'Voyage' DVD: Carol for People Who Died Died

 

Breaking Glass Pictures once more boldly goes where even its "living" competition fears to tread regarding truly artistic gay-oriented indie film by releasing "Voyage" (2013) on DVD. 

Aside from the stunning surreal cinematography, the most striking thing about this one is that it is much less homo and erotic than other Scud titles in the BGP library. The Goldilockscore porn "Adonis" ends with a perfect climax (of course, pun intended) of the co-stars of the "art film" within the art film tossing crumpled currency on the titular whore after conducting their business. One spoiler regarding "Voyage" is that Scud affirmatively provides the audience a happy ending. 

A BGP DVD collection of early Scud films will be the subject of a review in the not-too-distant future.

The "25-words-or-less" synopsis of "Voyage" is that it depicts the high-seas odyssey of therapist Ryo, who channels musician Jim Carroll in recalling "people who died." As in the Carroll ode, the subjects of the Ryo introspection prematurely met their ends. A spoiler here is that no one ODed on Drano on the night that he is wed or is offed by bikers in Rikers. 

The following BGP trailer provides an excellent sense of the expert avant-garde filmmaking of this production with a clear Dali influence.

Our vignettes begin with a tale ripped out of the history books. This is the story of a young urban Chinese man who is sent to inner Mongolia to alleviate the impact of a real-life agricultural crisis. Thus guy not being the boy who cried wolf commences the copious body count of the film. 

We then see a Jonestown-style mass suicide before meeting Ryo as he commences far-more-than three-hour tour. 

Our subjects include unrequited love between an art-student and a model, an "excitable boy" and his caretaker who truly must take things in her own hands, and the truly tragic story of a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and her 20-something son. The latter concludes on a a well-presented note that reflects the Asian philosophy regarding prematurely deceased people experiencing eternal limbo.

The tale that is most true to the Scud spirit also is the one that is closest to the heart of Ryo. Lust-at-first-sight leads to a gleeful naked romp through the city streets before a night of passion. The morning-after further strengthens the bond between these boys in the band. We subsequently see that the one that is thrown back sometimes returns.

The aforementioned conclusion to "Voyage" is the epitome of wishful thinking that provides hope that dreams will come true. 

The special features include an insightful and interesting "making-of" documentary and a presentation at the Chicago International Film Festival.

The bottom line this time is that Scud always provides provocative and stunning images. This expertise extends to presenting compelling concepts. The difference this time is that this one stimulates the organ above the waist more than the one below it. Not that there is anything wrong with that. 

'Battle of the Worlds' BD: Claude Rains Reigns

 

The Film Detective digs deep in its vault to release the 4k scan blu-ray version of the shoestring sci-fi cult classic "Battle of the Worlds" (1961). This wonderfully low-budget Antonio Margheriti joint hits virtual shelves on August 9, 2021. 

This Euro-centric film is worth buying if only for the performance by Claude Rains ("The Invisible Man.") The manner in which Rains portrays misanthrope scientist Prof. Benson almost certainly influences how Jonathan Harris plays Dr. Smith on the comparably monetarily challenged sci-fi series "Lost in Space" a few years later.

As the talking head in the included Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary "A Cinematic Outsider: The Fantastical Worlds of Antonio Margheriti" points out, the opening scenes of an alien-looking rocky Italian island perfectly set the tone for this atmospheric film. This isolated locale is where scientist Bob Steele and his fiancee Eve are playing "From Here to Eternity" when their honeymoon period ends before it even begins. 

Benson ecstatically informs Steele that he discovered a large asteroid known as "The Outsider" threatening earth five days before the military brass found that object. Benson further proves that he is the smartest guy in the room by stating the time in the not-too-distant future when that large rock will cause chaos on the big blue planet. This aptly is the tip of the iceberg regarding the "I know something you don't know" 'tude of Benson. 

The documentary also points out how the subsequent scenes that are very true to the Margheriti style  support comparisons to "2001." These settings include a space ship that it is set out to explore the strange new world that puts ours in peril. We also see that Mars desperately needs women. 

Except for any scene  in which Benson hysterically expresses his contempt for humanity, the reveal that shows that the best brain behind The Outisder knows its Greek culture is a highlight. The 4k scan and Blu-ray video making the strings on the flying saucers very visible adds to the giddy glee. This involves a scene that is custom-made for the second generation of video games. 

All of this leads to an especially satisfying 11th-hour climax that brings another big surprise. This involves Benson remaining true to his alienating nature. 

The principle that every Detective release is physical-media worth because they don't make 'em like that anymore is particularly true this time. This film that illustrates the continental divide between Hollywood and Rome proves that kiddie-matinee B-movies and more artistic fare can happily co-exist.