inspired by – Signals: A Space Adventure is a much slower piece than The Silent Star. For many, it may seem dull, bit for fans of old school Star Trek and the aforementioned Hollywood hit, this sci-fi adventure still has enough to offer. The same disc carries the third movie of the set, Eolomea; another stunningly shot feature that's quite different to the previous two films. Although set in the future, the story does jump about from past to present although is never too confusing. Spaceships and stations are sprinkled throughout our solar system, but after some of them start mysteriously disappearing, the space authorities on Earth call off all space travel until they find out why. Once again, a vast and diverse cast shows just how forward thinking it's film-makers were in comparison to Hollywood at this time. And although it may not have had the budget of it's American peers, it's quite clear that a very talented group of people where onboard the Eolomea project with this new gorgeous 4K restoration highlighting some incredible model work, cinematography, and art direction. But much like with Signals: A Space Adventure, some viewers may find this somewhat slow moving with it's political matters and space drama. Regardless, I enjoyed it for the most part and loved the visuals overall...
Much like disc one, a bunch of extras are included with both of the films and their audio commentaries. These include a great featurette called Blast Off (24 minutes) that sees Mark Bould discuss the politics and ideas behind socialist cinema, and more-so DEFA as a studio. Another animated short, Jana & The Little Star, is also included – this time, the 15 minute story is delivered as a mix of live-action and animation. The gorgeous restoration highlights it's beautiful and unique hand-drawn art perfectly. Next is Cosmonaut Dreams, a 19 minute archival featurette on the making of Eolomea. This was an interesting insight to the film, told via interviews with costume designer Barbara Muller-Braumann, technician Jan-Peter Schmarje, and SFX cameraman Kurt Marks – delivered in German with English subtitles. And finally, there is the original German trailer for Eolomea (although none for Signals: A Space Adventure). This is another definitely worth checking out before you go into the stunning restoration – running at just over two and half minutes, unrestored and in black & white; do this first and the new print will absolutely blow your mind.
The last disc offers up possibly the wildest movie of the collection, In The Dust Of The Stars. While it may play like a bizarre cocktail of Flash Gordon, Metropolis, Rocky Horror, and any amount of 70's Japanese sci-fi madness, the film actually delivers a pretty interesting plot that sees a Cynro rocket travel across the galaxy to answer a distress call on the Temian planet. But when they get there, all is not as it as it seems – secrets, hypnosis, dancing, snakes, nudity and very colourful outfits (and hair) all tied up with socialist ideals. While there are some parts to it that I don't want to giveaway, I must admit that as silly and strange it did seem now and again, In The Dust Of The Stars still kept me glued to the screen and proved to be compelling in a weird way. Once again, the gorgeous 2K restoration allows us to enjoy the costumes, art direction, and cinematography as they were meant to be seen. It really is one of those films that needs-to-be-seen-to-be-believed! On the disc, an audio commentary and a couple of features try to help us understand just what was going on. These include a 15 minute piece called Marx Attacks which takes a look at German sci-fi cinema, from Fritz Lang's classic Metropolis to this particular title. Dusting Off After Thirty Years is an archival interview with the DOP of In The Dust Of The Stars, Peter Suring. He's an interesting enough guy with some great memories of the production, but I don't feel I ever need to watch his 16 minute interview ever again. Along with those, there's a short film called Love 2002 that runs close to 25 minutes in length. Eureka lists it as a docu-film on the future of love in East Germany, and it certainly makes for an interesting watch. Starting of as a bit of psychedelic nightmare fuel, the film quickly takes a turn and follows a DEFA reporter asking people about their love life – but it definitely keeps it's weirdness as other little bizarre moments pop up throughout. And finally there's the original German trailer for the film – another 3 minutes of unrestored footage that is great to compare to the fantastic job they have done on the main feature.
