Netflix Almanac: August 2007

Well, three is better than none. Except when two is really one. Once that English major’s method of math begins to sink in, read on for last month’s slight excursion into kiddy kaiju and a wee bit of nostalgia.

Turk 182! (1985)
Only could the Big 80s spit out a film like this. While partying with his buddies down at the local pub, an off-duty New York City fireman (Robert Urich) rushes into a burning building to save a child, only to be blown out a window by an errant fire hose. The resultant psychological and physical trauma takes its toil, and with medical bills climbing and the bureaucracy denying any help, the fireman's younger brother (Timothy Hutton) takes matters into his own hands—with graffiti. Bob Clark’s crowd-pleasing contraption became a cable television staple, largely because of a solid cast boosting a paper-thin premise. Robert Culp leads the troupe of character actors, creating a realistic NYC late Seventies mayor frustrated by Hutton’s antics. Urich also excels, subtly essaying suicidal depression and hopelessness under a brave but cracked exterior. Peter Boyle, Kim Cattrall, James Tolkan, and Darren McGavin also contribute their little warped spins in underwritten roles. Turk 182! is one of those movies that shouldn’t work and sometimes doesn’t, but still manages to be addictive fluff.

Rebirth of Mothra (1996)
The 1990s saw the resurrection of the kaiju film, with the likes of Godzilla and Gamera receiving a reimagining long before Tim Burton coined the term. It only was natural that Toho also would revive its Mothra series; the monster moth had been the studio’s second-most popular character in the Showa era and enjoyed fandom from girls as well as boys. But while Godzilla experienced a new-found maturity in its showcases, Toho headed the opposite direction with Mothra, creating a trilogy for tikes. Which makes the inaugural production surprising—nearly half the film features one gigantic brouhaha involving Mothra, her larvae off-spring (she has a lot of those, doesn’t she?) and their antagonist. Unfortunately, that’s about the only real fun to be had. Rebirth of Mothra is weighed down by an environmental soapbox, a sermon delivered so stiffly I’m surprised they didn’t include a pulpit. An executive for a logging company accidentally unleashes Desghidorah (another variation of Ghidorah), which will destroy the Earth’s environment by sucking out all of nature’s energy and lifeforce. The executive’s two children, meanwhile, are embroiled in the goings on when he gives them the medallion that he found at Desghidorah’s ancient tomb. Soon, Mothra’s two twin fairies—riding a mini-Mothra—are racing against an evil one named Belvera to recover the seal, which can control the monster. The family eventually “helps” out (basically, they stand around and try not to get killed). The aforementioned battle takes place halfway through the movie, evaporating much of the excitement from the climatic confrontation. Rebirth of Mothra conjures some good moments, such the death of one of the creatures and Belvera’s scenery stealing, but those are swamped by an earnest effort to send the message, rather than let the story tell it.

Rebirth of Mothra II (1997)
With all of the kaiju tropes exhausted in the first film, the sequel wisely heads toward more fantastic territory. Belvera, the twins, and mini-Mothra are back, but the human family is exchanged for a shy girl, two bullies/friends-in-training, and a Furby with antenna. The little furball, which befriends the girl, is a key to an ancient treasure buried in an underwater city. The treasure is the only thing that will stop Dagahra, a sea creature (also ancient) originally designed to fix pollution but which has turned malevolent. The kids, pursued by two greedy fishermen employed by Belvera, explore the city while Mothra holds off Dagahra. Better writing and an emphasis on the supernatural help this outing find a better identity than its predecessor, even if it is aping The Neverending Story. The environmental preaching is still there, but it’s not as cumbersome. The action is steadily silly and the story even toys with a bit of dark consequences, copping out past the last minute. The kids also are far more likable and lively than their two counterparts in the original film, ultimately making Rebirth of Mothra II a decent adventure for its heroes’ audience.