Iron Sky Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Iron Sky
Year: 2012
Director: Timo Vuorensola 
Country: Finland
Language: English 

Occasionally you come across a movie that seems so bizarre and unusual that you just have to see it out of great curiosity. Films like Alejandro Jodorowsky's surreal spiritual Western El Topo and John Water's strangely inspired Pink Flamingos are definitely just a couple of examples of oddly alluring films. Recently for me it was a 2012 film called Iron Sky. If I could sum up in two words why I was intrigued by the film  it would be this: Space Nazis! 

According to Iron Sky's world history, during the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space program evaded destruction by fleeing to the Dark Side of the Moon. During 70 years of utter secrecy, the Nazis construct a gigantic space fortress with a massive armada of flying saucers.

Yes, that's right: Space Nazis. Though the Third Reich did not have the advanced technology needed to win World War Two, they certainly had enough to fly to the moon and live there for seven decades. If your beliefs are suspended then they should be; Iron Sky is a fantasy/Science Fiction hybrid that is remarkably fun because the plot is completely illogical. The film is intentionally campy and satires to a number of stereotypes. It is a unique labor of love; there is a very human quality to this expressive film that you don't get in the typical Hollywood Studio production.

While Iron Sky is somewhat funny and somewhat entertaining, it seems to drag during the last 30 minutes. As I was wanting the film to end because the space nazi gimmick eventually wore out, I found the film to become a pain and it took away some of the joy I had during the first hour of the film. Some jokes can be a little dull and the acting isn't very impressive. Nor would I say that there is any depth to the characters or that the dialogue is amazing. However its absurdity is a redeeming quality, it's a film that I would recommend watching once.

In conclusion, while Iron Sky fails on most technical levels and I certainly wouldn't call it a "good film", it certainly isn't a "bad film" either. It's an hour of entertainment followed by thirty minutes of tearing your hair out because you want it to end. On the other hand, it's more unique and human than most Hollywood films that are being released. If the choice is Iron Sky or superhero movie #10000007 then choose Iron Sky. 2.5/5