(AKA: Heavy Metal 2000)
Starring:
Michael Ironside
Julie Strain Eastman
Billy Idol
Based on a Graphic Novel by Kevin Eastman,
Simon Bisley & Eric Talbot
Tyler, a deep-space miner working an asteroid belt discovers a strange glowing artefact. Almost immediately it causes him to go crazy, and stage a bloody takeover of the ship. His ultimate objective: a legendary fountain that can grant immortality.
Having gathered a new crew, mostly heavily armed and violent, Tyler stops off to lay waste to a backwater colony, and hauls the survivors off for medical research and, in the case of buxom schoolteacher Kerrie, a little personal entertainment.
As it turns out, Kerrie's sister Julie also survived the attack and with the reluctant assistance of Germaine (marooned by Tyler for not being sufficiently psycho) she sets off in pursuit.
The original "Heavy Metal" -an ambitious anthology effort - was released in 1981 and was a moderate success. Thanks to all sorts of legal bollocks, a home video release didn't happen for another 15 years, ensuring that "Heavy Metal" acquired a cult reputation. I suspect a lot of people, myself included, eagerly picked up the VHS when it came out then realised the only two really good segments were: B-17 ("the bit with the zombies on the B17") and Taarna ("the bit with the underdressed blonde on the giant bird fighting green mutants." )
Anyway, when the time came to make a follow-up, it probably comes as no surprise that it ditches the interlinked stories of the 1981 film in favour of an underdressed brunette fighting space pirates. And lizardmen. And a guy who's sort of a mutant.
One scene is even a knowing tip of the hat to "Taarna" You'll know it when you see it.
The animation on "Heavy Metal 2000" is serviceable, (Think TV series with a decent budget) blending traditional 2d with computer generated spaceships and mostly integrated well. It did lose a lot of points in the last few minutes with a godawful foray into CGI that was apparently animated in somebody's bedroom.
I also have a few issues with the soundtrack.
Now I currently have the soundtrack for the 1981 film sitting in my LP collection and plan to get the CD one of these days. There's some good stuff on it and the selection of songs adds value to their relevant scenes.Here's an example:
Really not the case with the followup. What you mostly get is generic early 2000's aggro metal flung vaguely in the direction of the picture with no regard to how well it fits the scene. And the DVD cover is lying to you. Black Sabbath, BOC and Devo were all in the first movie.
My final gripe is with heroine Julie. She does the asskicking part of the job more than adequately but I find it difficult to warm to her. As reluctant sidekick Germaine points out, her conversations with him mostly consist of a snarled "Shut the fuck up."
Still, bad guy Tyler chews the scenery like a champ, the whole thing is reasonably entertaining and if you thought that the 1981 "Heavy Metal" would have been better with more violence and a heroine with bigger boobs then "FAKK2"might be what you're looking for.
Time for some screenshots.
Anyway, when the time came to make a follow-up, it probably comes as no surprise that it ditches the interlinked stories of the 1981 film in favour of an underdressed brunette fighting space pirates. And lizardmen. And a guy who's sort of a mutant.
One scene is even a knowing tip of the hat to "Taarna" You'll know it when you see it.
The animation on "Heavy Metal 2000" is serviceable, (Think TV series with a decent budget) blending traditional 2d with computer generated spaceships and mostly integrated well. It did lose a lot of points in the last few minutes with a godawful foray into CGI that was apparently animated in somebody's bedroom.
I also have a few issues with the soundtrack.
Now I currently have the soundtrack for the 1981 film sitting in my LP collection and plan to get the CD one of these days. There's some good stuff on it and the selection of songs adds value to their relevant scenes.Here's an example:
My final gripe is with heroine Julie. She does the asskicking part of the job more than adequately but I find it difficult to warm to her. As reluctant sidekick Germaine points out, her conversations with him mostly consist of a snarled "Shut the fuck up."
Still, bad guy Tyler chews the scenery like a champ, the whole thing is reasonably entertaining and if you thought that the 1981 "Heavy Metal" would have been better with more violence and a heroine with bigger boobs then "FAKK2"might be what you're looking for.
Time for some screenshots.
Tyler decides that sanity has got kind of boring.
Isn't it tranquil?
Obviously doomed then.
Having delivered her allotted portion of blatant fanservice, Kerrie is finally allowed to get dressed.
In case you are wondering, the first thing we see of the heroine's
younger sis is a close up of her bum.
Subtle.
Germaine attempts to protect Kerrie from the other pirates.
It doesn't work and just gets him kicked out of the gang.
Julie's cunning plan. Catch up with pirates then start a firefight in a crowded bar.
Julie kisses some green troll thingie, purely so the animators can
let you know how much they hate you.
Feeling his "Nutter" credentials in need of enhancement, Tyler kills
an alien beastie and wears it's face as a hat.
Tyler utterly fails to recognise the statuesque brunette who tried to kill him the other day.
Julie finally gets into the outfit from the DVD cover and breaks out the big lizard-chopper.
What's the deal with the extra spikes anyway?
Here's the trailer if you're interested.
Do all warrior princesses wear so little? :D
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be compulsory. I'm male so frankly I'm not going to complain TOO much.
DeleteStill kinda sad I missed this one, but I missed it in hopes they would have actually released the Live Action Heavy Metal. They had all sorts of pictures of them filming it, but never finished.
ReplyDeleteReally? When was that?
DeleteI wouldn't have minded seeing that, I think.