Shock Treatment

Title - Shock Treatment
Language - English
Genre - Horror, Musical

when I was younger there were rumours of a sequel to 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' this sequel was even rumored to have a title 'The Return Of The Queen B' but, try as i might i could not find this film. I had forgoten about the fabeled sequel, believing it just to be an urban myth then, one day whilst fliking through cable chanels I found myself on a film staring Richard O'Brian, it was a musical and was focusing on a woman named Janet, there was also a man in a wheelchair in a cage named Brad. As it went on there were other Rocky Horror cast members, this was deffinatly a Rocky Horror sequel but it was no Queen B, this was Shock Treatment.

At the start of Shock Treatment we find Brad and Janet, now married and finally back in their home town of Denton. Then whole town are either the stars or the audeance in Dtv the TV station of the town. Brad and Janet are called to take part in a show called Marriage Maze which starts with the couple taking about any problems they are having in their relationship where find out that Janet thinks Brad is a bit boring (understandable when you look at what they went through in Rocky Horror, who can compete with Frank-N-Furter) so brad is taken off by the two local Psychiatrists DR Cosmo McKinley (Richard O’Brian) and his sister Dr Nation McKinley (Patricia Quinn) whilst Janet is taken under the wing of Dtv’s host the blind Bert Schnick (Barry Humphries). As the film progresses we see Brad drugged and locked away as Janet is groomed to be the new face of Dtv by Bret and the new owner of Dtv Farley Flavors whilst Betty Hapschatt (Ruby Wax) the former host of Dtv’s morning show and Judge Oliver Wright (Charles Gray) race to find out what Farley’s secret is and what he plans to do with Dtv.

For a film that is only a PG rating shock Treatment is quite dark. As Janet gets more popular we follow her descent into madness which is not helped by the meddling form Farley and the manipulation of the two doctors. The corridors of the ‘Marriage maze’ play a big part as people get lost or find their way out of them depending on their mental state. In some ways Shock Treatment is darker than Rocky Horror, in Rocky horror the threat is there in the form of Frank-N-Furter and Riff Raff but in Shock Treatment Brad & Janet are being manipulated from behind the scenes by Farley & it’s not apparent what his plans are so we are being drawn more into the psychological state of the characters mind

Some would argue that Shock Treatment is only a sequel to Rocky Horror in name as most of the Rocky Horror characters are not in it but, as good a character Frank-N-Furter is there is only so much that can be done with him and with this in mind I think that Shock Treatment is a better follow up than the fabled ‘Return of the Queen B’ could ever have been.

Shock Treatment is also a film that stands up on its own, you don’t need any knowledge of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to watch and enjoy it but if you do then you will get the little nod’s towards it, the returning cast often use phrases that their Rocky Horror characters would have used, props are reused, characters that were mentioned in Rocky Horror appear in Shock Treatment (Brad & Janet are at the wedding of ralph and Betty Hapschatt at the beginning of Rocky Horror) and Richard O’Brian & Patricia Quinn again play a brother and sister who are a little too close. As stated earlier Shock Treatment is quite a dark film but does have a similar feel as Rocky Horror, instead of the ‘Transylvanians’ there is the studio audience and some of the songs are quite lively and jolly. Unlike Rocky Horror, where we are introduced to Frank-N-Furter quite early Shock Treatment builds on the tension letting you wonder what will happen to Brad, what are the doctors up to, who is Farley? But there are also the same themes as Rocky Horror, will Janet succumb to temptation, this time of fame and can either of them escape the traps they have fallen into.

Over all Shock Treatment is an enjoyably film even if it didn’t reach the cult heights of Rocky Horror, it has a good cast, with a surprisingly good and creepy performance form Barry Humphries, Shock Treatment also has a good soundtrack, the songs are not as memorable as that of the Rocky Horror Picture Show but the nature of Shock Treatment does not need such big dance numbers as ‘the Time Warp’. With a good story line, a good sound track and more panty shots than some anime I could mention Shock Treatment is definitely worth a shot.

 

Justice League - Crisis on two Earths

Title -

Justice League - Crisis on two Earths

Language - English
Genre - Superhero, animated

Justice League - Crisis on two Earths is (loosely) based on the 'Earth 2' graphic novel ( as oppose to the ' Crisis on Earth 1, Crisis on Earth 2' storyline) and is set between Earth 1, the normal dc universe and Earth 2, the 'Evil opposite' universe. The film starts with the on Earth 2 with their version of Lex Luthor and the Joker stealing something from the vault of the 'Crime Syndicate', the evil version of the Justice League, the Joker sacrifices himself to allow Lex time to escape. Lex makes it out to the street only to be confronted by the the main members of the Crime Syndicate:

Ultraman, the evil Superman

Owlman, the evil Batman

Superwoman, the evil Wonder woman

Johny Quick, the evil Flash

The evil version of the Green Lantern

Lex uses a devise and disappears from the Crime Syndicate and reappers on Earth 1, he asks the Justice League for help but also hide the stolen device on the Justice League's space station head quarters.

