This month, it's May 2008, a pants month for movie making (interstellar pants that is). Why do I bother? Read on ...
 

May 2008 Highlights


Underpants Away! 1: Below The Belt

by BiggsTrek

Genre: Superhero Spoof

Duration: 16.5 minutes

BBFC ratings: /PG - for mild toilet humour and innueundo


I'll be briefs.

This is a very good comedy that has laughter guaranteed. Great pacing, lively performances and loads of imaginative surprises.

It kicks off - rather dryly - with a lesson in Japanese. For example, did you know that "Nintendo Wii" means "surface and attack!"?

No? - well that's one of the many linguistic educational treats presented in the opening to this film ...

You'll find references to Star Wars, Superman and Battlestar Galactica (the original) in this movie - James Bond is, of course, a given. We are treated to a "Q scene" that only someone completely off their trolleys would choose to miss.

The outstanding mods and camera trickery play second fiddle to the deluge of good gags that come thick and fast. It leaves one with a sense of a throwaway comedy - but a closer look shows that it's more than that. It deserves to be watched!

The original "Underpants Man" music is very well done too - completely convincing.

Great fun and beautifully made. If you need cheering up, this is the perfect film for you!  Life is pants, and this film proves it ...

Empires of Ambition: Sorrows of the Spy - Episode 1 (Director's Cut)

by OD-Ork-Boy

Genre: Science Fiction Political Drama

Duration: 25.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (12) - for bad language and violence


The superb "Phantoms" is the prequel to this film.

But whereas that work was largely a terrific action-fest to get the series going, "Sorrows" is where the story proper kicks in. Interstellar skullduggery is the order of the day, a cue for classy acting and writing.

Recently revamped, a diverse and rich science-fiction landscape is brought to life here by introducing intriguing characters and an absorbing story. The new visuals are vivid in colour, and there's new music in glorious stereo to enhance the mood still further.

One to watch for all sci-fi fans.

Tears of a Pale Moon

by wackyal3000

Genre: World War I Drama

Duration: 18.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (12) - for bad language and violence


The First World War was the most pointless and stupid in the whole of human history. Through the eyes of the protagonist here we see what it must have been like to be drafted into the army purely to die for the misguided honour of some leader or other. The final scene with the rows upon rows of gravestones is intensley moving. This is surely one of the best World War I films made with The Movies. No question.



Addiction

by piotrtheman

Genre: Domestic Drama

Duration: 4.5 minutes

BBFC rating: U - suitable for all


A bad night at the poker table gets worse when a man returns home to his wife. There have been surprisingly few dramas like this released over the last 4 years, this is a very good example of how to do it.

Committed performances help sell this absorbing drama.



Enigma Series 2: Episode 3 - Twin Hearts (permission to upload declined by copyright holder)

by Ubernewbie

Genre: Military Science Fiction

Duration: 13 minutes

BBFC rating: /PG - for action violence


This is one of the best episodes I've watched from this cool sci-fi series. It's very much a mid-season episode - the main characters are consigned to the sidelines - but we get a lesson in how risky it is to start a meaningful relationship when on the interstellar frontline due to two minor characters who take centre stage. There's a great battle scene down on a desert planet which moves the story along too. Great mods and costumes, as well as a hard-hitting ending. All sci-fi fans should check this one out.
 


Distance

by Del

Genre: Romantic Visual Poem

Duration: 4.5 minutes

BBFC rating: U - suitable for all


This is a very good cinematic Valentine's card. Stylistically beautiful to watch, it's features being the stark black and white backgrounds. The acting is excellent too.

My own contribution was the trumpet playing which I improvised according to the lyrics.

The two characters become as one as the film progresses - the romantic ideal.

There are very few romantic films out there - this one is well worth watching.



The Water and the Woods

by userjosh9874

Genre: Supernatural Mystery

Duration: 29.5 minutes

BBFC rating: /PG - for scary scenes


Two detectives investigate a remote hotel in the country.

Kind of a cross between "The Wicker Man" and "The Shining", this film makes you wonder what rural folks do at night after shagging sheep during the day (you would think they would be worn out - but not according to this story!).

Terrific acting by Hope, a character that one of the cops befriends. It's worth watching just for that - but there's so much more ...

... like the ending. Wow!

The last few minutes are perfect for this well designed and realised story - we get to see what all the fuss was about in very uncertain terms (a compliment).

One of the best "spooky" films made with The Movies, no question. It knows what it's doing and does it oh so well. 

Some of Us

by BiggsTrek and Ally Miller

Genre: Time Travel Rock Music Video

Duration: 4.5 minutes

BBFC rating: /PG - for violent scenes


In this music video, a drunk gets thrown out of a bar (mainly because he puked up!) But when he comes to, he finds that aliens are checking out his town. One karate chop/Vulcan death grip later, he's travelling through time using their tricorder device. We are then treated to Nazi Germany and the Wild West while Ally Miller's music demands "what are we reaching for?"

Superb entertainment - it's worth watching this just for the numerous teleport effects (circa BBC 1979!)



Hated

by Sparky

Genre: Yob Character Study

Duration: nearly 4.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (15) - for frequent bad language


A yob spouts off about why he hates people just by looking at them from across a bar. His pseudo-intellectual musings are terrificly entertaining, beautifully acted, and the final shot is very memorable.

Kono Michi: "Dark Eyes" - Music Video

by Kono Michi & rogerSIMIAN

Genre: Indie Music Video

Duration: 5 minutes (blank end duration 1 minute, total 6 minutes)

BBFC rating: U - suitable for all


The filmmaker's own record label promoted this terrific musician at the time of release.

She is Kono Michi - she writes the song, plays the violin and sings.

Visually, there's some kind of superhero story going on (well done too) - but I was distracted by the exquisite music.

This is as proper a music video as you'll ever see done with machinima.



SCUM

by RavensFan_09

Genre: Vigilante Cop Black Comedy

Duration: just over 6.5 minutes

BBFC rating: (12) - for violent scenes


The city is a dangerous place, and one jaded cop has had enough.

The joke here is that all the criminals on show are wussies. But they get the severe treatment by the lead cop character anyway!

Charles Bronson doesn't deserve to grace this fella's turf, even in passing through!

A superb performance by the lead here - it's faultless.

An extremely funny spin on the vigilante genre of which I'm very fond!



Also archived this month:

"Space Trek: Encounter"
"The Angry Goalie"
"The Angry Goalie 2: The Return of Harrow"
"The Angry Goalie 3: The Beginning"
"Sheriff Rooney 4: A New Deputy"
"Poptart Mania!"
"Followed 4: Conclusion"
"The Vague Adventures of Guy Man and Person Girl" (episodes 1 & 2)
"Conquest of Agent X3"
"Chicago Style"
"Thong of the Dead 2: Thongocaplypse Now"
"Changes at School"
"Changes at School 2: The sequel that shouldn't have been made but was anyway"
"Changes at School 3: Why am I still making these?"
"Changes at School 4: How many more of these are you going to endure?"
"Heroics"

There are now 969 films in the vault, the latest addition being the Prufrock Award winning "Temporary Night" by Nukester

See you next month! :)