Bad Channels - 1992 - USA

Bad Channels - 1992 - 3/10 

 
Extraterrestrials take over radio KDUL (dull, get it) and begin broadcasting “capture” signals.
Meaning, listeners (young, attractive female listeners) are lured, shrunk, stuffed in glass tubes.
How long until all gorgeous girls are gone?  Who will be Earth’s savior?  
El cheapo crap from Full Moon is a poster child for terrible.
What was I thinking?  Music by Blue Öyster Cult; I couldn’t help myself.

Alien³ - 1992 - USA

Alien³ - 1992 - 6/10 

 
Pity the unloved child.
Escaping the annihilation of the xenomorph colony, Ripley’s vessel crash lands on a prison planet.
Convicts are a mix of sociopaths, psychopaths, average murderers.  Staff is more of the same.
Unfortunately for Ripley, and for the male population, her ship had carried a stowaway.
This is a hard watch for fans of the xenomorph.  Endless scriptwriters, rewrites, studio meddling.
For the faithful, the extended “Assembly Cut” will provide a richer experience.
Those familiar with the fanedit world, seek out “Alien3: Third Cut” by 15MaF.  That is the one.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - 1991 - USA

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - 1991 - 6/10

 
After the loss of a mineral rich moon, the Klingon Empire enters peace negotiations with the Federation.
Ordered, against his will, to shepherd the diplomats is a reluctant Kirk.
Lust for conflict being what is it, expect treachery and misdeeds from both sides.
The last hurrah from the original cast is an acceptable outing.
Plus, with a Shakespeare quoting Plummer, they finally found someone who could ham with Shatner.
For a production that had budget limits, this still looks pretty good.

096 - 2020 - USA

096 - 2020 - 6/10 

 
Debriefing of the head researcher following an escape and subsequent deaths.
How had the subject, #096, breached containment?
How had safety protocols failed?
Mix of interrogation room and outside conflicts, mostly in night.
Limited explanations will be fine for those with imaginations.
Others might ask Chat or ask their mom for help.  γνῶθι σεαυτόν

Axanar: The Gathering Storm - 2026 - USA

Axanar: The Gathering Storm - 2026 - 5/10 

 
Twelve years on, a mid-sequel to Prelude To Axanar sporadically pops online.
Technically, this is a faint echo of Prelude – NOT the cinema everyone longed for.
Lead players Hatch and Graham are RIP; their screen time is scant.
Kate Vernon has been replaced by a cheap wig.  Klingon K’omak evokes an elderly hippie.
Reluctant to kick this too much, as what they have accomplished on a budget is impressive.
The spark is gone, however, and people I trust say there is something rotten with this.

Concordia - 2021 - Germany

Concordia - 2021 - 6/10

 
The gated, monitored city of Concordia, with thousands of surveillance cameras.
On the streets, in offices, cafes, in homes, bedrooms, bathrooms.
Observing, listening, studying heart rates, impulses.
The more invasive the AI community is, the safer everyone is.
Until the mysterious murder of one of the techs.
Being a guarded city, police are not permitted inside, and local agents attempt to solve.
The conclusion a bit open, scores swing depending on which side of optimist/pessimist spectrum one is.

Island Of Terror - 1966 - UK

Island Of Terror - 1966 - 6/10 

 
Researchers, aiming for a cancer cure, accidentally create a silicone based life form.
One that needs calcium (bones) to grow and multiply.
The island off of Ireland is small, and has numerous cows.  And tasty humans!
Entertaining SciFi / Horror romp builds slowly, while the silicates multiply every six hours.
For all that, this feels like a glorified Doctor Who outing. 

Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster - 1965 - USA

Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster - 1965 - 4/10

 
How have I existed so many decades unaware of this wowzer?
Exploratory alien ship mistakes a mission to Mars rocket for a missile and destroys it.
Wait!  Flashback.  We discover astronaut Frank is a cyborg, with human body, brain circuits and capacitors.
He / it / them survives, although it starts mindlessly killing Porto (sic) Rican turistas.
Meantime, our invaders (remember them?) they start kidnapping Earthlings.
Young, wearing bikinis, miniskirts, shorts, halter tops.  You know, desirable breeders.
(Seemed like producers cribbed this off “Raiders From The Rings” by Alan Nourse.)
Oh yeah, a couple of incongruous pop songs from Bob Crewe’s stable.
Film is all kinds of bad and massively entertaining.

The Colony - 2026 - S Korea

The Colony - 2026 - 6/10 
AKA - Gunche // 군체

 
As in ant colony or hive mentality.
An embittered young scientist infects the elder who appropriated his research.
The infection grows exponentially, turning victims into zombie like mutations.
Periodically, they share a colony update, learning.
Fast-moving S Korean film, as frantic as Train To Busan, but not as fresh.

The Time Travelers - 1964 - USA

The Time Travelers - 1964 - 5/10

 
Scientists devise a time travel view screen.
Only, mirroring today, it drains enormous power from the local utility.
Then, it shorts somehow, and become a transport portal … into the future!
2071, Earth a wasteland after a nuclear war.
Mutants on the surface, remnants of civilization underground.
Although a cheesy B-film (borrowing from The Time Machine, it is thoughtful, and the ending imaginative.

