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Iron Sky (2012)

Director: Timo Vuorensola

Time Out rating

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24 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

It should be a crime to waste a great idea. The concept behind this low-budget exploitation actioner – in 1945, a band of Nazi officers fled Germany to build a base on the moon – should have made for OTT bad-taste thrills.

In the hands of a director who understands satire – Paul Verhoeven, say, or even Roland Emmerich – it could have been a lot of fun. But overseen by a bunch of Finnish fanboys whose first feature was unfunny sci-fi pastiche ‘Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning’, it becomes a crude slapstick romp.

When the new US President (Stephanie Paul), a right-wing fanatic unsubtly modelled on Sarah Palin, dispatches astronauts to the dark side of the moon, they’re astonished to discover a swastika-shaped mining colony. These ‘Mondnazis’, led by Fuhrer Wolfgang Kortzfleisch (Udo Kier), are putting the finishing touches to a 60-year project: to launch the Battleship Götterdämmerung and retake planet Earth.

‘Iron Sky’ has its moments. The CGI effects are effective, with some fine background detail: the updating of Albert Speer-style architecture to outer space is often inventive, while the sight of space Nazis on moonbikes powering along a lunar autobahn is especially memorable.

The problem is the script, which feels at best like an irritatingly self-aware B-movie pastiche, at worst like a crude sixth-form farce. As both Verhoeven and Emmerich would understand, the kind of satire at work here – essentially, comparing the might of America to that of the Third Reich – is best when underplayed. Instead, ‘Iron Sky’ trades in crass, trouser-dropping slapstick, proving that even the dumbest idea needs a smart mind behind it.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2174: April 19 -25, 2012

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User reviews of this film

Hairy said...

Posted on May 30 2012 00:21 I heard about this film on facebook, started following its progress, watching the trailers etc, and when I finally saw the film itself I wasn't disappointed. Yes ok it's not perfect, but then as has been pointed out, neither is some of the crap that costs ten times as much to make as this film did. Everyone rightly raves about how good the special effects and CGI are, the acting is pretty good although there are a couple of cringeworthy moments, and the Nazi fleet seemed to get taken out a little bit too quickly by the international fleet, but all in all I liked it and will buy it on DVD when it comes out.

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Jehs said...

Posted on May 27 2012 03:28 The film was bad. Horrible scenes that were almost written by a teenager, I two good jokes, like the one just before the end with all that arguing... but other than that this film is rubbish, almost embarrassing slap stick humor, the car scene with the three actors was just beyond bad. What were they thinking when they made the film? If they had even one decent comedian on board this film could have been great. Those who love it probably invested in it, other don't bother... better indie films, and a wasted idea.

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Ian said...

Posted on May 25 2012 20:31 Superb! When we see what rubbish has been put out by some of the studios recently it is a crime that this hasn't a wider release.
Reminiscent of Mel Brooks at his very best there are so many wonderful lines and comic scenes in this film. Yes it is politically incorrect but I don't think I have heard an audience laugh so much at a film in years. It was packed which is more than many film I have been to recently.
If you haven't seen this film see it soon if necessary on dvd.

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RedTraveller said...

Posted on May 24 2012 20:37 Yes it's flawed and yes it's not the polished product turned out routinely by Hollywood but it's bloody good tongue in cheek entertainment so appreciate it for what it is. Considering the budget I think it's a remarkable testament to the people who put it together. It will never be everyones cup of tea but a big thumbs up from me.

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Robert said...

Posted on May 03 2012 01:30 Iron Sky will be watched for many years, will appear at midnight movie sessions worldwide and will only gain it's following as a cult film. I thoroughly loved it and I am sure that in years to come my love of it will only grow.

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Tom said...

Posted on Apr 28 2012 22:12 Anyone who thinks that Herr Emmerich is a satirist probably also believes Mr. Cameron is a left-wing parodist of Toryism (and knows zip about American film). As to the movie - well, not everysone can do intelligent pulp like Tarantino, but it's fun nonetheless

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Tomas said...

Posted on Apr 20 2012 18:02 Marketing. Marketing. Marketing. Maybe they should of spend their time on improving the script and getting a better director instead. The movie shows no film skills or any talent only folk that on good at photoshop and other "software".

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Dradin said...

Posted on Apr 20 2012 11:58 This is a movie most people will either love or hate, as evidenced by the reviews it has been getting. It is a nerdy movie with a cobbled-together plot and great visuals for its budget, with its humour made up mostly of pop culture meta-references. It is not pure comedy or satire but something of a genre-blender.
It seems that many reviewers are not handling this film as it is, a small-budget crowdsourced independent nerd-fest but as the definitive Space Nazi blockbuster "it should have been", the one they have imagined in their heads beforehand. And thus many reviews are shaped by pure prejudice and expecting Hollywood 200 million dollar quality from a film that is something completely different.
Clear your head of expectations when going to see this film, take it as it is and you might well be pleasantly surprised.

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MattiW said...

Posted on Apr 19 2012 09:28 I saw this movie a bit over 2 weeks ago in Helsinki.
I admit it had quite a number of flaws - it could've had a much better director and the script could've been better - but still it was one of the most enjoyable movies i've seen in a long time - certainly much better than most Hollywood movies in in years.
The people who made this should be given lots of credit given that they had perhaps a tenth of the budget of Hollywood movie.
Verhoeven is a nice thought for a director, but Emmerich? Really? No thank you, Emmerich is as boring as a blank paper.
I'd recommend going to see this movie, but don't expect a masterpiece and just enjoy it.

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Michael said...

Posted on Apr 15 2012 12:47 "Paul Verhoeven, say, or even Roland Emmerich" What a rubbish comparison and so bubblegum. Like voting Lady Gaga the best singer of all time because she has a lot of tweeting followers.

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MicroSoft said...

Posted on Apr 11 2012 17:27 Saw this film in Finland last week. Didn't expect much and was positively surprised. A real hit in its own genre.

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tom huddleston said...

Posted on Apr 11 2012 11:50 I think those taking exception at my reference to Emmerich need to go back and rewatch his films. If you think 'Independence Day' and especially 'The Day After Tomorrow' are flag-waving propaganda, you're nuts. Oh, and the guy who referred to him as American, do a spot of research... He may not be mr subtle, but he's got brains.

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Jim Pastour said...

Posted on Apr 09 2012 12:28 I have not seen the movie but it has to be better than Independence Day which is pure propaganda film. I saw that one in States. People started to applause at the end of the movie where they see USA flag.
Roland Emmerich is equal to Jsepn Goebbels in propaganda.

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Klaus said...

Posted on Apr 05 2012 15:30 I saw the movie yesterday and think that despite some alleged flaws it is worth watching. To me it seemed to be more a slapstick comedy satire of how politics is made today dressed in Nazi space gown than a "pure" sci-fi movie. The Americans get the sharpest turn of the knife in the wound, but the whole world is greedy and corrupt just as much as the male Nazi leaders. Touchè. There were many nice little things here and there: the British spaceship was named "Spitfire", nazis had a kubelwagen as Fuhrer`s car, the Russian spacecraft was Mir (Peace), North Koreans tried to convince others that the Nazi fleet was actually theirs, the Finns were the only ones who had obeyed treaties and thus did not have any nuclear arms etc. For purely historical and political reasons it just might be too much for some of the criticists that the purest heart of the film was Renate, a female Nazi teacher.

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JonB said...

Posted on Mar 24 2012 11:18 I've seen it. I liked it, but I was in the right mood to forgive some of the flaws. I'm amazed so many people here thinks its ok to write a "review" that starts "I've heard".

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