Marching Out of Time

Of all the low budget films I've seen from that period, this one stands out for being original.

Tu sum it up, the story is about a hyperactive man who runs into Nazi that have invaded the house next door. The house belongs to a mad scientist who built a teleportation chamber and now the Nazis are wandering around the block.

This could have been the premise for a big budget movie with major special effects but this is not what this is. The main character is annoying to watch at times but I think it is a Jerry Lewis style. His sidekick is a scientist who seems to be mad (but the movie is not clear about that). The German is also over the top but so is the entire movie.

I saw this film in Italy on TV twice and I first thought this was a European film but then I saw it again here in English. It kind of grows on you the way the Rocky Horror picture show did. Rest assured, this is not a musical (but it could as well be considering the plot). Considering the fact this film was made over 20 years ago I think it stands out as something unique. You may like it or hate it but it stands out.

The actor who plays the German leader is great. I would have liked to see him again elsewhere. It's difficult compare this to most other films. I would compare this to Fred Flinstone meets the Germans with a Corman touch. Eithert you get it, or you don't. I need to find a copy somewhere.

This is the type of movie that's so 'bad' (or rather absurd) that it becomes amusing. Not much of a story, stuck somewhere between Top Secret, Weird Science and Back To The Future. But what saves it is the simple, yet functional editing and generally well-made photography, despite a probably low budget. So not a complete waste of time, but I suppose you need to be in the right frame of mind to smirk at all the silliness. 4/10

Take a big budget movie and make a low budget parody. That's what this film is about. I remember seeing this film on TV a few years ago. It was really fun. The premise is strange but the film is some weird parody. The characters are a low end parody of many big budget movies from the eighties such as Back to the future and world war II movies from the 60's but set in an urban neighbourhood. The main guy can feel annoying at times but that's where this film is coming from. The scenes poke fun at those overdone movies by coughing up absurd settings with characters that are not quite where they should be and that's what's fun about this film. Overall the movie succeeds in being subversive by raising the its ridiculous premise to a blatantly obvious level. Downplaying the special effects (there are none) and raising the overdone performance makes this a hilarious unique film. Some scenes worth remembering: The main guy go through the time machine with a cop and when they get to the other side, the cop goes after Hitler. It is obviously stupid and you have to be in right mood to get it. I don't think everybody will get some of the subversive jokes such as when terrorists come out of the time machine in the end. This obviously has sequel written all over it. But of course if there were a sequel, we would start taking this parody seriously and that's not the point of this film. If you can catch this film, give it a go. This is definitely a subversive parody and it works on its own level. Not for everybody because you have to know where this film is coming from.

Once you've seen it all, heard it all, you sit down and come across a film like this and you realize it is possible to make something completely different and original nowadays. Granted, the film was shot a while ago and it is low budget, but don't you sometimes wish executives and studio heads could look at a film like and be inspired to break into something not done before ? One can say many things about this film which certainly did not cost 40 million to make. But on the originality scale, this one kicks butt, and I wish there were more films like it. Granted, some people will be disturbed by "different" ! But for those of us who want to be exposed to various ways of making film, this is a must see.

This movie is something else. A cross between Bill and Ted, Rocky Horror, back to the Future, and throw in a low budget flavor and you got yourself one of the most off beat films you've ever seen. The story is ludicrous, but isn't that what makes the film so endearing. At times you wonder if the characters actually laugh at the audience for watching this piece of madness. But do not compare this film to others. It won't fit into the standard box of any of the many films out there.