There are movies you see because they have a major story to tell and other because they are fun. We don't watch the "fun" movies because they are going to win great awards or be seen as future classics. We watch because they bring us pleasure, even when the pleasure is delivered in a strange fashion with an outrageous concept. Iron Sky(Imdb link) was released in 2012 and created a fan based that is moving it into the status of being a cult classic. The story is a variant of the well-used, and some would say played-out, concept: a group of Nazis escaped near the end of WWII and hid until they could come back for revenge and raise the Fourth Reich. In Iron Sky they were hiding on the dark side of the moon.
Yes, it is over-the-top. Nazis attacking from a secret moon base that would have been established over 20 years before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon would need to be a story that plays up the absurdity. And, writer/director, Timo Vuorensola (Imdb link), teamed up with another screenplay writer, Michael Kalesniko (Imdb link), to take the story from Johanna Sinisalo (Imdb link) who wrote his tale based on the concept created by Jarmo Puskala (Imdb link) to a point somewhere beyond the concept of reality. They deliver a production that builds upon the absurdity to create a fun flick.
Throughout the movie, there is parody of modern times and pop culture. The little gems added to the movie build on the fun. The landing in a pot field in upstate New York, suited soldiers checking out a girlie magazine, and the background music of the Bridal March in one of the climatic scenes are only a few examples of how the movie pushes to not be taken too seriously.
There are even tributes to earlier films. When Vivian Wagner, played by Peta Sergeant (Imdb link), is promoted from campaign manager to commander of the United States spaceship, the George Bush, to defend Earth she arrives on the bridge wearing an outfit similar of Ruffio's from Hook. Udo Kier (Imdb link) playing Wolfgang Kortzfleisch gives a death scene, reminiscent of ones from his earlier work.
The look of Iron Sky is a mix of modern day, science fiction, and gearpunk. Combine that with spacesuits that include leather overcoats and motorcycles with sidecars on the moon, you get a mashup which again screams that it wants to be a cult classic.
We recently shared Iron Sky with soon to be new fans. Those who had seen it before were picking up on new tidbits while those who were seeing it for the first time kept chuckling at the outlandishness.
For existing fans, there is a new installment being released this year, Iron Sky: The Coming Race. (Here's an Imdb linkif you would like to see the trailer.) Originally the movie was to be released several years ago. Three of the actors are returning to continue their roles: Julie Dietze (Imdb link) as Renate Richter, Stephanie Paul (Imdb link) as the President of the United States, and Udo Kier as Wolgang Kortzfleisch.Currently in post-production is The Ark: An Iron Sky Story (Imdb link). Timo Vuorensola is directing and Stephanie Paul and Udo Kier are part of the cast, although they are different characters. The Tag line given is "A pair of audiophiles try to decode a mysterious message received from the Moon, but find themselves up against the illuminati."
If you are into cult classic style movies, that are over-the-top and you haven't seen Iron Sky, find a copy to watch. If you haven't watched it for a while, break out your copy and get ready for the next installment because the trailer shows there is more weirdness coming.
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