Knight at HOME at the Movies
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Your Sci-Fi Fix For the Week
If 50s musicals aren't your thing, then how about something out of this world? This week's other crop of DVD
recommendations offers two titles from the sci-fi genre that for one reason or another, didn't get exactly stellar reviews
from the critics (though I liked 'em both -- ALOT -- no surprise there). There's also a third title, a compilation of Borg
themed episodes from the various Star Trek series put together for insistent fans. All courtesy of Paramount Home Video.
If 50s musicals aren't your thing, then how about something out of this world? This week's other crop of DVD
recommendations offers two titles from the sci-fi genre that for one reason or another, didn't get exactly stellar reviews
from the critics (though I liked 'em both -- ALOT -- no surprise there). There's also a third title, a compilation of Borg
themed episodes from the various Star Trek series put together for insistent fans. All courtesy of Paramount Home Video.
I missed the theatrical version of Aeon Flux, apparently the studio was nervous about
critical reaction (which I noted when taking a look at the movie's progenitor, the animated
cartoon) but now after viewing it I don't see what all the drubbing that greeted it was
about. To my mind, Aeon Flux is a fast paced, terrific looking sci-fi action pic that has a
lot going for it. First, the movie's art direction, cinematography and especially it's use of
color make it one of the most beautiful sci-fi pictures since Gattaca. What's not to like?
There are many sci-fi pictures (and I'm happy to provide a list) that were just as high
profile upon their initial release that stunk up the universe but Aeon Flux is not among
them. The story's your basic run of the mill rebels vs. Big Brother thing. Aeon (Charlize
Theron) is the lead rebel. She's a cool, black clad assassin that has gotten bored with all
the killing. She swallows a pill and comes into contact with her leader, The Handler
(Frances McDormand) who is having a perpetual bad hair day. She's off to kill the leader
of the hermetically sealed world everyone lives in but of course subplots galore start
swirling about before that can happen.
There are some good fight scenes, complete with the usual chop socky, some nice visual
eye candy (Theron, Jonny Lee Miller) and best, the whole thing wraps up in 90 minutes.
The movie is highly reminiscent of Logan's Run and might play nicely in a double feature in
your home theatre. Perhaps the movie's biggest drawback is that, other than the visuals,
it's not distinctive enough. There's really nothing camp here and nothing that elevates it
above a very crowded field. The disc smartly plays up those all important visuals with lots
of making of featurettes.
Apparently, I'm not the only one that had a fondness for Event Horizon (1997).
Paramount has figured the film has enough of a fan base to release a 2-disc Special
Edition version that gives you just about everything you'd ever want to know about this
combination sci-fi/horror film. Stars Sam Neill (stop my foolish heart), Laurence
Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. Jones, and Jack Noseworthy
head into space to retrieve a space ship that mysteriously disappeared and has just as
mysteriously reappeared. Once they reach the ship and board her strange things begin to
happen and soon it becomes apparent that the Event Horizon has been involved in a
dastardly event so evil, so terrible, so monstrous, so (fill in your own adjective)...shudder!
Naturally, this comely crew start having visions of what went on and things start going from
bad to worse. There is a fair amount of gore but that's outweighed by the high tech
design and visuals, not to mention the intergalatic time travel scene where we get our
hunky crew stripped down to their undergear. Now, if only we could get a few more of
those scenes, we might have a blockbuster on our hands like Supernova (I'm only half
kidding).
Paramount gives us the film and commentaries on the first disc and the all encompassing
making of featurettes, deleted scenes, a story board scene that wasn't shot, and a lot
more on a second disc. Fans of the film are going to be REALLY happy with this release,
yours truly included.
And last (but certainly not least), a third sci-fi themed arrival from Paramount is Star
Trek Fan Collective - Borg which is a collection of episodes from ALL the Star Trek
series that involve perhaps the Enterprise crew's worst adversaries, the dreaded half
human-half machine Borg. This four disc set brings together all 16 episodes dealing with
the scary race that travels the universe swallowing every intelligent life form into their
consciousness along the way. I'm not a Trekkie but have loved the Borg (especially in
the feature film with Alice Krige as their Queen) so it's wonderful to have all these
episodes in one collection. Several nice additional features are included as well.
Prepare to be "assimilated!"
critical reaction (which I noted when taking a look at the movie's progenitor, the animated
cartoon) but now after viewing it I don't see what all the drubbing that greeted it was
about. To my mind, Aeon Flux is a fast paced, terrific looking sci-fi action pic that has a
lot going for it. First, the movie's art direction, cinematography and especially it's use of
color make it one of the most beautiful sci-fi pictures since Gattaca. What's not to like?
There are many sci-fi pictures (and I'm happy to provide a list) that were just as high
profile upon their initial release that stunk up the universe but Aeon Flux is not among
them. The story's your basic run of the mill rebels vs. Big Brother thing. Aeon (Charlize
Theron) is the lead rebel. She's a cool, black clad assassin that has gotten bored with all
the killing. She swallows a pill and comes into contact with her leader, The Handler
(Frances McDormand) who is having a perpetual bad hair day. She's off to kill the leader
of the hermetically sealed world everyone lives in but of course subplots galore start
swirling about before that can happen.
There are some good fight scenes, complete with the usual chop socky, some nice visual
eye candy (Theron, Jonny Lee Miller) and best, the whole thing wraps up in 90 minutes.
The movie is highly reminiscent of Logan's Run and might play nicely in a double feature in
your home theatre. Perhaps the movie's biggest drawback is that, other than the visuals,
it's not distinctive enough. There's really nothing camp here and nothing that elevates it
above a very crowded field. The disc smartly plays up those all important visuals with lots
of making of featurettes.
Apparently, I'm not the only one that had a fondness for Event Horizon (1997).
Paramount has figured the film has enough of a fan base to release a 2-disc Special
Edition version that gives you just about everything you'd ever want to know about this
combination sci-fi/horror film. Stars Sam Neill (stop my foolish heart), Laurence
Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. Jones, and Jack Noseworthy
head into space to retrieve a space ship that mysteriously disappeared and has just as
mysteriously reappeared. Once they reach the ship and board her strange things begin to
happen and soon it becomes apparent that the Event Horizon has been involved in a
dastardly event so evil, so terrible, so monstrous, so (fill in your own adjective)...shudder!
Naturally, this comely crew start having visions of what went on and things start going from
bad to worse. There is a fair amount of gore but that's outweighed by the high tech
design and visuals, not to mention the intergalatic time travel scene where we get our
hunky crew stripped down to their undergear. Now, if only we could get a few more of
those scenes, we might have a blockbuster on our hands like Supernova (I'm only half
kidding).
Paramount gives us the film and commentaries on the first disc and the all encompassing
making of featurettes, deleted scenes, a story board scene that wasn't shot, and a lot
more on a second disc. Fans of the film are going to be REALLY happy with this release,
yours truly included.
And last (but certainly not least), a third sci-fi themed arrival from Paramount is Star
Trek Fan Collective - Borg which is a collection of episodes from ALL the Star Trek
series that involve perhaps the Enterprise crew's worst adversaries, the dreaded half
human-half machine Borg. This four disc set brings together all 16 episodes dealing with
the scary race that travels the universe swallowing every intelligent life form into their
consciousness along the way. I'm not a Trekkie but have loved the Borg (especially in
the feature film with Alice Krige as their Queen) so it's wonderful to have all these
episodes in one collection. Several nice additional features are included as well.
Prepare to be "assimilated!"
