I Did Nazi That Coming

Iron Sky

Dir: Timo Vuorensola

Stars: Julia Dietze, Udo Kier, Christopher Kirby

After years of internet buzz surrounding its delayed Finnish-Australian-German production, I managed to finally see Iron Sky as it hit UK cinemas for one night only before its DVD release. I believe that I can safely say it is the best film about Nazis from the moon that I have ever seen.

Iron Sky begins with an American astronaut discovering a giant underground moon base, where the Nazis have been hiding out for seventy years. After his capture and interrogation, the moon Nazis must travel to earth in order to steal a mobile phone to power their outdated war machines, and pursue their maniacal plans for world domination. However, they must also confront the modernity and multiculturalism of 21^st century New York, as well as the fury of the President of the United States (who happens to be Sarah Palin).

One would be forgiven for reading the plot summary of Iron Sky and expecting little more than a crass straight-to-video B-Movie. But what they may not expect is a well-written, well-produced and genuinely funny film that manages to go much further than one may expect from its premise. A far cry from the Nazisploitation movies of the 1970s such as Ilsa: She Wolf Of The SS, Iron Sky ditches the gore and torture in favour of satire – targeting both the Nazis and the UN as subjects of mockery. The film also gives hilarious nods to the likes of The Great Dictator, Dr. Strangelove and the Der Untergang internet meme, in order to connect the audience with the humour that has been found in the darker parts of history. Moreover, the film is impeccably scored and designed to give it an eerie underbudget feel reminiscent of Plan 9 From Outer Space, which is incredibly effective considering Iron Sky’s relatively modest €7.5m budget.

Although Iron Sky may not be breaking box-office records, or winning many prizes – I believe that it has the laughs, the kitsch and the timelessness to sustain a bright future as a cult favourite.

8/10

The Rise Of Joss Whedon

After a career writing for television spanning over 20 years, Joss "The Boss" Whedon has been propelled into the Hollywood limelight following the release of two films within a fortnight. The Cabin In The Woods and [The] Avengers [Assemble] are quite different films – one destined for cult status, and another a mega-budget blockbuster – yet they both exude the hallmarks of a writer with a great passion for his source material. It’s no secret that Whedon is a fanboy, and much of his television work (Buffy/Angel/Firefly) courted loyal cult followings. His big-screen directorial debut, Serenity, also displayed his ability to adapt longitudinal mythologies into fun, action-packed features. This skill of reinvention is the joy behind Cabin and Avengers, two films from overdone genres that, with a touch of Whedon magic, are original, fresh and funny.

The Cabin In The Woods

With Buffy, Whedon sought to subvert the idea of the little blonde girl in horror films who had always been the victim, and instead create a hero. In Cabin In The Woods, however, Whedon has gone a step further – creating a film in which the audience are the villain. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot to Cabin, as this comedy-horror’s strength lies in its originality and unpredictability. That said, the film is entirely constructed from overdone horror clichés, which don’t always run together smoothly. Yet there are still loads of laughs to be had from the shameful exploitation of gore, shock, sex and violence; as well as the ongoing meta-joke that the audience are pulling the strings of the action and baying for teenage blood. Whilst Cabin In The Woods isn’t perfect, it’s a hilarious and entertaining ride.

9 / 10

Avengers

Superhero movies have been flying out of the cinema at a rate of roughly one a month for the past two years. So you could be forgiven for expecting Avengers to be anything more than a group of superheroes you’ve seen before spitting out puns and fighting CGI monsters for 140mins. But surprisingly, Avengers has more to offer than that. It is clear that Whedon has a real interest in the characters and direction of the Avengers story; as the familiar heroes interact convincingly with unclichéd wit. Mark Ruffalo in particular delivers a standout performance as Bruce Banner – adding a real depth and vulnerability to a character that has been seemingly unplayable in recent years. Although there is a slight dip in momentum during the second act, the final action-packed battle sequence is hugely entertaining, and will have even the most snobbish film fan whooping like Michael Bay.

8 / 10