Space Operas

A fantasy flick financed by Joseph Goebbels may not sound like everybody's cup of tea, but if, like me, you are a fan of the ineffable Baron Munchausen, you won't want to miss the sheer visual splendor of this version! The depiction of the Baron's trip to the Moon is particularly amazing!

Quiver with fear, earthlings! Your worst nightmare has traveled across the the gulf of space to bring about your total obliteration! And get this: it has the outer-shape of a man in a gorilla suit with a diving helmet and TV antennae!!! Aren't you terrified, puny humans? I know I am!!! As a matter of fact, I believe I have just soiled my underpants... Oh dear... How embarassing... :S

Probably one of my favorite "Godzilla" flicks, "Monster Zero" is a slick monster mash that features nifty special effects and a pretty good storyline.
After being reawakened from their slumber by an advanced alien civilization, Godzilla and the pterosaur Rodan are shipped to Planet X by means of flying saucers equipped with tractor beams. Once there, they must do battle against the mighty three-headed behemoth King Ghidorah.
Meanwhile, the denizens of Planet X assure us that their intentions are peaceful and that they only mean to use Godzilla and his winged acolyte so as to ward off Ghidorah.
Unfortunatelty, it turns out that they are bent on conquering the Earth, threatening to unleash all three monsters (which are now under their control) upon us.
Can our planet withstand this triple-threat?

GROOVY STUFF TO WATCH FOR:
- The alien invaders' weird-looking outfits;
- Godzilla getting all merry and doing a silly dance to celebrate his apparent victory over King Ghidorah.

For those of you who thought that Betty Boop and Jessica Rabbit were as sexy as cartoon characters could get, here is a film that may well change the way you perceive animation. Indeed, "Heavy Metal" epitomizes the expression "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll". Featuring extensive scenes of cartoon violence and lots of naked women, this is a far cry from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".
This being said, "Heavy Metal" is a wonderful anthology that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of science fiction and fantasy. The stories are very varied and the tone is somewhat uneven, but the animation is always very impressive. My favorite segment is probably the last one, featuring the Amazon warrior Taarna. Perverse and yet strangely beautiful and poetic, it deftly interweaves elements of sci-fi and sword & sorcery. The sketch set during World War II is also a standout. Filled with zombies and blood-curdling terror, it rivals some of George A. Romero's best efforts.
But enough talk - see this film for yourself and indulge in its dubious pleasures. "Heavy Metal" is a visual tour-de-force that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

True: this film is a gross oversimplification of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel. True: it omits several vitally important details that are crucial to the comprehension of the story. True: "Dune" lacks suspense and fails to engage the viewer with its protagonists. True, true, true.
I'll be the first to admit that this movie is guilty of all of the above. This being said, do I care? The answer is NO. The reason for this is very simple: rarely have I seen a film that so completely immerses me in its universe. David Lynch creates a whole new world, gives it its own set of rules, and bestows on it his own distinctive twisted touch. (The floating fat man known as Baron Harkonnen, with his pustule-covered face and his weird penchants for young men, is indeed hard to get out of one's mind.) Plus, the film's many religious overtones (ex: the Fremen awaiting the coming of a Messiah that will lead them to true freedom) gives it the feel of a grand biblicial epic set in outer space, à la "The Ten Commandments" meets "Star Wars".
So, all in all, if you wish to indulge in a unique movie experience that will intoxicate you with sights and sounds you will remember for years to come, watch David Lynch's "Dune".