War Of The Worlds - 1953 - USA

War Of The Worlds - 1953 - 7/10 

 
“Everybody understands when you wave the white flag, you wanna be friends.”
“Hey, there! Open up!”
So declare the local welcome wagon trio in California.
Who become the first victims of a full-scale Martian invasion.
Exciting 1950’s SciFi is an effects powerhouse and remains thrilling decades later.
Not exactly faithful to Wells, but frighteningly close to Hawking’s predictions.

The Hidden - 1987 - USA

The Hidden - 1987 - 6/10

 
Los Angeles cops have their hands full with a spree murderer.
Mild mannered citizen, only he is now a raging killer.
After an onslaught of bullets, the perp is taken to hospital, where he is expected to die.
He expires, except what possessed him jumps.
An alien body jumper, with a taste for Ferraris, automatic weapons, and carnage.
Enter an FBI agent, knowledgeable about the quarry, in whatever host.
Wild SciFi, Horror, buddy cop flick, years ahead of its time.

Battlestar Galactica: Razor - 2007 - USA

Battlestar Galactica: Razor - 2007 - 7/10

 
A nice, brief return to form coming between soggy S03 and staggering S04.
This could pretty much have been called “Pegasus” since the bulk of the story occurs on that ship.
The vessel under Admiral Cain takes a more belligerent course than Galactica.
Wonderful flashback scene during the first Colonial War is a highlight and SHOULD have been a spinoff.
Character study of XO Smith shows writers could still create concise, compelling stories.

Pitch Black - 2000 - USA

Pitch Black - 2000 - 6/10 

 
Spacecraft is perforated by meteorites and crash lands on an uninhabited desert planet.
Survivors are a mixed lot, including a taciturn killer, Riddick.
Empty, the desert planet is not, for there are creatures that emerge at night.
And a very long night, indeed, is approaching.
First in the Riddick franchise makes the most of a limited budget and relies on Diesel’s charisma.
Predictable formula of “another one bites the dust” is, nevertheless, blushing fun. 

Never Surrender: Galaxy Quest - 2019 - USA

Never Surrender: Galaxy Quest - 2019 - 6/10 

 
Galaxy Quest (1999) was loving tribute to Star Trek; this doc focuses on the genesis of GQ.
Harold Ramis was the original director, but quit after being overruled on casting decisions.
Save for Rickman, everyone involved comments throughout.
Dreamworks inept marketing this for 8-year-olds hurt box office returns.
More than anything, this is a fun tribute to the fanbase – of all franchises.
The original film is wonderful; this makes for a nice dessert.

Mad Max - 1979 - Australia

Mad Max - 1979 - 6/10

 
Post-apocalyptic Australia, police ranks thinning while biker gangs terrorize survivors.
Patrolmen Max and Goose, face off against one of the deadlier gangs.
Initially, they have limited success, until the narrative darkens.
Cheap Ozploitation dystopian vengeance action mayhem, call it what you will.
Crude, yet mesmerizing … and addictive.
Later films have more craftsmanship; this gnarly opener seems more authentic.

Shark Girl - 2024 - USA

Shark Girl - 2024 - 3/10 

 
The nuclear power plant near Venice Beach (!?!) has a leak that goes unreported (!?!). 
A great white shark swims into the discharge and is altered.
How?  Who knows?  It bites model Heidi, altering her … mouth.
Heidi now sorts obstacles and difficulties the old-fashioned way.  Chomp-chomp-chomp.
Not scary, not funny, not campy.  Script is beneath stupid.
Aside from the two playing Ron and Gina, none of the thespians tried to act.
Appeared to be directed by an AI bot via cellphone.

Pomegranate - 2026 - USA

Pomegranate - 2026 - 6/10 

 
The old wastrel enters the cluttered laboratory.  His louche attitude reeks of affluence and boredom.
Bored with stimulants, narcotics, flesh to flesh melding.  Existence as greasy reruns.
The inventor has breathtaking virtual reality experiences, that might be deadly.
The client has done everything, however.  The sheer boredom of existence has dissipated him.
Extraordinary visuals of this AI SciFi must terrify Hollywood, unless they are already offering cheques.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3372139

Evils Of The Night - 1985 - USA

Evils Of The Night - 1985 - 4/10 

 
As with Corman’s Not Of This Earth, there was a breakdown in intelligence.
Aliens land near a small college town and taken over an empty (??) hospital.
They seek human blood platelets to rejuvenate their dying species.
Kidnapped donors must be between 16-24 years old.
Whereupon the extraterrestrials gasp, “So few students!  What is this summer vacation thing?”
Not to worry, a nearby lake is packed with swimsuit twenty-somethings, drinking and doing pokey-pokey.
Stupid drive-in flick, piss poor dialogue, comatose plot, directed by a zombie.
Nonetheless, where else will you find Julie Newmar, John Carradine, Tina Louise, Neville Brand in one film?

Robotrix - 1991 - Hong Kong

Robotrix - 1991 - 6/10
AKA - Nu Ji Xie Ren // 女機械人

 
Scientist Sakamoto, deranged, shifts his consciousness into an android.
From there, he goes on to kidnap, then a spree of rapes and murders.
Who’s gonna stop him?  Female police officers, transferred into female cyborgs.
Fembots, anyone?
Think Robocop with loads of nudity, sex, slathered with sleaze.
Trashy Category III flick, an inspiration for teenage males; robotics builders who will recreate Amy Yip and Chikako Aoyama girlfriends.