All films come with an optional and highly informative audio commentary written by Rolland Man, although delivered with charm by David Melville Wingrove. A must for anyone wanting to gain some real insight to the history of these films and DEFA itself. You can also find plenty more information contained in the beautiful 60 page collector's book – only available in the (2000) Limited Edition Collectors set, which also comes with a stunning hardcase box to house it all. This was a completely first time watch for me on all four films, and I really enjoyed what Eureka have put together. I have to admit though, The Silent Star was definitely my favourite of the lot! But with gorgeous restorations all-round and plenty of great extras included, the Eureka Video Blu-ray release of Strange New Worlds: Science Fiction at DEFA is a must for serious collectors and fans of old-school sci-fi adventures, and a very welcome addition to their Masters Of Cinema Series... (4/5) George @invincibleasia
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TANK GIRL (USA 1995) Directed by Rachel Talalay
Blasting it's way onto Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Video is the 1995 live-action adaptation of Jamie Hewlett's popular Tank Girl. While loved just as much as it is loathed, it's only fair to say that this was a production ahead of it's time and not everyone quite got that during it's initial release. Set in 2033, where the people of Earth have been suffering through a drought for over a decade. The planet’s water supply is now controlled by megalomaniac businessman Kesslee, who owns the Water & Power corporation. But in Australia, at least, there is resistance! If Kesslee wants to take control of the last water well in the Outback, he’ll need to contend with the Rippers – a gang of mutant hybrids of human and kangaroo – and Tank Girl; a woman with a tank, a bad attitude, and a determination to rescue the world from the brink of oblivion!
I mean, what other post-apocalyptic dystopian adventure features a female protagonist and some man-size human kangaroos? I actually hadn't seen Tank Girl since the year of it's release until Eureka Video put out this stunning (Limited Edition) Blu-ray release towards the end of 2024. Prior to that, I don't even think I had ever put my hands on a Tank Girl comic – launched in 1988 – nor have I ever had the pleasure since. And truth be told, I wasn't really a fan of the film upon it's initial release. I had just turned 18 and was super-big into Hong Kong cinema (which I still am even more today), so I guess it just wasn't what I wanted back then. Now though, watching it again with this gorgeous HD restoration, I have to say that I was really impressed and thoroughly enjoyed what I was seeing. In fact, I even watched it a second time with the audio commentary by it's director and leading lady, Lori Petty (who sounds like a complete hoot!), which I highly recommend...
While it would be the third feature for director Rachel Talalay after Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) and Ghost In The Machine (1993), Tank Girl would unfortunately be the last feature film she would direct before moving indefinitely to work in television. Still going strong today, it's clear that Rachel's love for the comic book world has stuck with her having went onto to direct many episodes of TV shows such as Doctor Who (2014-17), Iron Fist (2018), Supergirl (2016), Doom Patrol (2019), Superman & Lois (2021), Legends Of Tomorrow (2016-21), The Flash (2016-23) and more. Prior to directing, she had worked as a producer on films such as A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) and A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), Hairspray (1988) and on the short-lived spoof sci-fi show Space Rangers (1993), and while there was clearly plenty of experience there in the run up to Tank Girl, I still must give praise for the work involved and massive undertaking of bringing this project to life.
Of course, this includes the great cast on offer starting with the wildly entertaining Lori Petty who stars as the titular heroine! Interestingly, Petty was initially cast in Demolition Man before Sandra Bullock and has had a pretty colourful career, both on the small and big screen, starring in titles such as Bates Motel (1987), The Thorns (1988), Cadillac Man (1990), Point Break (1991), A League Of Their Own (1992, Free Willy (1993), and has done voice work on a number of DC animated projects. Here, as Tank Girl, Lori is fantastic – almost coming across as wild and unpredictable as Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool for the most part, and while never breaking the fourth wall you can just tell she really wanted to. She is joined by the wonderful Naomi Watts who was still relatively new to the film world back then having just appeared in Australian features For Love Alone (1986) and Flirting (1991) with Nicole Kidman (as well as a lengthy stint in Aussie soap Home & Away), before starring in her first Hollywood production, Matinee (1993) with John Goodman, along with another three that same year. She does a great job here as Jet Girl, portraying her character completely on the other end of the scale to Petty's hyper performance. Of course, it's quite unlike the Hollywood star we've come to know Ms. Watts as today.
