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Robert-A-Collins
Reviews
2103: The Deadly Wake (1997)
Funky flick, freak fiends
Hmmm, seems I'm in the minority here but this film is is on B sci-fi flick that is fun. Its hard to take low budget sci-fi flicks too seriously, but this one was playful and funny - for a B-movie copyrighted in 1996 I've seen worse effects, but the cast works well, McDowel is suitably tormented and unpredictable as the struggling with booze Captain on a hopeless mission of redemption, and the three women in the leads (four if you include the cyborg - well they're an interesting bunch. Particularly Gwynith the evil corporate type, the spacey first mate by Hidie Von Paleskey was a nice balance- sort of an alter ego to the Gwenyth character (they could have tried a good woman on woman thing there, but what the heck -plenty of fun perverseness between the lines. And what about that hard-wired cyber-baby as ships navigator. That was cool and original (at least when they shot it). Personally I'd date that killer cyborg broad any day - but hey each to their own.
Yeah some effects sucked, big deal, that's not what it's about I've seen plenty of big budget sci-fi that doesn't take us half the places this little one did.
Replikator (1994)
Quirky and funny in a good B sci-fi way.
Zepo 2's film was "out of focus" and grainy... My copy isn't - perhaps you were sold a counterfeited copy accounting for the poor visuals.
BTW,I saw it first in theater (local Cineplex, 1993 I think). I can't say this little film had a long run, but wasn't ever direct to video.
I agree with Zepo 2 it's not "Blade Runner", but for a 1 million dollar budget it's not bad, seen many a B flick with more money do way way worse so I say give it a break. I mean the look is cool, -can't say it isn't original that way.
OK, it's not perfect but, but it is quirky and funny in a good B sci-fi way.
Charlie Jade (2005)
Strong show has yet to have its day
Jade is still waiting to be discovered. This beautifully written, moody complex but dramatically compelling work is in fact what so many shows and films have claimed to be, but aren't, the spiritual TV inheritor of Blade Runner.
The cinematography is terrific I think and the mix of languages, looks and environments is both other-worldly and gritty.
This show has yet to have it's day, whether through VOD or television I predict it will be 'discovered by the right combination of powers-that-be in the US.
I hope to see other work by this group of artists.
The Fateful Balance (1990)
Well told, even handed scientific exploration
Fateful Balance is a low budget but a well told even handed exploration of the question of whether climate change was man-made and if so whether or not one could separate man-made change from natural variability in climate change.
It is interesting to see now, because it was made at a time when science was leaning towards, but not yet able to say it was proved, global warming.
This 1 hour video handles the background science and facts underlying potential climate change nicely, a low budget, cogent precursor to AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, a decade and a half before its time.
Timestorm Theatre (1993)
Good Episode. Any more?
I saw one episode of this on BRAVO recently, it was based on the life of Charles Dickens from the point of view of his visit across North America.
It was a rather interesting and different view, the actor Robert Russel was very good.
However I have not been able to find anymore episodes of Timestorm Theater listed. I wonder if anyone can help? Is this the only episode shot or are there other episodes under a different title?
Overall a nice, slightly minimalist style, - a great mood to the "theater" and nice interplay with the"ghostly" audience.
Future Fear (1997)
Very very Funny
With all respect to the previous comment "Oh Lordy lookout", how can say this wasn't intentional comedy? The fight bathroom battling spouse's sequence - Jeff Wincott with the plunger and Maria Ford with the knife is one of the funniest, scenes in any movie ever. Bawdy, great action, out-of left-field - and worth the price of the rental easy. A lot of other stuff is deliberately hilarious -sandwitched into a quirk "B" sci-fi story.
I think Wincott and Maria Ford (who shows real acting chops and terrific comedic timing) both get a big "thumbs up" here.
Give it a break, I've rented a lot bigger budget stuff that delivered a LOT less!
The Music of the Spheres (1984)
Inventive
I saw this on Mexican TV back around 1990, it seemed already old then and looked like it didn't have much money. The story intrigued and many moments stayed with me long past a casual viewing experience. The completely unknown cast worked well.
This was probably a bit of an arty pre-new age answer to "The Forbin Project" (sp)meets "Contact" (the former of which dates around the same time). I've scanned e-bay etc and could never find a copy -guess it was pre-DVD. Hope the intriguing sometimes funny little film gets dusted off and re-released,(or given a lot of the drek passing for science fiction, it could prove worth a revisit with more money.