DVD review: Iron Sky (2 out of 5 stars)

(15) 98mins

Director: Timo Vuorensola

Starring: Stephanie Paul, Julia Dietze, Gotz Otto, Christopher Kirby

I REALLY wanted to like this movie. The idea is so crazy it cries out to be enjoyed.

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Sadly, despite some excellent special effects and decent work from the actors, the result is a right old mess.

Okay, so the plot that German Nazis fled to the Moon in 1945 and in 2018 they come back to conquer the Earth is as mad as a box of frogs.

But it could have been so crazy that it worked.

The whole project, a Finnish-German-Australian co-production, has been backed up with a big online campaign and with graphic novels.

However, I reckon the grahic novel format is where it should have stayed.

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There are some wonderfully over-the-top scenes and you get lulled into a feeling that this is just a barrel-load of fun.

But the film decides to throw in some serious issues with a nod to Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Stangelove - however, the two movies are a world apart.

We also have various cheap shots at the USA, governed by a President looking remarkably like Sarah Palin (played by Stephanie Paul).

The USA, as a super-power, is an easy target but at least make the jokes original.

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Plus, there is an attempt to address the race issue which also feels dated and contrived.

In fact, there wouldn’t be much point watching this if it wasn’t for the actors and the effects.

The Nazi base on the Moon is amazing and the various spacecraft are impressive, with a great battle scene that must have knocked a large chunk out of the budget.

Kirby as an astronaut copes well with some race ‘jokes’ and Paul is suitably manic as the President seeking re-election at any cost.

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However, Julia Dietze as Renate Richter, on whom much of the decent storyline hangs, is a name to look out for in future.

What ever you do, though, don’t start analysing the film’s obvious massive plot holes - it’s not worth it.

I fancy some people will enjoy watching this movie, but most won’t.

Steve Payne

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