Lex convinces the Justice League, with the exception of Batman to accompany him back to Earth 2 to help him defeate the Crime Syndicate so Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash and Martian Manhunter cross to Earth 2.

We find the the Crime Syndicate has almost free range on their Earth, the police will not arrest them and if they did no one would press charges against them due to the fear of their families being hurt, no one can touch the Crime Syndicate due to their power, their guards (the other super powers of the universe) and no one knows where their base is.

The Justice League go up against the Crime Syndicate and start to take their criminal operations apart, until Super woman travels to Earth 1 to retrieve the stolen equipment, a key part of a bomb that, if detonated could destroy the world. Batman follows Super Women back to Earth 2.

This is where the story starts to deviate from the Earth 2 graphic novel as it is discovered that Owlman intends to take the bomb to another version of Earth, Earth Prime which is the first universe from which the multiverse has grown from. Owlman has decided that humans are all that is wrong with all of the universes and intends to wipe out all life everywhere. The Justice League and the Crime Syndicate team up to stop Owlman and Superwoman while the Martin Manhunter helps the Presidents daughter rally the army and police against the Syndicate.

When I first got Crisis on two Earths I expected a direct retelling of the 'Earth 2' story but the changes made the story new and different. Crisis has a bigger cast than Earth 2 using an extended cast of dc characters and their evil counterparts and is set more on Earth 2. There are other differences between the film and the graphic novel, for instance they have taken out Owlman's sidekick and all the innuendos that came with it, the relationships between the members of the Crime Syndicate is also different but this does not detract anything from the story. The film also gives an idea of the infinite size of the multiverse where as the graphic novel was writern just before DC started their '52' universes so they seemed to tone down the size of everything, consternating on just the two Earths.

The extended cast brings more variety to the fight scenes although my favourite was still the Wonder Woman vs Super Woman (nothing like a couple of super powered women fighting :) ).

There are is also good nod to some of the classic DC series such as Wonder Woman acquiring the invisible jet.

Over all Crisis on two Earths is an entertain take on the 'evil twin' but, as it was set in an evil universe there was a noticeable absence of beards.

The Stuff - 1985

 Title - The Stuff
Language - English
Genre - Horror, B-Movie

The Stuff bad, its so bad its good. Its one of those films that, even though you know it is ridiculous you cant stop watching.

The Stuff starts with miner noticing a white substance bubbling out of the ground, he puts his finger into the ooze and, as you do he decides to see what it tastes like and finds that it is delicious. Now we jump forward a bit and find that there is a new yoghurt like dessert on sale, it is the best selling pudding in the country and is called 'the Stuff'. The Stuff seems to be the perfect food, it tastes great and helps you loose weight, it also seems to be addictive and, as people eat more of it they seem to be entranced and controlled by an outside force.

Nor every one like the stuff one such individual is Jason a young boy who's family are addicted to the stuff. One night, when looking for a snack he opens the fridge to see the stuff moving around after this he sets out to try to destroy all the stuff he can find and gets caught smashing up a supermarket.

Around the same time David 'Mo' Rutherford, an industrial saboteur is employed by a business man to find the secret of the stuff and to stop the manufacture of it. Mo Teams up with Charles W 'Chocolate Chip Charlie' Hobbs, a junk food suppler who's company has been forcibly bought from under him by the company that makes the Stuff & Nicole the advertising exec in charge of marketing the Stuff.

The team of 4 trace the source of the Stuff a mine and fight to stop the production of the evil substance.

As I have said the Stuff is so bad you find yourself watching it till the end but it does seem to have a few problems. The Script is bad but you expect that from a B movie but there does seem to be a bit of a problem with the editing especially at the beginning of the movie, the film seems to jump around a bit with Mo tying to trick Nicole into giving him the secrets of the Stuff and then, for no apparent reason telling her who he really is with the relationship jumping around, in some scenes they don't get on then they seem to switch from being two people working together to a couple and back again. Some of the scenes try to be quite atmospheric and nearly pull it off giving off a 'Body snatcher's' vibe.

All in all the Stuff is worth a watch if you have nothing better to do, with some quite good effects and a fairly unbelievable story line it is a good way to kill a couple of hours. Just remember to check the contents of your pillows before going to sleep.

Sekirei – Pure engagement (season 2)

Title -

Sekirei – Pure engagement (season 2)

Language - Japanese
Genre - Anime, Ecchi, harem

I have to say this is still one of my favourite anime and season 2 did not disappoint.

