Gunmen

Very, very cool flick! I love underground films and this one blew me away. It's a retro-future sci-fi film with a bunch of martial arts, stunts, special effects and some really cool imagery. I also like the whole theme of Brother against brother that runs throughout the picture. These brothers grow up learning about guns and grow up to be Gunmen, a sort of police force of the future. But one of them is addicted to drugs and has a mean streak. He always feels that everyone is beneath him and sees no reason why he needs to be a public servant. Meanwhile his brother is fair minded and tries to sees the best in all people, including his brother. But as the story progresses it becomes clear that the only way to stop his brother is ti kill him. This is told in the very opening lines of the film when the voice over says "This is the day I killed my brother"... pretty heavy themes for a little action film. I thought the film was very well directed, nicely acted and the sets and costumes were far and above what anyone would expect from an independent film. This seemed more like a Hollywood blockbuster. My only negative is that the pacing was a bit too fast and forced, but I guess how much can you fit into a half hour short film? This would have been better as a full length feature.

I saw this at a festival screening and thought it was lots of fun. The special effects were amazing for a low budget film and the acting was terrific as well. It's a story that takes place in a post world war world in which society has reverted back to a wild West with some left over machinery. Sort of like "Mad Max" but with a Western slant and not in a desert.

In the film, two brothers who are "Gunmen" are out to stop a bad guy from taking over the world. It's an action film with quite a few good surprises. I particularly liked the fact that the villain is using the essence what what makes Gunmen powerful (ie: their guns!) to stop them at their own game. (it's OK, this is not a spoiler). Much more clever than a typical " I got a bomb" or some other scenario.