A PRAYER FOR HETMAN MAZEPA
With the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine exploding, I say it’s an opportune time to revisit this 2002 feature, which offers a most unorthodox treatment of the skirmish
THE LAWNMOWER MAN
A 1992 movie that, hard though it might seem to believe thirty years later, once seemed pretty cool
ROBOT CARNIVAL
Nothing less than 1980s-era Japan’s answer to FANTASIA
FANTASTIC PLANET
After THE YELLOW SUBMARINE this is the premiere example of feature-length psychedelic animation
THE TREASURE PLANET
A 1982 Bulgarian animated feature (apparently the first such film) that takes Robert Luis Stevenson’s immortal novel for quite a ride
BRAINSTORM
A film that, given the level of talent involved, shouldn’t be that awful—but I’m afraid BRAINSTORM really IS that awful
ARENA BRAINS
An avant-garde film in the guise of a music video compilation of a type that was once ubiquitous on VHS
KILL IT AND LEAVE THIS TOWN
Animated madness from 2020 Poland that may or may not have something to say about that country’s political situation
ALIEN (1989)
No, not that ALIEN, but, rather, a Pakistani joyride from 1989 that has the distinction of being that country’s first special effects blockbuster
MAD GOD
A dialogue-free depiction of an otherworldly hellscape, peopled almost entirely with stop motion creatures