Enigma

Hello Kitty...or Not!
I have seen literally hundreds of independently made films written, directed, shot and produced by folks in their living rooms or offices or wherever within the context of film festival faire. I've seen a lot of bombs and plenty of crowd pleasers. This one was a crowd pleaser although I detected a little bit of a rip-off from Firefly and possibly some other pop culture iconography. But, hey! There are no new ideas under the sun especially when you get past a certain age. This particular sci-fi ditty did have it's own spin on the surprise passenger which is what makes it worth watching. Certain threads were relatively cliche. But I've lived a long time so everything often seems that way to me. The film itself is well directed and photographed although the acting is a touch forced at times. That really gives it a 3.5, but I don't see half a star on my rating chart. So lucky for the Shumway bros that I cut people some slack due to my age when it comes to plots and scripts. They got...

Reminds Me of Outer Limits
Considering the length, this little SF would be just right for an Outer Limits episode, complete with a little twist at the end I didn't see coming. Of course, I suspend disbelief like a crazy person when watch SF/F. After all, even Star Wars had some bad dialogue and wooden performances.

My three-star rating isn't a condemnation. It means I liked it, and I can honestly say I did. That I got it free through my Prime membership makes me a tad easier to please then some of the reviewers here who paid $1.99.

One aspect which really pleased me is the use of an innocuous transport ship to transport a VIP prisoner. I used such a device in one of my books, so I don't see it as a flaw, but a completely reasonable way to ward off potential attacks to free the prisoner.

A CONDENSED SERIES style movie
I usually don't comment on Videos however I liked this one on several levels.

First - it isn't a shoot from the hip, grind mill, rehash using cheap spaceship models, old film cuts and recycled sets.
After watching I read some more comments and found some to the effect that the producers would like to "expand the franchise" - my words.
So the surprising thought and care that went into the production was for a reason.

Before I figured they want to do more I was thinking of the movie in terms of a 4 or 5 year sci-fi series content reduced to about 45 minutes.
I felt I was spared 5 years of waiting week to week for years, sometimes just plodding through, waiting to see what the (apparent) heroes/stars of the show would develop into.
Their "future" was well established at the start of the show and I thought daring, but some "wiggle room" was left, given that it is sci-fi of course.

Violence, but no gore fest. No sex or gratuitous flesh...

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