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Saturday, March 22, 2014

Iron Sky: Director’s Cut: Blu-Ray Review

In the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space program evaded destruction by fleeing to the Dark Side of the Moon. During the following 70 years of utter secrecy, the Nazis constructed a gigantic space fortress with a massive armada of flying saucers. Their plan: travel back to Earth and re-colonize the planet. And in the not-too-distant future, mankind’s greatest enemy is no longer history as the Reich strikes back in this eagerly-anticipated worldwide box office phenomenon. And now, the Reich strikes back in a new edition of the epic sci-fi comedy - featuring more action, more effects and more politically incorrect humor than ever before!

Film (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)
This is a movie about Nazis in space. I think that’s just about the weirdest sentence I have ever written. But yes, that is what this movie is about. Space Nazis. I’ll just let that sink in for a minute. In 2018, it’s a Presidential election year and the United States President, during her re-election campaign, sends another man, James Washington, to the moon. The astronaut is no Neil Armstrong… he can’t even get Armstrong’s most famous quote correct in order to repeat it. 

While checking the soil of the moon and trying to pitch the United States flag, he stumbles upon an encampment on the dark side of the moon. Taken captive, he learns the encampment is a Nazi stronghold and they are just biding their time until they can return to earth. Having none of the new technology, the Nazis are amazed that Washington’s cell phone is also a computer and plug it into their system to power up their ultimate weapon and return to Earth to conquer it. Also, in order to make him more like them, Washington is genetically changed into a white man.

The next Fuhrer, Adler, wants to take Washington and return to Earth in order to speak to the President. They land in New York, where upon arriving, realize that Renate, the “Earthologist” and Alder’s intended has stowed away on the ship. The three of them make their way to New York City, where they kidnap, Vivian, the President’s campaign manager. After convincing her to take them to the President, they arrive in Washington, D.C., where they meet her. The President, a Sarah Palin-like woman, is instantly excited about this opportunity, thinking this will help her get re-elected.

Adler works with Vivian to help the President get re-elected, and Renate works as a speech writer. One day, as Renate is walking down the street of New York, she runs into Washington, who has turned into one of those crazy bums on the street who spouts all the nonsense… unfortunately for the world, Washington’s crazy ramblings are the truth. After realizing that everything she thought she knew about Nazis and the Earth were wrong, Renate and Washington team up to save the planet.

The President, realizing that a war time President always gets elected decides to fight the space Nazis and be the hero of the planet. She goes to the United Nations (equivalent) and tell s them she will save every one. She unleashes her armed space rover and with the surprising help of the other countries, takes on the Nazis as they make their return to Earth. Renate and Washington make their way back to the moon encampment to confront Adler and Renate’s father, Dr. Richter in an attempt to save the Earth. 

I’m pretty sure that’s the strangest review I have ever written. Space Nazis on the moon? International incidents involving a Sarah Palin-like President? Iron Sky is a really funny parody of space movies and Earth.  Half in English and half in German, Iron Sky is a fun movie to sit and watch. All the actors did a great job with their characters and it seems like a really fun movie to have made.
Video (4 out of 5 stars)
Iron Sky is presented in a 16x9 (2.35:1) aspect ratio and is really good. There is a lot of black and gray, as much of it takes place on the moon and in space. The President of the United States wears a lot of red and in contrast with the amount of black and grey, it really pops. The picture was clear and everything in each scene was easily seen.
Audio (3 out of 5 stars)
The DTS-HD Master Audio presentation of Iron Sky was good. It was a little too loud and I had to turn the volume down a couple of times. The English SDH subtitles were really helpful since half the movie is in German. The dialogue was clear and intelligible and I didn’t have to rewind the movie to try to hear anything again.
Extras (2 1/2 out of 5 stars)
There were a few special features; the only one really worth anything was the behind-the-scenes featurette.

  • Behind-the Scenes Featurette – The making of Iron Sky with interviews with the cast and crew of the movie. This was interesting because it really showed how hard everyone worked, and how long it took from page to screen.
  • Photo Gallery – A photo slide show of stills from the movie. There was no background music and it was a bit boring.
  • Theatrical Trailer – The full trailer for the movie.
  • Teasers – Teaser trailers for the movie.
Summary (3 out of 5 stars)
Iron Sky is a really funny movie. Nazis in space. Nazis on the moon. Nazis once again trying to take over the world. There’s no mistaking that this movie is a comedy/parody. It’s entertaining and a funny concept… if only we really could have sent the Nazis to the moon! Definitely something to keep in your collection and watch when you need a laugh.
Order your copy today!



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