Zeiram

This movie is quite an entertaining little romp if you watch it with an open mind. It's full of interesting gadgets, lots of weapons, explosions, monsters, stop-motion, talking computers, Japanese babes, etc. The plot concerns an intergalatic bounty hunter, played by the beautiful Yuko Moriyama, who tracks down an unstoppable alien killing machine named Zeiram. The plot also throws in two male comedy foils, although Yuko could easily carry the film on her own. There's lot of action, some of it hand to hand (it's always a treat to see women fighting) and some of it with hi-tech guns and such. While this is isn't a perfect movie, it's a good way to spend an evening...cool-looking monsters, kickboxing babes, explosions...what more can one ask for.

When I was first starting out watching Japanese cinema, mainly anime (Japanese Animation) I happened to fall upon this title. Zeiram is one of my favorite sci-fi movies, right up their with Aliens. This film starts off with stunning visuals and ends up being a total knockout movie. Zeiram (Japanese title: Zeiramu) is well put together, and so is the dubbing of the film. If you don't speak Japanese, don't worry; you can go rent or buy the VHS copy of the film at a local video store & enjoy it in English! Overall, I would rate this film: 9 1/2 out of 10!

A visually stunning film full of extravagant monsters and dazzling special effects. Director Keita Amemiya definitely has a flair for this kind of stylistic filmmaking and the film looks great, although the pacing could be tightened up a bit. What sets the film apart from so many others is the conviction and no-nonsense portrayal of the main character (Iria) by actress Yuko Moriyama. She offsets the otherwise campy tone of the film and lends it some credibility. Worth checking out if you're interested in a fun no-brainer sci-fi adventure stocked with girls, guns, gadgets, and monsters.

This one definitely fits in the category of guilty pleasures.

Basically, it's about a beautiful female bounty hunter from another planet named Ilya who comes to Earth to stop an evil alien monster named Zeram that has also come here to avoid capture. She and her computer (creatively named Bob) create an alternate dimension that she sends Zeram into in order to fight it without hurting anybody (if an innocent person gets killed, you see, she and Bob lose their bounty hunting licenses). However, a couple of dorky guys from Earth manage to travel to the dimension with her, and so she must not only defeat the monster but protect them. And that's pretty much it- this has one of the simplest plots I've ever seen, but it's an entertaining movie nonetheless- the action is cheesy but fun, and there's plenty of it, with the typical low-budget sci-fi f/x. Ilya is played by a very good looking actress, and her character is something of a cross between Boba Fett and Xena Warrior Princess. And thankfully, the two "comic relief" characters don't get too annoying, as is often the case in action movies that come out of Asia. It's nothing special, but this movie does deliver, so check it out if you get a chance.

I have always had a soft spot for anime-esque films. Zeram was both entertaining and indulging. I have no idea what the budget of this well produced film was, but the initial battle scene between Iria and Zeram was staggering. Those who appreciated the Kryptonian battle in 'Superman 2' will love this piece of cinematography. Kuddos.

Zeram's plotline is simple, the actors are fun to watch, and the action is a blast, the villain is more elemental than 'evil'. What else does the action-adventure viewer expect?

Thumbs way up.