review: PLANETFALL

Heretic Films  //  Buy from Amazon.com When a military transport crash lands on a war torn planet competing factions seek the last, lost stockpile of the illicit psychic-power enhancing drug Psylenol. Set against a backdrop that combines the apocalyptic world view of the Mad Max trilogy with the lawless antihero psychology of the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, Planetfall packs a visual effects packed science fiction punch! As a guy who's dabbled in creating my own little independent films, I can truly appreciate the efforts of an indie auteur trying to realize their cinematic vision, without the budget, talent, cast or crew that even the smallest budget Hollywood film enjoys. "Planetfall" is a film that, even with the inflated respect I give it right out the gate, manages to deliver the goods and impress while it entertains. Apparently shot over the course of 4 years (how the heck do they stay focused over such a long period of time?), the film is truly grand in scope, with a storyline that'll have you chuckling while you're fixated, effects shots that you will applaud even as you see the (virtual) strings, and an overall presentation that belies the budget and talent involved and delivers a truly excellent movie experience. Even when it goes a bit wayward at times, you'll still be smiling, appreciating all the tireless effort that must've gone into realizing this vision. I loved the film, and easily count this as one of the greatest self-financed independent flicks I have ever seen. You've probably never heard of "Planetfall" but I promise you that it's worth the effort to track down, as it's a hooot from start to finish... and don't even get me started on the REAMS of extras included on this disc. Heretic Films has outdone themselves with this one. Video Given a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, the print is clean & solid throughout, with nary a fleck of print (or digital) damage. Audio Dolby 5.1 surround mix does a great job of highlighting the top-notch sound design for this little indie flick that could. Extras 3 commentary tracks: director, actors, and producer & actor "Planetfall: Perils and Pleasures of Fiscally Feasible Filmmaking" making-of documentary deleted & alternate scenes "Pickwick Mill: A Guided Tour with Alan Struthers" travel documentary (which the filmmakers traded for locations) "My Name is Still Gianni" featurette "Fans of Style: Designing Planetfall" featurette "Corpse Grinding: An Interview with Ted V. Mikels" featurette "Discovering Rosemount Ruins" featurette Closing Thoughts Entertaining, kick-ass independent film + LOADS of extras jam-packed onto the disc = highly recommended film that is worth hunting down! :: This review written for CalgaryMovies.com ::