Planetfall

I'm a firm believer in the idea that a film should be judged based on what the filmmakers were striving for and how close they came to that mark. Not every sci-fi film is, or even intends to be, something as amazing as "Aliens." When held up next to "Doctor Zhivago" or "Dr. Strangelove," "Planetfall" just looks ridiculous. But compare it to a more appropriate doctor, such as "Dr. Who," and you'll better understand the nature of these filmmakers' ambitions.

This isn't a film that achieves (or even strives for) brilliance. It does, however, stay true to its roots: campy Dr. Who-style sci-fi flicks, slutty drive-in movie extravaganzas and decades of dusty spaghetti westerns pieced together with more passion than experience.

Like 2004's impressive budget sci-fi film "Primer," "Planetfall" is clearly a labor of love crafted with dedication and maxed-out credit cards rather than studio expertise and several million in investment capital.

Though it's certainly not flawless, it's absolutely entertaining, and at points inspiring, particularly when one views the DVD's attendant "making of" pieces and learns the hurdles involved in shoestring sci-fi.

'Planetfall' is kind of a mix of spaghetti westerns with the post apocalyptic sci-fi genre. It's ambitious stuff for a low budget, shot on video feature, but director Gianni Mezzanotte manages to pull it off fairly well. There are some rough spots, notably the very obvious CGI effects. However, the cast is more capable than what one usually expects from a movie this cheap, and they manage to invest their characters with enough sincerity and believability to pull at least this viewer into the story.

By no means is this any kind of sci-fi classic, but it has more heart and soul than any slick Sci Fi Channel original. The screenplay is fairly well written and coherent, and you can tell that everyone involved in making 'Planetfall' cared about telling the story and did the best they could. There's nothing deep going on here, no art film pretensions or serious message. It's just a cheap, fun movie made for the love of film-making and telling a story.

I would have to say that ambition is what is really displayed here. This movie is one more attempt at bridging the gap between you-tube and Hollywood. Some parts made me want to shave my head, tear my clothes, be forgiven and come to repentance, while others had me thinking; "Wow, I can't believe this was a low budget film" Filled up with a range of acting talent, this movie isn't for everyone. But it IS a testament that feature's are doable, and fun. Though the story doesn't take you anywhere you might go in some sort of Vin Diesel-esquire sci-fi thriller, it does take you to some places that perhaps ended up on the fifth-elements cutting room floor. I would recommend this movie to anyone with an hour or so to kill who can refrain from comparing it to any of the summer blockbusters. As it stands, it's a true testament to sci-fi indie film making being developed and done on the cheap. congratulations to the crew and staff that put it together. So brave...

Shot on the (very) cheap, the futuristic spaghetti western about various people trying to get their hands on a cargo of something is marred by hideously awful acting, bland generic dialog, laughably sad special effects, and absolutely nothing that could feasibly be construed as entertaining in the least. If you only had 24 hours to live, then and ONLY then consider watching this because it'll make 90 minutes feel like an eternity. My god, I'd prefer almost any of those crappy 'originals' on the Sci-Fi channel to this piece of garbage. Everyone involved in this production should be just hanging their respective heads in shame right about now. (and YES that last part is a joke, just to fill the required 10 lines)

My Grade: F

PLANETFALL(Heretic/Carschool film-o-rama)//www.myspace.com/hereticgenre Starring: Ted V. Mikels,John Levene and Chaz Truog. Although the leads remind you of Nicole Kidman and Carrie Fischer,This is NOT their movie. The computer graphics in PF are fantastic,Really top notch look.I feel talking about the budget HAS nothing to do with the actual film you will see.This is a epic Sci-Fi/Western themed adventure.PF has a rich background story of race struggle and the united search for a most powerful object.The music is really great,Perfect for each scene.At times PF comes off like one of those BBC Sci-Fi efforts,That PBS loves to show when they want us starving US pledgers to call-in donations.Seriously I tried to find something to pick on,If you knew me better,You say sounds too professional for your tastes.If this hadn't taken for so long to film(Gleaned from huge extras included) ,I'd say look for sequels---Too Bad A+ effort.