The great and hugely prolific Malcolm McDowell stars as the wickedly humorous Kesslee, the big cat of the water and power corporation. Of course, by this stage of the game, McDowell had starred in a host of titles since hitting the big time in Stanley Kubrick's 1971 opus, A Clockwork Orange, and his appearance here just helped bring a little more star-power to the show. Interestingly, this wouldn't be the only comic-book post-apocalyptic film he would star in that year, with a leading role in Tony Randel's underrated live-adaptation of the classic Japanese manga/anime, Fist Of The North Star, alongside Brit-kicker Gary Daniels, Costas Mandylor, and Chris Penn. Similarly, rapper and Hollywood star Ice-T, who co-stars here as one of the main kangaroo-humans, appeared in another sci-fi comic-book style movie in 1995 which was Keanu Reeves' Johnny Mnemonic. It is said that it took about four hours to apply his (and the others) prosthetic make-up, and when Ice-T was asked why he never complained, he stated that it was better than prison. Scott Coffey, Don Harvey, Jeff Kober, Iggy Pop, Brian Wimmer, Doug Jones, and the prolific James Hong help flesh out the cast, while Ann Cusack appears as Sub Girl...
While not perfect and a sore-point for comic creators Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin due to studio interference on the final edit, Tank Girl holds up pretty damn well and looks fantastic in HD. Some of the set pieces are incredibly impressive, and the cinematography by Gale Tattersall is very nice – highlighted even more so in the restoration. Sure, it''s a film that may only be understood by fans of the original Tank Girl material, but it still proves to be a pretty entertaining flick overall. From it's creative style to it's whacky characters, goofy comedy to fantastic animated sequences, Tank Girl is a product of it's time and if we look back at the mid-late 1990s, it wasn't a pleasant time for most movie fans. This was an interesting time for comic book movies (think Judge Dredd, Double Dragon, and The Shadow for example), but in terms of sheer entertainment this cult-classic delivers – and this new release from Eureka Video is a great example why! Aside from its stunning restoration, the set comes in a gorgeous hardbound case complete with beautiful new artwork by Greg Staples, along with a limited edition 60page collector's book which made for a fantastic read. Extras on the disc include the aforementioned audio commentary with Rachel Talalay and Lori Petty, an interview with box artist Greg Staples, a new video appreciation of Tank Girl by film scholar Lindsay Hallam, and a few archival interviews with star Lori Petty, director Rachel Talalay, production designer Catherine Hardwicke, and actor Doug Jones, while the 1995 Making Tank Girl featurette and original theatrical trailer finish it off. Definitely one for the fans, but also well worth checking out for something utterly wild and original that has never looked better than it does with this fantastic Blu-ray release from Eureka Video! (4/5) George @invincibleasia
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LOUIS FEUILLADE: COMPLETE CRIME SERIALS (FRANCE 1913 - 1918)
Released as part of the Masters of Cinema series from Eureka Video, this stunningly presented box set of Louis Feuillade crime serials is a must for any true cinephile! With over 30 hours of viewing pleasure – and that's not including the special features – fans can enjoy the gorgeously 4K restored works of this celebrated French film-maker, released on the centenary of his passing. The collection includes titles such as Fantomas, Les Vampires, Judex and Tih-Minh, four of his most renowned crime epics made between 1913 and 1918, that have left an impact on pop culture the world over. Of course, we can't forget just how important these titles (and Feuillade himself) were to future film-makers such as Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock, and others – inspiring tales of masked vigilantes such as Dr.Mabuse and Diabolik, but also those created for film, television, radio, and publications over the decades that followed!
Born in 1873, Feuillade had shown signs as a creator from an early age. After the deaths of both parents, he headed to Paris in the hope of becoming a successful writer, and after a few years of struggle with few bits of journalistic work keeping him afloat. By 1905, Louis got lucky when he sold two scripts to Gaumont studio, although turned down their offer of directing them due to concerns of his finances. But almost two years later, Louis felt confident enough to step up to the mark. Hired as Gaumont's artistic director, it was clear that this young talent had something. Of course, this is quite clearly confirmed by Feuillade having directed over 630 films between 1906 and 1924, although he did claim (before passing in 1925) that he had made closer to 800. Regardless of which number is correct, it's still an incredible achievement which very few have managed to match – or even come close to...
