"Space Battleship Yamato" - Directed by Takashi Yamazaki
Today produced three things I have trouble believing...
Firstly I cannot believe that I made it to the cinema to see this, my second to last Film Festival movie.
I have felt like crap for something like 48 hours and it was a 50/50 call on whether to leave the house this afternoon.
Secondly I cannot believe how twitchy and fidgety the odd little guy seated next to me was.
He looked like Booger from Revenge Of the Nerds and man- the little weasel was shifty.
Lastly- I simply cannot believe that "Space Battleship Yamato" cost a mere $12 million to make.
This is a hell of a spectacular and impressive flick for that kind of money. It cost a hell of a lot less than say "Serenity" or "The Chronicles of Riddick" but you would never pick it.
From the opening space battle all the way to the final scene it is loaded not only with brilliant computer generated effects but with impressive set design, costumes, props and weapons.
Set in 2199 this movie is a good old 'Aliens are attacking Earth and we only have one hope' kind of thing.
The one hope in this case is the titular Yamato and yes- it really is a Space Battleship.
It might have laser weapons and a warp drive but in every other way it is like a battleship launched into space.
So, so good.
Bless those nutty Japanese folk.
The hero here is an ex fighter pilot named Kodai San who is pissy with the captain of the Yamato because he allowed his brother to die so that he might escape that opening battle.
The captain is a marvelous fellow- he has the best Space Captain beard ever.
Now, I mentioned that the hero is named Kodai San and most people will know that that translates as Mr Kodai.
Well- that is what they call him in the movie. For some odd reason everyone from his best friend to his love interest calls him Mr Kodai.
Odd.
Speaking of the love interest- she is a highly skilled fighter pilot with a wicked punch.
She has a kind of Trinity meets River Tam vibe.
She's reckless, brave and can fly the crap out of her fighter ship.
Her name is Yuki and she is so attractive you have to remind yourself to breathe every time she's on the screen.
There are a few other main characters of note including a funny female doctor who always seem to have a large ginger cat with her, a hard as nails soldier called Saito and the Black Tiger fighter pilots. Yamato has a bunch of fighters stashed away below decks which launch Battlestar Galactica style. These Black Tiger guys are goofy in that typical Japanese movie kind of way.
It doesn't pay to get too attached to anyone because people die frequently in this film and the script cares not a jot how major a character they are.
It is one of the many aspects that reminds me of "Serenity" and that is one of the highest compliments that I can pay "Space Battleship Yamato".
Some of the battles in space are very reminiscent of "Serenity" but Yamato has the added layer of that super cool spaceship design.
The massive gun turrets blasting away at distant targets that have been designated by scout fighters and the ship-like maneuvers that the captain pulls off to avoid kamikaze attacks are really, really exciting to watch.
It even gives Starship Troopers a run for its money in the infantry versus alien bug area.
The movie seems to have drawn from just about every major Science Fiction Action film of the last twenty years but not at the expense of its own identity.
It keeps a nicely balanced tone amidst the frequent major character deaths. It is often quite jokey but it doesn't take away anything from the serious nature of the mission.
After all the fate of the entire planet Earth is at stake here.
The science behind this is a little wonky to put it mildly but really it doesn't matter one iota.
It is something to do with the planet having been pelted with meteor bombs and it is irradiated and bordering on uninhabitable.
Combining action, romance, comedy and a healthy dose of spectacle there is every reason to track this one down on dvd - I suspect that it won't get a mainstream release here.
This one has a bit of everything including - I kid you not - a Steven Tyler end credits song.
Rated PG - some minor gunshot wound stuff but about on a par with "Return Of the Jedi" in terms of content.
Firstly I cannot believe that I made it to the cinema to see this, my second to last Film Festival movie.
I have felt like crap for something like 48 hours and it was a 50/50 call on whether to leave the house this afternoon.
Secondly I cannot believe how twitchy and fidgety the odd little guy seated next to me was.
He looked like Booger from Revenge Of the Nerds and man- the little weasel was shifty.
Lastly- I simply cannot believe that "Space Battleship Yamato" cost a mere $12 million to make.
This is a hell of a spectacular and impressive flick for that kind of money. It cost a hell of a lot less than say "Serenity" or "The Chronicles of Riddick" but you would never pick it.
From the opening space battle all the way to the final scene it is loaded not only with brilliant computer generated effects but with impressive set design, costumes, props and weapons.
The one hope in this case is the titular Yamato and yes- it really is a Space Battleship.
It might have laser weapons and a warp drive but in every other way it is like a battleship launched into space.
So, so good.
Bless those nutty Japanese folk.
The hero here is an ex fighter pilot named Kodai San who is pissy with the captain of the Yamato because he allowed his brother to die so that he might escape that opening battle.
The captain is a marvelous fellow- he has the best Space Captain beard ever.
Well- that is what they call him in the movie. For some odd reason everyone from his best friend to his love interest calls him Mr Kodai.
Odd.
Speaking of the love interest- she is a highly skilled fighter pilot with a wicked punch.
She has a kind of Trinity meets River Tam vibe.
She's reckless, brave and can fly the crap out of her fighter ship.
Her name is Yuki and she is so attractive you have to remind yourself to breathe every time she's on the screen.
It doesn't pay to get too attached to anyone because people die frequently in this film and the script cares not a jot how major a character they are.
It is one of the many aspects that reminds me of "Serenity" and that is one of the highest compliments that I can pay "Space Battleship Yamato".
Some of the battles in space are very reminiscent of "Serenity" but Yamato has the added layer of that super cool spaceship design.
The massive gun turrets blasting away at distant targets that have been designated by scout fighters and the ship-like maneuvers that the captain pulls off to avoid kamikaze attacks are really, really exciting to watch.
It even gives Starship Troopers a run for its money in the infantry versus alien bug area.
It keeps a nicely balanced tone amidst the frequent major character deaths. It is often quite jokey but it doesn't take away anything from the serious nature of the mission.
After all the fate of the entire planet Earth is at stake here.
The science behind this is a little wonky to put it mildly but really it doesn't matter one iota.
It is something to do with the planet having been pelted with meteor bombs and it is irradiated and bordering on uninhabitable.
Combining action, romance, comedy and a healthy dose of spectacle there is every reason to track this one down on dvd - I suspect that it won't get a mainstream release here.
This one has a bit of everything including - I kid you not - a Steven Tyler end credits song.
Rated PG - some minor gunshot wound stuff but about on a par with "Return Of the Jedi" in terms of content.
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