Ghost Planet

Just finished watching this movie on Amazon Prime and enjoyed it. The special effects are pretty good even though I saw a car stereo (had bass /treble settings) turned at 90 degrees to make a door entry device. The three main characters are engaging and the plot is OK. It is always funny that the English play the bad guys, the Americans always like doing this for some reason. Most of the free movies provided by Amazon prime aren't that good so it was a nice surprise to be able to watch a fairly good sci-fi movie. There were a couple of good ideas about what the future would be like. The movie was 1 and half hours long which seemed to pass pretty quickly so I must have enjoyed it.

I thought this would be a bit like an old school space film like the Blake's 7 TV series but the story of 3 siblings on a space scavenger hunt to get the big payoff type adventure works well with a neat twist in the ending. The cgi is impressive for an indie film and I totally loved the use of miniature models and pyro for some scenes. The sets and costumes are impressive when you consider how many were required in addition to the cgi backdrops which must have be a huge task! The film also has a certain Luc Besson 5th Element style vibe in the music and background city scenes which is nice (I'm sure I saw a certain Bruce Willis taxi in there too!!). Overall a very watchable film even for a non sci fi fan.

Let's start with the the special effects, these are cross between Jerry Anderson's, UFO and Babylon 5. You can really tell that it is mainly CGI green screen and very little in terms of physical sets. When they do use physical sets you can see things like the car switches and even recycle symbols and the bottom of walls. So don't expect Star wars effects but they are OK. The acting is pretty wooden, but the actors try their best and keep the story moving forward at quite a nice pace. It is watchable for the 90 minutes it lasts. I think they could have made more of the girls story line which added a nice twist.

Obviously the amount of budget they had to make this movie was pretty small but they made the best of it and I definitely think it is worth a watch.

Ghost Planet is a delightful foray into the realm of small-scale science fiction, skillfully balancing heartwarming storytelling with a genuine affection for the genre. From its opening scenes, the film draws you into a unique universe, where personal stakes take center stage amidst cosmic wonders.

The narrative revolves around a ragtag group of explorers who find themselves stranded on a mysterious planet teeming with ethereal entities. As they navigate this strange world, the film dives deep into themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the quest for belonging. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each bringing their own quirks and vulnerabilities to the story, making it easy for viewers to invest in their journey.

Despite its budget constraints, Ghost Planet shines through its creativity. The visual effects, while not on par with big-budget blockbusters, are used effectively to create an immersive atmosphere. The filmmakers cleverly rely on practical effects and imaginative set design to build a believable world, showcasing their resourcefulness and passion for storytelling.

In conclusion, Ghost Planet is a testament to the magic of indie filmmaking in the sci-fi genre. It combines heartfelt storytelling with imaginative world-building, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Whether you're looking for an engaging adventure or simply a story that resonates emotionally, Ghost Planet is sure to leave you entertained and eager for more.

Ghost Planet felt like a mixture between Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, Robert Rodriguez's Sin City, with a touch of George Lucas's Star Wars prequels for good measure. Writer/director, Philip Cook, did a great job of bringing a larger than life story to the screen with a modest budget. Though the visual effects were done on a budget they did a great job of bringing this new Sci-Fi world to life. At times I felt like I was watching a speeder chase in Star Wars Attack of the Clones, other times it was like watching a bar scene from Sin City, or even yet the scale and look of the world felt like that of Blade Runner. You can tell that Phillip Cook is a lover of classic Sci-Fi Films like these. And you can't help but smile at the nods to those worlds.

From a technical stand point the film looked good. The use of green screen to expand the scope of the worlds took a bit to get used to, but once you did it really helped tell the story Cook was going for. I also really loved the use of miniatures for all the vehicles on the Ghost Planet. Super fun touch that gave it a sense of retro realism!

If you are in the mood for a fun indie sci-fi adventure, give Ghost Planet a try!