First A quick overview for those who have not seen season 1 (may contain spoilers):

Hiroto Minaka found the Sekirei, along with advance technology and has formed the MBI Corporation

Sekirei are (possibly) alien women who were found off a new island of the coast of Japan

There are 108 Sekirei

Each Sekirei has their own powers but are more powerful once they are winged, this is when a Sekirei meets and kisses their ‘Ashikabi’

Ashikabi’s are humans who can bond with a sekirei, as a rule they do not know about the Sekirei until they meet one

An Ashikabi can have more than one Sekirei but a Sekirei can only have one Ashikabi although, if the Ashikabi is killed the Sekirei can find another one

A Sekirei loves their Ashikabi

Hiroto has released most of the Sekirei as part of the ‘Sekirei plan’; this is a game which will result in the Sekirei fighting until there is only one remaining (think Highlander), the first stage of the ‘plan’ is for all the Sekirei to find their Ashikabi and become winged. There is an unwritten rule that a winged Sekirei will not fight a non-winged one most follow this rule

Series one and two follow Minato Sahashi, who finds out that he is an Ashikabi when a Sekirei named Musubi falls out of the sky and lands on him. At the end of the first season Minato & his Sekirei (he now has 4) help an Ashikabi and his Sekirei escape from Tokyo, which has been sealed off by the MBI so they don’t have to take part in the plan.

See my early review for more on season one

The first episode of season two is a bit poor but it only serves as a catch up, the remaining are, at least as good if not better than the first season. The story continues a little after the end of season one where the MBI have increased the lock down of Tokyo due the escape, other Ashikabi/Sekirei teams are trying to escape but none are successful; there is also only one Sekirei left un-winged. Hiroto, the head of the MBI sends all active Ashikabi a, message saying which part of Tokyo the Sekirei is in, drawing them all into one place in the hope of winging her. Once the final Sekirei is winged the second stage of the Sekirei Plan is activated and, under directions from Hiroto any Ashikabi who’s Sekirei has not got a kill only has a week to get one or all his Sekirei will ‘cease to function’.

The Series also has the two story lines continued from season one of the Sekirei Uzume (the veiled Sekirei) who is being used as her Ashikabi is ill in hospital and another Ashikabi is helping with the treatment, as long she helps him, this story line is completed in season 2. The second continuing storyline is that of Yukari, who is Minato’s younger sister and her Sekirei, Shiina as they search for Kusano, Yukari is unaware that Minato is also an Ashikabi (Minato also does not know that his sister is one) and that Kusano is one of his Sekirei.

There is more action in the second season of Sekirei as the plan is moved into its second stage which should please a lot people as there are a few reviews saying that the first season was to slow and we are introduced to and see a lot more Sekirei and meet a few new characters, including Minato’s mother. The humour and ecchi nature of season two is as good as that in season one and the story kept me hooked. There are still a couple of story threads left open and the third phase of the Sekirei plan was started in the final episode so it looks quite good for a third season, heres hoping.

As a last note, there are a couple of OVAs on the second DVD although they seem to be set between the two seasons these are a bit of fun and a good excuse to see (most) of the main Sekirei at least topless so an added bonus for any ecchi lovers out there (me included)

Battle girls – Time Paradox (anime Series)

Hideyoshi is a normal Japanese school girl who is failing her classes. One day, on her way home she passes a woman who says she has been to the local temple and her wish had come true, so Hideyoshi goes to the temple with the intention of praying to pass her classes. Once at the temple Hideyoshi sees a strange blue light coming from inside and goes to investigate, trips and falls into the light and then wakes up outside a burning village.

Hideyoshi finds that she has gone back in time to when Japan was a number of warring states but this past is only populated by women (and one male talking dog), she joins up with one of the rulers, Oda Nobunaga and her quest to find the Crimson armour, the wearer of which is said to have the power to unite the lands.

Battle Girls – Time Paradox [crunchy role title], not to be confused with Ikki Tousen's Battle Vixens, is an Ecchi style amine and follows Hideyoshi & Nobunaga as they search the lands for the parts of the Crimson armour After the first couple of episode the series does not pay much attention to the fact that a) Hideyoshi comes from the future and b) that there are no men (except Shiro the dog) the only reference is when Shiro says that he is from the distant future. The first few episodes follow a standard formula, Nobunaga finds out where part of the armour is, they go looking for it and have to face off against one or more rulers to get it. When the series reaches episode 9 & 10 we find that one of the other characters is also from Hideyoshi's time and that she is also after the armour, we also learn that when Hideyoshi fell into the light the spell was changed and, instead of going back the the past they were sent to a different past which is why there are no men around.

