MANBORG (2011) review

Manborg (2011) d. Kostanski, Steven (Canada)


I was fortunate enough to catch Manborg on the big screen at the 2012 Fantasia film festival this past summer amidst a capacity crowd of like-minded, enthusiastic blood brothers and sisters, which is the best possible way to see this hilariously nutty sci-fi actioner. If it’s true that director Steven Kostanski (who is also credited with the screenplay alongside Jeremy Gillespie) created this slice of celluloid insanity for a mere $1000, then Canadian filmmaking collective Astron-6 (Father’s Day) needs to be running the world because they know how to do “more with less” better than anyone else. While less energetically offensive than their breakout effort, it’s an inspired and affectionate tribute to the schlocky futuristic cheapjack action pics of the ’80s that hits on all cylinders and never lets up.

In a not-so-distant dystopian future, humans are waging a losing battle against hellspawn of every stripe. After one brave soul (Matthew Kennedy) dies in the service of his species, he awakens as a cybernetic construct in the top secret laboratory of the duplicitous Dr. Scorpius (Adam Brooks). Together with three other humanoid survivors, Manborg is forced to fight as a gladiator in a Thunderdome-type arena as the fate of the world lies in the balance.

Manborg is great campy fun that never takes itself seriously, with (intentionally) cheap looking and amateurish set pieces, over-the-top performances, stop-motion beasties, sassy heroines, romantically conflicted mutants, hilariously dubbed martial artists (a joke that never, ever gets old), and digital explosions by the score. Anyone who loves low budget cinema, on either side of the camera, needs to see this movie now.

BIFFF Day #5 (Tuesday, 4/10)

No scheduled interviews or close encounters with celebs today, which meant that I got to actually sleep in for once. Of course, having stayed up the night before until 6am getting caught up on reviews and such more or less used up whatever credit I’d hoped to earn from the later wake-up bell. As Gert often says, “It’s the BIFFF!” i.e. any normalcy or daily routine need not apply because you ain’t gonna get it. I don’t think there has been a period in my life where I have been up past 3am every night for a week’s time. In everyday life, I’m a farm boy who’s up with the sun – this whole crashing just before dawn and waking up at noon is completely foreign to me. (You see what I did there?)

20 films in, I have also started to accumulate a list of the various BIFFF traditions that hold sway with every new cinematic unspooling. The festival crowd’s robust energy is intoxicating and contagious, their fervent passion usually elevating the viewing experience tenfold. However, for those like myself who are not really fans of “audience participation cinema,” this can take some getting used to. But if you can’t beat ‘em, you gotta join ‘em, because you can’t fight this particular ocean.

Fool's Views (3/5 – 3/11)

Oh, man. Willie sung it best when he asked, “Ain’t it funny how time slips away…?”

So, catching up on the last three weeks, absolutely of the essence since things are about to get truly bonkers in the Foolish World of Dr. AC (which is saying something, considering the normal state of affairs). This week saw me catching up with several fright flicks from 2011 that slipped by, as well as a couple more that are about ready to break bad. Toss in a pinch of Polanski and a colander of Cahn and a tasty cinematic stew was ours for the slurping. Keeping it short and sweet, hope you like.

If you want more blathering, you know what to do… (cue the tagline)

As always, feel free to leave your two cents worth – we’ll make sure you get some change back.

Enjoy!