Manticore

Back in 1992 a little cable network was launched, the Sci-Fi network. At first it had a lot of re-runs of science fiction and fantasy series from the other networks. Now, it has grown into a force to be reckoned with. The original programming of the Sci-Fi Channel includes series like the re-imagined ‘Battlestar Galactica’ as well as taking over the ‘Stargate’ franchise from Showtime. Since 2002 they have also been producing their own original movies. In recent years the major networks have abandoned Saturday night. None of them offer any original programming on that evening leaving those you say at home nothing new to watch. The Sci-Fi Channel has used this opportunity to display their films. Now the films they have tend to run from the ridiculous to the sublime but at least they are something new. Almost by default they are going to pull in ratings. They also are known for being made on a smaller than usual budget. This almost always becomes evident with some cheesy special effects. You can either laugh at them or get into the almost fifties like effects and enjoy. I have to admit that I watch a lot of the ‘Saturday night flicks’ and enjoy them by getting into the mindset that I had as a kid back with a weekend matinee. Sure they are corny with minimal production values but that is what a lot of people said about the old flicks that helped us become fans of the genre. So invite a couple of friends over, get some beer and pizza and do your own home edition of Mystery Science Fiction 3000.

One of these Sci-Fi flicks a cut above the others is ‘Manitcore’, now available on DVD from Image. While it will never win any awards it does what it sets out to do, entertain. There is action and even a few often unintentional laughs. Set in modern day Iraq it pits some U.S. military men and a young newswoman against a hybrid monster from ancient Persia. Just to get things gong and set the ‘ripped from the headlines’ feel the film begins with some news footage of the war torn country. Scenes of people looting the numerous museums of their ancient treasures are shown as if you are watching the evening news. In a darkened room two men search through the crates pilled up. One is afraid of the Americans and disturbing a sacred place. The other is determined to find what they are there for. The bolder man finds an amulet and places it around the neck of his companion. Later they are captured by a group of American soldiers lead by Sgt. Baxter (Robert Beltran). Under his command is Cpl. Keats (Heather Donahue) who is helping with the interrogations. A reporter, Ashley Pierce (Chase Masterson) shows up primarily looking for a story about the growing looting problem. The soldiers try to get them to leave but they are embedded for GNN, read this as CNN without licensing rights to the name, I told you this was low budget. They have been given full access by some general and toss his name around. The crowd outside begins to get angry and starts tossing rocks. Baxter orders the detainees released but soon rocks are replaced by bullets. In the confusion the two thieves manage to get away. Baxter tries to explain the mess to his superior officer, Major Kramer (Jeff Fahey) but can’t get him to understand that they are supposed to be there to help the people. Out in the desert the two men meet up with strange man who assures them they will get their reward for the medallion. He takes them into a cave where others seize them and take the medallion. A ceremony is performed that releases something but all the audience sees is the man ripped in half on the floor. Later on Ashley is filming a report when behind her a huge creature zips past. Villagers are found literally torn part with no clue as to what did it. Baxter and his troops are sent on patrol and find the car of the thieves with one of them barely alive inside. He tells them on a monster on the loose. On the side of the car are huge claw marks. They are looking for the reporter who is now considered missing. Finally they find Ashley and eventually get to see what they are up against, the Manitcore. This is an ancient monster with the head of a lion, wings of a dragon and a tail of a scorpion. Now the reporter must join with the army to find some way to kill the creature before he can destroy the world.

Okay, this is not the greatest film around but it is fun to watch and that is all that really matters. In fact it is no worse than the flicks we watched as kids. Is a hybrid monster loose in the desert of Iraq any different than a seas creature attacking Coney Island or a scene of shaking grasshoppers off a picture of the Chicago skyline? There are a lot of similarities going on here. The most obvious is the use of the American military to save us from all sorts of horrible creatures bent on destroying mankind. In the fifties this was a form of propaganda during the cold war. Now, with the country involved in a controversial war once again science fiction steps in to show that the countries may be wrong but the men and women fighting over there are honest, decent human beings. The special effects are not well done, really. The monster is almost as bad as 1956’s ‘It Conquered the World’ where you can see a stick that is being used to push the monster prop. While this is not possible with the digital effects used here the camp factor is about the same. One thing in their favor is they don’t show the creature in full until almost the end of the film. This does manage to create a modicum of suspense when you actually get to see the thing. It is also an action film. If you ignore the Manitcore you do have a reasonably good army flick.

The Sci-Fi Channel seems to be using a rotating roster of actors, many from popular science fiction television series. Robert Beltran was one of the better actors on ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ and it is good to see his talent is not completely going to waste. He has to know that this is a ‘B’ flick at best but the man is a professional and gives it his all. He shows an army non-com who truly believes the military is there to help the civilian population. He doesn’t let his idealism keep him from kicking butt when the opportunity arises. Another Star Trek alumnus here is Chase Masterson. She is making a good living with films like this and it is nice to see her get work. She is the typical plucky female report reminiscent of the ones who always popped up in the fifties flicks. Heather Donahue was all the rage after her appearance in the cult classic, ‘The Blair Witch Project’. Here she shows that a woman in combat can more than hold her own.

This is a plain vanilla release from Image but it holds up well. I was impressed by how bright and natural the colors were. It is presented in a perfect anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer that is better than I remember from television. Also well done is the Dolby 5.1 audio mix. During the battles the rear speakers and sub woofer come alive. This is worth having for an afternoon get together or when there is nothing on but endless crime drama re-runs.

Posted 11/11/07