Battle girls is quite an entertaining anime with an OK story and plenty of boobs and, with only 13 episodes well worth a watch.

Title - Battle Girls - Time paradoxLanguage - JapaneseGenre - Anime, Ecchi

 

20th century Boys Pt1 the beginning of the end

Title - 20^th century Boys Pt1 the beginning of the end

Language – Japanese

Genre – Sci Fi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20^th century Boys is an epic 3 films long and the first film is over 2 hours long. It start proper when a group of friends attend there high school reunion against the backdrop of two occurrences, an out break of a strange disease that drains it's victims of there blood and a cult which is gathering a big following.

Kenji, one of the group was told that one of his customers had disappeared and, when he went to investigate he found a symbol on the house wall, the Symbol was created by Kenji and his friends when they were still at school and only the small group knew about it. As Kenji and his friends dig deeper into the mystery they find that the leader of the cult, who is only known as Friend is bringing a story that the group wrote as children, the 'Book of Prophecy' tells how an evil organisation will end the word on December 31^st 2000. Kenji and his friends fight to stop the prophecy’s from coming true.

I have to say it's been a while since I've seen anything that has made me want to review it right after I've seen it but the first part of 20^th century boys is one hell of a ride, starting out as a mystery and leading into an apocalyptic sci-fi complete with plague spewing robots and even a ray gun it reaches into the future without being to fanciful.

The story is mainly set in the late 1990's to 2000 but also flashes back to Kenji's child hood and into 2015 (when I think the second part is set) with the main story ending as the group fight the aforementioned robot.

For a film that has robots, ray gun's and biological weapons 20^th century boy is very grounded in reality, showing where the technology comes from, and why it is deployed leaving the viewer with a chain of events that could conceivably happen and I think this is part of why the film is so good, that and the excellent sound track.

Defiantly one to watch & I will be watching part 2 very soon

At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul

Title – At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul (À Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma)

Language – Portuguese

Genre – Horror, Slasher, Ghost

At Midnight I’ll take your soul is a Brazilian movie from 1964 and is the first of the ‘Coffin Joe’ Movies.

Ze do Caixao (Ze to his friends) is a grave digger in a small {Catholic} Brazilian town, he is violent, rude, self-important and blasphemous to the point of, not only eating lamb on a Friday but also forcing others to do so (It is against the Catholic religion to eat any meat on a Friday).  The only thing Ze believes in it the continuation of his bloodline, unfortunately his wife, Lenita, cannot bear any children so Ze kills her, making it look like an accedent and starts perusing Terezinha, his best friends fiancée. The night before their wedding Terezinha, her fiancée Antonio and Ze go to a local witch to have their fortunes told, to make sure the wedding will be blessed.  The Witch predicts Antonio’s death, suffering for Terezinha and tells Ze that he will pay for his sins.

 Ze kills Antonio again making it look like an accident and tries to get Terezinha to fall in love with him, when this fails he rapes her in the hope that she will give him a son, instead Terezinha kills herself.

On the night of the festival of the ‘Day of the Dead’ Ze walks a young lady back to the house she is staying in, as no one else will due their superstition.  On the way to her house they encounter the witch who tells Ze to return home, if he is out at midnight the dead will take his soul, Ze mocks her and continues on his way.  As he returns home the witches warning starts to become reality.

The Character of Ze do Caixao well-acted as he swings from acts of violence to blasphemous, Satanic rambling whilst looking down on the rest of the town folk and then on to his questioning of belief and (possible) decent to madness and it is nice to find a ‘slasher’ who’s victims aren’t just the latest bunch of horny teens who happen to pick the wrong campsite or street to move into (although I am a fan of the normal Slasher films it is sometimes nice to find something slightly different).  In some scenes Ze could almost have come out of a silent move or an old (Universal ) Horror with a lot of emphasis on his face.  There a few scenes, normally when another character does something that annoys Ze when the camera focuses on his eyes and it looks like he is going to hypnotise the other character (like Dracula does) but nothing seems to happen and there is nothing that says that Ze has any type of supernatural power (maybe this is expanded on in the later films).  There is not much to like about the character with his one redeeming feature being that he cannot stand crudity to children as he sees them as being the only real purpose for living

The effects in ‘At midnight I’ll take your soul’ are quite good for a film of its age, the scenes of violence are quite realistic but some of the supernatural bits are a bit dated (the owl is obviously stuffed), the film is also in black and white and not in English, points that don’t bother me but I know some people are a bit more fussy.

At midnight I’ll take your soul has some scenes of violence and does include (off Camera) rape and I get the impression that some of the latter films take this further and more graphic so not advisable for young children or people who don’t like that sort of thing.