Fantomas is the first series in the set, Feuillade's first big masterpiece and a crime serial that is beautifully done. An epic that runs for 337 minutes if watched all at once, Fantomas was adapted from a series of popular novels by authors Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre. Starring Rene Navarre as the criminal mastermind known as Fantomas, the story tells of his escape from prison and the crimes that he commits while the police are hot on his tail. For its time, the Fantomas serial was considered a work of genius, and is still held in very high regard today by many. Wonderfully shot, brilliantly directed, and gripping even over 100 years later, Fantomas is an experience and a highly enjoyable introduction to Feuillade's work. Les Vampires follows; another silent crime serial which focuses on a journalist and his partner who attempt to uncover and stop a criminal gang known as The Vampires. Coming in close to 400 minutes in length when watched straight through (and often considered to be one of the longest films ever made), Les Vampires is very similar in style to Fantomas, and is often considered part of an unconnected trilogy by Feuillade with Judex completing that. While I didn't find it quite as gripping as Fantomas, I still found myself engrossed and excited to see the next episode -each of which get better and better. Possibly inspired by the true-life antics of the Bonnot Gang, who went on a wild crime spree in Paris just a couple of years before, Les Vampires was shot during the First World War which came with it's own set of problems. I must also note how this films antagonist, Irma Vep, was brought to life in 1996 by French film-maker Olivier Assayas in the film of the same name starring Hong Kong superstar, Maggie Cheung, with the director returning to the subject matter in 2022 to remake it as an American mini-series.
Judex has always been seen as the final piece of Louis Feuillade's crime serials, most notably because it is made with the same style and gutso as the previous two. Predating famous American pulp-heroes The Shadow and Batman by a number of years, Judex tells the adventures of the titular hero and his attempts to stop crime, take revenge against a corrupt banker, and deal with forbidden love. Called a cinematic-novel by it's creator, Judex was made in answer to the criticisms by police and officials, that claimed Fantomas and Les Vampires glorified outlaws and criminals. So, in turn, Feuillade gave them a hero of sorts – albeit one that used the same sinister trappings of the popular and flamboyant villains from that era. Starring French matinee idol Rene Creste as Judex and popular actress Musidora, who had just starred in Les Vampires as Irma Vep, the film carries the shortest running time of the 'supposed trilogy' at 300 minutes. Of course, as with those before it, this was released in chapters (as done so here in this collection) so that it's complex plot could be understood a little easier. Interestingly, the story of the film would be published weekly in a local newspaper to coincide with the cinematic release of each chapter. Possibly the first comic-book hero movie ever made, Judex makes for a great watch with it's exciting performances, nice cinematography, and tidy direction.
And finally, we have Tih Minh – a fun 418 minutes on the adventures of Jacques d'Athys, a French man who has returned from his travels to Indochina, accompanied by a young Asian woman known as Tih Minh. Unbeknownst to him, Athys has returned with a book that contains a coded message revealing some government intelligence and the location of hidden treasure. This, in turn, makes him and Tih Minh the target of spies and villains who will do what they can to get their hands on the book! Returning as the hero of the show once again is Rene Creste, while Mary Harald stars as the titular character of the piece. I quiet enjoyed Tih Minh. It was a nice change of pace to the other titles in the collection, running at a steady pace with some exciting action moments, a great cast, and fascinating locations. It is most definitely another masterpiece by Feuillade, and a film that shows the progression and growth of this long celebrated film-maker. While tongue-in-cheek at times, it's well-woven plot is far from strenuous by today's standards, yet it still offers up just as much excitement as any Hollywood blockbuster can do today...
