Let's be realistic.
... View Moren my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.
... View MoreEach character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
... View MoreThe movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.
... View More"Zeram" Spoilers Ahead! An interesting Japanese Film dubbed into English.Let's see. To sum it up. A Girl with the wrong colour lipstick, talks to a computer named "Bob," while hunting down an alien monster.Yeah I know. this prolly is the basic plot to about a thousand "B" movies.Two electrician buffoon like characters, dressed in colours worse then any disco nightmare you can imagine, are also like hand to add to the humour of this cinematic "wonder." No not as good as the "Godzilla" movies, but you'll still be believe: "It's a man in a rubber suit!"
... View MoreWhen this Japanese sci-fi monster-action -comedy first reached the US, it very nearly developed a cult following. That it didn't probably had to do with the widespread distribution of anime, Japanese sci-fi fantasy thriller cartoons intended largely for adults.The manga-anime phenomenon has disturbed me ever since I first bumped into it in 1973. back then, Japanese cartoons had absolutely no stylistics variance whatsoever. Ever face by every artist looked exactly same, the stories all followed the same formulae, regardless of writer - to be fair, there was a cultural ethic at work in this - at the time, many Japanese actually felt that individualistic styles projected a kind of arrogance. It wasn't until about 1990, with a whole new generation of Japanese artists, heavily influenced by material from America, that individual differences and variations became first tolerate, and then admired. Still, even today these differences and variations occur within very restrictive limits. And, perhaps not surprisingly, the more individualistic the artist's style, the more violent and offensive the material presented - to have an individualistic style is still recognized, to some extent, as transgressive and rebellious. However, the curious thing now, is why many Americans - from whom the Japanese learned to be rebellious - have grown attached to the variation-less similitude of traditional manga.It is well to bear this in mind when approaching Zeram. The film - not animated by the way, and employing surprising little CGI - is a curious blend of sameness and difference. The female alien bounty-hunter who is the real hero of the film is actually derived from a fairly well-known manga type; unlike her cartoon sisters however, she has a real sense of humor, and her strength is not portrayed as in conflict with her femininity, but a part of it.Her Earthling sidekicks are also remarkably different from the usual dumb-earthling sidekicks of the common manga. They fumble and bumble their way into the story, but they have their own kind of intelligence and their own kind of bravery - enough so that these contribute to the film's finale in a decisive manner.But if there is offensive transgression to be found here, it certainly involves the title character. As rubber-monsters go, she is extremely violent. this sort of violence has become quite typical for manga (and one reason Japanese comics are not for kids); but most manga monsters are overtly sadistic, usually laughing when their victims suffer. Zeram is really a ruthless, but emotionless, unstoppable force. One can easily be shocked and disgusted with her, but one can't really feel any hatred or pity. despite the organic matter used in her construction, she is pure machine, with one function - the destruction of everything in her path that lives. Which is exactly why our unlikely team of heroes really need to have a sense of humor. Their situation would be unbearable if they didn't.After an ultra-violent pre-credit sequence, the first 15 minutes of the film are a little dull, but that's because, unlike manga and manga-influenced action films, our heroes here have real personalities to be developed. Part of what will decide whether or not the viewer likes the film is whether the viewer likes these people, and I confess I do.The film depends a lot upon - and is served well by - its editing and its soundtrack. There are also a couple of truly disturbing moments when the film forces us to confront the question of what it might really mean to be 'organic', i.e., human. And the bounty hunter has a computer-assistant with a dry slacker-like sense of humor ("yeah, whatever").Over all, sci-fi entertainment beyond the usual from Japan.PS: there is a sequel out, but it's pretty much like sequels everywhere; I do not recommend it.
... View MoreThis movie is quite an entertaining little romp if you watch it with an open mind. It's full of interesting gadgets, lots of weapons, explosions, monsters, stop-motion, talking computers, Japanese babes, etc. The plot concerns an intergalatic bounty hunter, played by the beautiful Yuko Moriyama, who tracks down an unstoppable alien killing machine named Zeiram. The plot also throws in two male comedy foils, although Yuko could easily carry the film on her own. There's lot of action, some of it hand to hand (it's always a treat to see women fighting) and some of it with hi-tech guns and such. While this is isn't a perfect movie, it's a good way to spend an evening...cool-looking monsters, kickboxing babes, explosions...what more can one ask for.
... View MoreI have always had a soft spot for anime-esque films. Zeram was both entertaining and indulging. I have no idea what the budget of this well produced film was, but the initial battle scene between Iria and Zeram was staggering. Those who appreciated the Kryptonian battle in 'Superman 2' will love this piece of cinematography. Kuddos.Zeram's plotline is simple, the actors are fun to watch, and the action is a blast, the villain is more elemental than 'evil'. What else does the action-adventure viewer expect?Thumbs way up.
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