Ghost Planet

Just finished watching this movie on Amazon Prime and enjoyed it. The special effects are pretty good even though I saw a car stereo (had bass /treble settings) turned at 90 degrees to make a door entry device. The three main characters are engaging and the plot is OK. It is always funny that the English play the bad guys, the Americans always like doing this for some reason. Most of the free movies provided by Amazon prime aren't that good so it was a nice surprise to be able to watch a fairly good sci-fi movie. There were a couple of good ideas about what the future would be like. The movie was 1 and half hours long which seemed to pass pretty quickly so I must have enjoyed it.

This movie is obviously made with very limited resources, including dialogue, acting, CGI.

The pacing is well, and the story itself not uninteresting. The characters, hmmm, ok, they have little more depth than in a soap opera of the 80s.

The acting seems wooden sometimes, but I blame this, as always, 70% on the director. He may have a good eye for scenery and filming, but actors leading skills should improve.

And there are the Effects. I often wonder why (even cheap) productions of today can barely match "Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning" from 2005, made by a sole artist with his home PC (ok, it took him 7 years).

All in all, five stars seem sufficient for me, since the movie has many aspects of a professional production and did good enough to entertain me.

Ghost Planet felt like a mixture between Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, Robert Rodriguez's Sin City, with a touch of George Lucas's Star Wars prequels for good measure. Writer/director, Philip Cook, did a great job of bringing a larger than life story to the screen with a modest budget. Though the visual effects were done on a budget they did a great job of bringing this new Sci-Fi world to life. At times I felt like I was watching a speeder chase in Star Wars Attack of the Clones, other times it was like watching a bar scene from Sin City, or even yet the scale and look of the world felt like that of Blade Runner. You can tell that Phillip Cook is a lover of classic Sci-Fi Films like these. And you can't help but smile at the nods to those worlds.

From a technical stand point the film looked good. The use of green screen to expand the scope of the worlds took a bit to get used to, but once you did it really helped tell the story Cook was going for. I also really loved the use of miniatures for all the vehicles on the Ghost Planet. Super fun touch that gave it a sense of retro realism!

If you are in the mood for a fun indie sci-fi adventure, give Ghost Planet a try!

Ghost Planet is a delightful foray into the realm of small-scale science fiction, skillfully balancing heartwarming storytelling with a genuine affection for the genre. From its opening scenes, the film draws you into a unique universe, where personal stakes take center stage amidst cosmic wonders.

The narrative revolves around a ragtag group of explorers who find themselves stranded on a mysterious planet teeming with ethereal entities. As they navigate this strange world, the film dives deep into themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the quest for belonging. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each bringing their own quirks and vulnerabilities to the story, making it easy for viewers to invest in their journey.

Despite its budget constraints, Ghost Planet shines through its creativity. The visual effects, while not on par with big-budget blockbusters, are used effectively to create an immersive atmosphere. The filmmakers cleverly rely on practical effects and imaginative set design to build a believable world, showcasing their resourcefulness and passion for storytelling.

In conclusion, Ghost Planet is a testament to the magic of indie filmmaking in the sci-fi genre. It combines heartfelt storytelling with imaginative world-building, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Whether you're looking for an engaging adventure or simply a story that resonates emotionally, Ghost Planet is sure to leave you entertained and eager for more.

Ghost Planet is a bonkers, out of this world (no pun intended) movie. It's fun.

With limited resources Philip J. Cook and his team have made a fun, popcorn movie.

There's a blade runner-esq city car chase, bubblegum, cool heads-up-displays and grande visual effects.

The film explores space exploration, androids, future cities and lost civilisations.

For a low budget independent movie, the film aims really high with the visual effects. I think the matching of the lighting with the background green screen could have been better to make the world more convincing but that said its a really amazing effort.

The performances of note include actors, Ulysses E. Campbell and Georgia Anastasia

If you want something that is fun, enjoyable and appealing check out Ghost Planet.