Science Fiction & Fantasy Reviews (Page 4)

The scientist colloquially known as Doctor Cyclops is on the brink of a big discovery. However, one thing is getting in the way, and his eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. He invites three renowned experts in their field to aid in his work. They make the long journey by donkeys to his remote location. As soon as one of them identifies his mistake Cyclops loses interest in the three, summarily dismissing them. Indignant at their treatment they refuse to leave. Cyclops appears to mellow, offering to show them his experiments which are powered by mined uranium ore. But he traps them in a radiation chamber and reduces them to a fraction of their normal size. He attempts to use them as controlled experiments, but they escape vowing to expose him. When you’re tiny though where is there to run to? 

The back story to this movie is at least as interesting as the feature itself. Many people will not have heard the name Ernest Schoedsack, but when I remind them that he also directed the all-time classic King Kong (1933), it will instantly be elevated to somewhere near the status he deserves.

Doctor Cyclops is a 1950s B-Movie style production, except it is extremely well made and years ahead of its time in concept and execution. Bearing in mind this was 1940, not only is it in Technicolor (unlike many of the aforementioned 1950s films) but it was Oscar nominated for the excellent effects which Schoedsack made certain looked as realistic as possible. And talking of colour, it’s not only bright but vibrant to the point of creating more movement to the piece.

Cyclops was played by Albert Dekker. Much as in retrospect he seems to  be the ideal candidate for the part, he was blacklisted in Hollywood for some years as a result of criticising anti-communist speaker Senator McCarthy. Dekker was found dead in 1968 in a compromising and somewhat ritualistic setting.

It’s easy to dismiss Doctor Cyclops as just another giant and small people mash-up; however, we need to remember that this came years before The Incredible Shrinking Man, Land of the Giants, The Borrowers, and all those others we have come to accept. It’s an enjoyable little piece with only two scripted moments bringing wry smiles of ridicule. To be hustled into the radiation room (with even the man looking after the donkeys invited in) they are proved to be naïve beyond belief. Even the most ‘green’ would recognise the danger of being locked in. The other situation is the raising and lowering of the drill in the grounds. The disappearance of Cyclops to periodically make a minor adjustment is merely a writing plot device for our pint-size heroes to instigate their escape and fight back.

All in all, this movie – based on a short story by Henry Kuttner – is a well-crafted pleasure. I welcome its first release on DVD. 

(Review originally written by Ty Power for sci-fi-online 2017)

Four boys, Henry, Beaver, Jonesy and Pete, save a mentally challenged boy from being taunted and beaten by older boys. Douglas Cavell, soon known as Duddits because of his hands raised exclamation of "I duddits" instead of "done it", now sees the boys as close friends. Duddits is discovered to be more than he seems when he imparts certain abilities on them, including telepathy and uncanny seeing skills, which help them find a missing girl. Years later, and now adults, the four are enjoying their annual reunion when a sick man staggers from out of the woods. Inside him gestates a worm-like parasitic creature, which leads to an early confrontation with a large alien to become known as Mr Gray. All the natural creatures inhabiting the mountainous areas flee and are quickly superseded by the army, led by Colonel Abraham Curtis. Curtis quarantines the region and incarcerates all those who carry the rust-like infection of the aliens. An attack on a crashed spacecraft triggers its self-destruction, but the menace is far from over. Curtis plans on sterilising the entire area, but the four friends have other ideas. When Jonesy is possessed by Mr Gray his subconscious retreats to the Memory Warehouse, the only part of his mind that the invader can't penetrate. Henry realises that Duddits' extraordinary abilities means he knew this would happen from the time they were boys, and that he was always the focus of their group. But Duddits is older now and is sick with leukaemia...

In previous reviews I have revealed that I am not a fan of Stephen King on the printed page. A wealth of original ideas are often tainted by the need to describe the floral wallpaper and regency furniture, information most readers simply don't want to know. Film adaptations are another matter, however. Although there have been some derisory attempts to convert King's fertile imagination to celluloid form, a handful of films based on his books have succeeded spectacularly: The Dead Zone, Misery, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile, to name but a handful. Whilst Dreamcatcher is not as emotionally compelling as these, it is gripping all the same. You get the impression that all the stops have been pulled out to produce the best film possible from the book. Acting, special effects and scenery combine in a not often seen synergy.

Question: How do you show alien parasitic creatures gestating inside human or animal hosts without seeming to emulate the science fiction classic Alien? Answer: you make the connection obvious by having the military nickname them "The Ripleys". Much as this description may make you think otherwise, appearance and motives are not even close to the Alien movies, and even Mr Gray turns out to be a shape-changing creature which uses the standard alien look, albeit on a much larger scale, for its own nefarious motives. The scene with the worm parasite in the toilet is both hilarious and chilling, and was said to have been used as a location in the book by King because he felt it was the only room left in a house which people don't want to see beyond in a movie.