Overall, this is absolutely one of my favourite Blu-ray releases from Eureka Video. Each film/series is gloriously restored in 4K that makes it hard to believe that each of them were made well over 100 years ago. While there are plenty of informative audio commentaries on selected episodes throughout the collection by Tim Lucas or David Kalat, other special features include interviews with film critics Kim Newman, Neil Brand, Tony Rayns and Pamela Hutchinson, and a great video essay on Les Vampires by Elizabeth Ezra. Inside its beautifully designed box, you'll also find a fantastic fold-out poster and an incredible limited-edition 100 page book on Louis Feuillade and his films. Louis Feuillade: The Complete Crime Serials (1913 – 1918) is a highly recommended piece of physical media that won't disappoint and keep you entertained for a couple of days at least! (5/5) George @invincibleasia​
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FREAKS vs THE REICH (ITALY 2021) Directed by Gabriele Mainetti
(G) Originally released in it's home territory in 2021 as Freaks Out, the more suitably renamed Freaks Vs The Reich is finally getting its UK release courtesy of Dazzler Media. Hands down, I have to say that this little gem is by far one of the most entertaining films I have seen in a long time, and definitely one of my favourite releases of the year. In what was, surprisingly, only his second feature film, director Gabriele Mainetti delivers a superhero movie like no other that shames the efforts of what both Marvel and DC (and definitely Sony) have given us in recent years. With high production values, gorgeous cinematography, and a wonderful score, Freaks Vs The Reich wins over its audience with its unique storyline and wonderful characters – with everyone involved, genuinely giving some great performances!
Claudio Santamaria is just brilliant as the Wolfman known as Fulvio, head 'freak' and leader to the unlikely band of heroes, aided by a magnetic dwarf played by Giancarlo Martini, the oddly handsome Pietro Castellitto who has the power to control bugs, and the beautiful Aurora Giovinazzo who plays Matilde the electric girl whose power is brought to the attention of a highly dedicated Nazi; played with gusto and emotion by German actor Franz Rogowski – a dead ringer for Joaquin Phoenix, and clearly just as talented. He has a gift of dreaming about the future, an ability that allows him to lay out his plans to help Germany win the war, learn about technology, and steal some popular hit songs that he adapts to entertain his audience. Once such example is his beautiful piano rendition of Creep by Radiohead – made even more amazing as his character has an extra finger on each hand.
With an opening 10 minutes that's worth the price of admission alone, Freaks Vs The Reich is a beautifully made and brilliantly directed piece that keeps you glued to the screen with its moments of dark humour, shocking violence, comic book entertainment, and genuine emotion. It's just a shame that it didn't get a limited run on the big screen, as it deserves to be celebrated. While some critics have claimed that it makes a mockery of the Nazi's atrocities in WWII, I have to strongly disagree. Mainetti handles things wonderfully, allowing you to feel angry and sad at their actions, making it clear just how unjust things were – and I don't want to cheapen my review by saying this film is like Mystery Men meets The Greatest Showman meets Jojo Rabbit, but that's just how it came across (and it's a damn bit better than claiming that its like the X-men, because if our 'freaks' had their powers then it would have been a very different movie altogether). But I loved this! And I want to see more. Freaks Vs The Reich has the potential to take its heroes on a few more journeys together, and I hope that the team behind this give us the chance to see that someday soon! (4.5/5) George @invincibleasia
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(A) In association with Dazzler Media, Freaks vs The Reich brings home a fantasy-action epic that follows four uniquely powered misfits as they navigate themselves through an Nazi-occupied Rome in search for the biggest score in the Circus Entertainment Industry. Filled with dark humour, this Italian historical-fantasy drama blends the grey morality of everyday individuals just looking to survive and make a living even whilst during the war.
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I feel that director Gabriele Mainetti does a fantastic job, inciting that in war there are no heroes or villains, just a grey spectrum of morality. And, for me I found this story narrative very refreshing from your typical American/Hollywood narrative or good vs evil, as the self-titled 'Freaks' themselves are not morally just, if anything they are the opposite having the supernatural abilities and instead of fighting, to use their powers to help and liberate chose to follow and seek refuge under the Nazi regime to make a quick buck!
