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Sharing some cinematic DNA with 2002's "Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings", "Rise of the Fellowship" is another Mid-Atlantic lensed, low-budget fantasy epic that lucked into a wide release by being marketed as a quickie "Lord of the Rings" cash-in. "Fellowship" can at least boast the nice professional look of a Syfy or Lifetime original, but past that, "Max Magician" wins out in this dubious race to the top of the Walmart cut-out bin since it actually has some plot and structure-- cliché, simple- minded and predictable though it may be.

"Fellowship", on the other hand, is just a clumsy stringing together of imagery from the "Lord of the Rings" without regard to coherence or meaning; it's like being trapped in an elevator with a foaming-at-the-mouth Peter Jackson ultra-nerd ranting along the lines of "Remember that scene where that thing happened? Wasn't that great? And that other scene where that other thing happened? So awesome! And then that...." Within five minutes of watching this film, you'll seriously consider taking your own life; after ten minutes, your loved ones will be making funeral arrangements.

Normal folks with critical thinking facilities intact will want to steer clear of this but if you're an undiscriminating dork who's a sucker for shameless fan boy pandering, bring a large spoon because you'll want to savor every delicious drop. Bon Appétit!

Originally released in 1987 as "Star Quest: Beyond The Rising Moon", this movie is a minor indie triumph with ambitious and charming old school, "Space:1999"-style model work and effects supporting stiff performances, pedestrian direction, and a derivative, predictable screenplay. That version is currently available on Youtube.

The "Outerworld" version now on Netflix and other sources is an appalling attempt to update and revise the film a la George Lucas's tweaks to the original STAR WARS trilogy and is about a thousand times less successful (and Lucas attempts were abject failures). No attempt has been made to mesh the original effects with the tacky and immediately-dated 2005 CGI and the film source appears to come from a very dated, late 1980s master. At the very least, a new film scan should have been struck and the original, unadulterated version made available to exist along side this "special edition" abortion but that is not the case. Ugh.

If you're looking for a film that actually lives up to the promised glory of the title, please go elsewhere. But if you're looking for an undercover fan film presumably set in Joss Whedon's Buffyverse but with a tenth of the needed resources and 1/100th of Whedon's talent, you're in luck. The filmmakers have their heart in the right place but heart isn't enough, either for an independent film or even a fan film, because this has got to have some of the dodgiest production value this side of a Chris Seaver joint. At least on a technical level, earnestness isn't going to make the grade when you've got stuff like STAR WARS: REVELATIONS or STAR TREK PHASE 2 which are professionally mounted if nothing else. If all you've got is a copy of Adobe Premiere along with an off-the-shelf consumer camera,and a work light or two from Home Depot, it's not going to cut it, knowhutImsayin?

Now poor production value wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker, but there is no story and no craft to elevate this sorry work. It's just 90m of winking at the audience substituting for acting, half-as**ed, spastickly staged fights masquerading as action, and nerd references, stolen one-liners, and warmed over jokes pretending to be a script. If you want to see a undercover fan film that's done with actual panache and skill, try RECON 2022: THE MEZZO INCIDENT (please note I'm not saying its good, because dear God, it's not. It's just that they tried.)

The only thing that is admirable about NINJAS VS VAMPIRES is the marketing because, let's face it—it's a great title and they put together some great box art; it's slick, professional and puts you in the mood for some quality vampire-fu action--- and you will get that providedyou go watch Buffy, Angel, BLADE, any of the UNDERWORLD movies, or BLOODRAYNE even because you're sure as hell not going to get it from NINJAS VS VAMPIRES.