The Dreamcatcher of the title is mainly a metaphor for the prophetic bonding of the four friends. As a child Duddits creates an image in the air of a Red Indian dreamcatcher (which is said to have had the ability to prevent bad dreams from taking form, or allowing evil spirits through) in the air. The four friends later create the real thing; four circles with another in the centre representing Duddits. It hangs in the cabin where they meet yearly. Donnie Wahlberg, as one of seven headlining names in the film, will no doubt receive plaudits for his portrayal of the adult Duddits, when clearly Andrew Robb as the young version is so much better. He is a little aloof, somewhat strange and yet very friendly, and all of this comes across extremely well.

The mass exodus of animals from the forest looks Jumanji-like, when this kind of CGI was in its infancy, but as we witness the movements from a distance the shortfalls are not so evident. There is so much to appreciate here. The spiral architecture of the Memory Warehouse, packed-out from floor to high ceiling with dusty boxes, and labelled with subject information, is impressive, as is the way we see Jonesy inside the room protected from Mr Gray, even though he is possessed by the creature.

The picture and sound quality on this widescreen version is superb. Extras include five alternate or extended scenes, an interview with writer Stephen King (in which he comes across friendly and enthusiastic), a behind the scenes feature, a visual effects feature, a film trailer and DVD ROM stuff. Coupled with the film running time of 134 minutes, all on one disc, this makes for an impressive and cost effective package.

(Review originally written by Ty Power for sci-fi-online 2003)

Against a backdrop of a future totalitarian Britain, a young woman called Evey has her whole interpretation of society changed when she is rescued from thugs by a charismatic vigilante wearing a stylish Guy Fawkes mask. Known only as “V” the figure is viewed by the establishment as a terrorist, but V is a freedom fighter skilled in the art of combat and deception, who detonates London landmarks and takes over the government-controlled airwaves. As Evey learns more about herself she also discovers there are multi-facets to her new companion...

Let me say from the outset that V For Vendetta is a genuine classic. Like synergy, all the planets are in alignment for this one. This is a movie that can never be experienced again for the first time. As obvious as this sounds, I mean it can never have as profound an effect on the viewer on subsequent revisits. That doesn’t mean you won’t want to re-run the movie. Believe me, you will! This is a film which has everything. There is mystery, action, intrigue, love, politics, deception and truth. This is essentially about people, belief and being true to ourselves. It teaches us that we are the  future – not governments, societies, establishments and symbols of power. More definitively, the film has ‘heart’. It’s ultimately a feelgood concept, too; the age-old fight against oppression, but told in an exciting and refreshing way.

There hasn’t been too many stories – either documentary or dramatic in content – depicting Guy Fawkes. The film opens with a scene depicting his capture and public hanging at the time of the infamous Gunpowder Plot to blow-up the Houses of Parliament. Although the film proper is set in a fictitious future Britain, our anti-hero utilises a costume and very striking mask to portray the essence of Fawkes, representing a fight against corruption. It is not giving too much away to reveal that the face behind the mask is never unveiled, though there are clues as to what he may have looked like many years before. This is very clever, as we all accept that the unknown is far more frightening or intriguing. Once something or somebody is seen and understood, it loses much of its power. V himself is articulate and literate, quoting not only the ‘Remember, Remember the 5th of November’ rhyme, but relevant Shakespeare and the odd bit of French (for some reason).

There is a veritable plethora of notable British actors on show here. Aside from the peerless John Hurt, there is Natalie Portman, Tim Pigott-Smith, Stephen Fry, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, and many others spotted in cameo roles. It is good to see Roger Allam (Endeavour’s Inspector Thursday) and Ben Miles from the excellent sitcom Coupling, too. V For Vendetta is based on the outstanding graphic novel written by Alan Moore, illustrated by David Lloyd and published by Vertigo/DC Comics. The film was written and produced by the Wachowskis, who made The Matrix trilogy, and directed by James McTeigue.

This set contains a 4K Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range version of the film for the first time. Being that a new scan has been produced using the original film negatives, the picture looks fantastic – crystal clear and sharp, with a wider colour spectrum allowing deeper shades to be clearer. For those who have the appropriate speaker systems, the disc features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the soundtrack without that equipment, but you will need a 4K TV and a 4K player – essential, I think, for the seasoned film buff. New special features on this disc include V For Vendetta Unmasked (a Behind-the-Scenes making-of featurette), James McTeigue & Lana Wachowski in Conversation, and Natalie Portman’s Audition.

There is also an HD Blu-ray included in this set, the previously released extras of which are made available again here. They include: Freedom! Forever! – Making V For Vendetta featurette; Designing the Near Future featurette; Remember, Remember – Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot; England Prevails – V For Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics; Cat Power (good surname!) Montage – the song played against images from the film; and an Easter Egg Hidden Bonus of a Saturday Night Live Short. Additionally, there is a Digital Download copy of the movie.

An excellent film, brilliantly presented, and in three formats… How could you go wrong? Take my word for it: Add this to your collection. You won’t be sorry. 

(Review originally written by Ty Power for sci-fi-online 2020)