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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
 Posted - 06/03/2006 : 11:15:18 PM
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I was reading one on Foy's reviews and I came across [url="http://www.horrorchannel.com/dread/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=280"]Despiser[/url]. I have not seen [url="http://www.eaglefilms.com/despiser/DespiserWebsite.htm"]Despiser[/url] but it has always been at the top of my "to watch" list.
The reason why is very simple. [url="http://www.eaglefilms.com/"]Director Phillip Cook![/url] Mr. Cook occupies that rare place in the cinematic world of being too good for the B-movie market. He's like a anti-Uwe Boll.
I first became aware of Mr. Cook when one day I was browsing the video vault of a indy video store and found [url="http://www.eaglefilms.com/FrameC/btrm01.htm"]StarQuest: Beyond the Rising Moon[/url]. I thought I had found Jabootu gold. But when I looked at the back cover, it had a quote from [url="http://www.theasc.com"]American Cinematographer Magazine[/url]. A trade mag that only the best of the best can get in to. It used one word "ingenious." Well, I admit. The hook was in me.
When I saw it. I was VERY impressed. Phillip and his main special effects man [url="http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/"]John Ellis[/url] created ellaborate models with a lot of detailing. They created a world that the actors could inhabit.
Take a look:
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/SkyhouseBW.jpg[/img]
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/BTRM46.jpg[/img]
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/BTRM051.jpg[/img]
Now I know they look like models. But that doesn't hold Mr. Cook back. When he shoots the live actors, he makes sure to light the actors like he lit his models and he also makes sure the props and other surrounds have the same texture as his models so that you can almost believe they inhabit them. He also does it with a little imagination which makes the viewing experience all the more enjoyable.
After I had seen the movie, I looked to see if he made another movie. He had. This one was [url="http://www.eaglefilms.com/FrameC/invader01.htm"]Invader[/url]. That one was even BETTER. Using the same techiniques, he creates a present day(or at least a 1986) world where we are invaded by a alien computer intellegence. This intellegence invades the computer systems of the United States Military and sets us down a path to nuclear war.
Needless to say, using a smoke machine in overdrive, stop-motion animation and clever light gaffs. He creates an interesting low budget film that is entertaining.
Here are some shots:
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader30.jpg[/img]
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader27.jpg[/img]
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader31.jpg[/img]
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader44.jpg[/img]
To give you an idea of the work Phil Cook puts in on these, look at these next two pictures.
In the film:
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader45.jpg[/img]
The magicians at work:
[img]http://members.aol.com/spfxu4ea/Invader41.jpg[/img]
The reason I am so glowing about this is because Mr. Cook shows that budget is not a reason a film is crappy. You don't need big Hollywood budgets to keep it fresh and interesting. In fact, in Invader there is a dog fight that is more exciting than any of the airplane scenes in Top Gun. But Phil made it with just off-the-shelf models and Christmas lights on a black floor to represent a city population.
But having said that, I also want to say that if Hollywood producers want to mine some gold FIND THIS MAN. This guy deserves a shot at the big screen. The man has the skills and the imagination to pull off a cinematic coup. Do NOT let this one rot in obscurity.
Has anyone else seen these movies? Foy, do you have anything to add? Since I live in Pittsburgh, PA. One day I am going to make the pilgrimage to Falls Church, VA and meet this guy. I rather meet him than James Cameron.
[img]http://www.eaglefilms.com/despiser/phil%20thumbnail.jpg[/img]
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"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
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TheFoywonder
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
833 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2006 : 01:09:55 AM
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When I initially wrote my review of DESPISER I had no idea he had directed INVADER, a film I rented when it first came out on video expecting some ultra cheesy sci-fi crapfest and was blown away by how genuinely entertaining it was given its obviously low budget. The speech the giant robot gives during the finale is fantastic. DESPISER is a film that had a story better than most big screen films; it's only real drawbacks being that it could have used about a 10 minute trim. Actually, the biggest drawback are the special effects that while very imaginative for their budget are the average person would sneer at and refuse to give the movie a chance.
I do wish he were a bit more prolific in his filmmaking than people like Jim Wynorski. Then again, the fact that Jim Wynorski is so prolific has nothing to do with talent or ideas.
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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2006 : 10:03:53 AM
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Holy Jesus!
Look at this(Windows Media Player with auido):
[url]http://www.eaglefilms.com/despiser/Invader_Trailer.htm[/url]
Apparently, Phil might be working on a "Special Edition" Invader. You'll see that he added computerized special effects to some of the scenes. The orginial had NONE. It was all models and stop-motion animation.
Phil, for god sake, BE CAREFUL! If you are going to release a new improved Invader in the form of a DVD. Make sure your also release the original version with it. Don't make the same mistake George Lucas made. The orginial was fun for 2 reasons. One was the story. And the second was trying to figure out how you did your brilliant special effects.
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"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
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