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However, despite its fantastical and humorous approach with its dark comedic moments. Freaks vs The Reich never spells out to make a mockery out of the war and does signal telling and solemn moments to remember the heinous acts that were carried out during the war. Ultimately, Freaks vs The Reich has shown a spotlight onto the European market that I wasn’t exactly privy to and will look forward to more films such as this that blends narrative and character development together, in such a way that only Hollywood wishes that it could do at this moment in time! (4/5) Adam @secondviewing
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GODZILLA MINUS ONE (JAPAN 2023) Directed by Takashi Yamazaki
(G) Straight up – this was one of my last great cinematic experiences of 2023!! From its opening to the very last minute, my family and I were all gripped and enthralled with what we were watching on the big screen. The Oscar winning Godzilla Minus One is, quite simply, one of the best movies of the year and should be making Hollywood executives sit up and take notice of how a monster movie should be handled correctly! Unlike its western adaptations and Hollywood adventure movies in general, there was no need for drug-humour, corny comedy sidekicks, generic rock music, or cheesy over-acting kids who save the day – in fact, this was everything most big budget American movies wish they could be. Unlike its Hollywood counterpart, who is just considered a powerful monster and weapon against other kaiju, the Japanese Godzilla has always been something more; almost godlike to some degree, albeit an incredibly destructive and malevolent one!
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Retelling the story of where it all began, Godzilla Minus One is an emotional roller-coaster that carefully delivers a strong and meaningful social commentary on war and loss, set during the end of World War 2. This time period lends itself to the 'Minus One' in the title, with Japan having already been devastated by the historic bombings it was ultimately brought down to zero. So when Godzilla arrives to deliver even more destruction, it shifts Japan – both as a country and nation – into the minus. Written and directed by the talented Takashi Yamazaki, the visual effects artist turned director who was also behind the awesome Takeshi Kaneshiro sci-fi flicks The Returner and K-20: Legend Of The Black Mask, as well as titles such as the Always: Sunset On Third Street Trilogy, Space Battleship Yamato, Parasyte 1 & 2, and The Great War Of Archimedes, among others, Godzilla Minus One is by far his biggest and most incredible piece to date.
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Making its global big-screen appearance just a month after debuting in Japan, Godzilla Minus One went onto gross over $65 million against its $15 million dollar budget, making this masterpiece one of the highest earning foreign films of the 21st century. As I write, it's currently running alongside Studio Ghibli's stunning new entry, The Boy & The Heron, making this the first time that two Japanese movies would be in the top 5 of the North American box office in the same weekend – which is just incredible! Bringing a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat more than once during its running time, it's fair to say that Godzilla Minus One is a genuine ride of emotions with Yamakazi blending the tension of Spielberg's Jaws and Jurassic Park with the beauty and drama of Hayao Miyazaki's animated works (Studio Ghibli). It's a film that has you on the edge of your seat a number of times – especially when Godzilla is going in for the kill. Let's be honest, this Godzilla is something else. He's a mean looking motherfucker that proves to be undefeatable, with intimidating eyes and outrageous dorsal plates that push out before he blasts an atomic ray from his mouth. This could well be the scariest, most brutal, and toughest Godzilla of them all!! Full review HERE (5/5) George @invincibleasia
(A) Coming close to commemorating 70 years of a Japanese icon, Godzilla: Minus One has seemingly done the impossible by breaking into the screens and hearts of Western audiences, and in doing so becoming one of the year’s most surprising triumphs! Set in post-war Japan, Godzilla: Minus One is unlike any other monster feature I have seen before. Whilst in Western culture, monster films’ traditionally have focused on prioritising the military and somewhat signifying its ideology and might, director Takashi Yamazaki opted to prioritise another form of strength…
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And, that strength comes from family and friendship. Again, Godzilla: Minus One is unlike any monster feature that I have ever seen. Yamazaki and Co. deliver in the spectacle and sheer terror of Godzilla but, it also added and arguably most surprisingly was the film’s tenderness, thought-provoking narrative and family dynamic, as the film follows a disgraced Kamikaze pilot returning home to ruins in post-war Japan. At its heart, Godzilla: Minus One is a story about community, family, resilience and regret highlighting thematics based around PTSD, survivor-guilt and parental responsibility. Its choice in thematics is something that I would never have imagined fitting into a monster narrative but along with excellent direction, a superb soundtrack and raw, vulnerable performances from the cast Godzilla: Minus One is an emotional, intense, thrill that must be experienced on the big screen! (4.5/5) Adam @secondviewing