Science Fiction – The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast

Team Big Eyes in Iron City

Hold on to your robot juice, because Alita: Battle Angel is the Greatest Movie EVER!

Click on the Blu-ray cover or the title above to download our review of the film, featuring Daryl Surat of AnimeWorldOrder and Rob Lantz.

Review in a Nutshell: A true rarity, Alita: Battle Angel is an anime-to-live-action adaptation that managed to navigate a decades-long “development hell” while still remaining faithful to the spirit of the source material. It’s a great little science fiction / action film for a multitude of reasons.

Alien Cops Are Blastin’

Hold on to your alien weapons and your teenage dreams, because Laserblast is the Greatest Movie EVER!

Click on the movie poster or the title above to download our review of the film, featuring Phillip (formerly known as Eeeper of Eeeper’s Choice).

Review in a Nutshell: A no-budget science fiction flick from the Seventies, Laserblast nonetheless has some outstanding pyrotechnics and a surprisingly meaty portrayal of alienation and suburban ennui.

“Tubular, Dude!”

Watch out for random fish monsters, because Shocking Dark is the Greatest Movie EVER!

Click on the title or the Blu-ray cover above to download our review of the film, featuring guest host Tom Pandich.

Review in a Nutshell: A Z-grade Italian exploitation film that manages to rip-off both The Terminator (1984) and Aliens (1986), Shocking Dark is none-the-less wildly entertaining in its brazenness. It truly has to be seen to be believed.

GME! Anime Fun Time Episode #31 – Cyber City Oedo 808

We’re back from beyond the grave like a vengeful cyber-ghost (or a vengeful cyber-cyborg, or a vengeful cyber-vampire) with a review of the classic early Nineties cyberpunk anime OAV series, Cyber City Oedo 808. CLICK HERE or on the Blu-ray cover above to strap on your exploding collar and take the orbital elevator to your miserable day-job at Space Jail.

“Baby! Baby! Baby!”

Try to control your parental instincts, because Z.P.G. (“Zero Population Growth”) is the Greatest Movie EVER? Click on the title or the movie poster above to download our review of the film, featuring “Celebrity Translator” Neil Nadelman.

Review in a Nutshell: An extremely pessimistic, Danish / American eco-disaster science fiction film from 1972, Z.P.G. posits a polluted future where having children is a capital offense. It’s an unusual cultural artifact with a few points that feel strangely relevant to the present.

Bonus Episode: Jaeger Bomb

Fire up your giant robots and get ready to “drift”, because Pacific Rim: Uprising is (probably not) the Greatest Movie EVER!

Click on the movie poster or the title above to download our review of the film, featuring Gerald Rathkolb of AnimeWorldOrder.

Review in a Nutshell: A film filled with baffling narrative and editorial decisions, Pacific Rim: Uprising is a prime example of what happens when artistic choices give way to financial and marketing ones.

GME! Anime Fun Time #25 – Gasaraki

It’s Super Bowl Sunday, and what could be more in the spirit of friendly athletic competition than a muddled Sunrise mecha anime with a weak narrative focus and disturbingly xenophobic undertones? CLICK HERE or on the banner above to download our review of Gasaraki, a 1998 science fiction TV anime with direction by mecha master Ryosuke Takahashi. In it, we talk about the price of wheat, clunky robots with sand in their joints, and HOLY CRAP! ALIENS!.

Karate Invasion! Fly, Two Horns, Fly!

Monitor your processor run times, because Appleseed: Alpha is the Greatest Movie EVER!

Click on the Bluray cover or the title above to download our review of the film, featuring Dave and Joel from Fast Karate for the Gentleman.

Review in a Nutshell: Appleseed: Alpha has excellent visual design and some good character moments, but a weak antagonist, a derivative plot, and far too little action. Still, it has cyborgs driving things, so A+ / 5 Stars / Would Buy from Again.

Final Thought:

Oh, Two Horns. You so crazy.

GME! Anime Fun Time Episode #07 – Macross Plus

November is coming to a close, and while we all congeal like so much leftover turkey gravy, it’s time for some more anime fun. We tackle Macross Plus with special guest hosts Andrew from Collection DX and Sean Ryan from Alpha Counter. CLICK HERE or on the DVD cover above to download our review of the film, which features in depth discussion of Macross legal wrangling and our speculations on which Macross series is the best for introducing new people to the franchise.

Final Thought:

My Little Murderous A.I. Can’t be This Cute.

GME! Anime Fun Time #05 – Crusher Joe

Pay no attention to the fact that it’s September 14! Here’s the completely punctual and not-at-all-delayed August episode of GME! Anime Fun Time. In this episode, Tom and I join forces with Gerald Rathkolb of Anime World Order to talk about ancient, out-of-print, unloved science fiction cartoons. CLICK HERE or on the Laser disc cover above to download our discussion of Crusher Joe in both its movie and OAV forms.

Final Thought:

Yes, this was the first animated appearance of the Dirty Pair.