Iron Sky (4 Stars)

I should have watched this film before I went to see "The Coming Race" yesterday, but as they say, "It's better late than never". It's a true statement, but I would have enjoyed "The Coming Race" more after refreshing my memory. I'd forgotten who Renate Richter is.

"Iron Sky" was made in 2012 and takes place in the near future, the year 2018. It's interesting to see how the screenwriter and director envisioned the future. They expected Sarah Palin to be the American president. Was that ever a real possibility? I can't remember now. I know that she was mocked for her right wing views and embarrassing forgetfulness, but I'd rather have her as president than the one America has now. I'm sure a lot of Americans would agree with me.

President Palin's ratings are dropping, so she's worried she won't be elected for a second term. The best way to become popular would be for her to start a war, because wartime presidents always get a second term. She considers bombing Australia, but that would only be a last resort. First she tries a softer approach: she encourages NASA to make America's first manned moon landing in 45 years, and one of the astronauts is black. She has campaign posters of herself with the astronaut, James Washington, and the slogan is "Black to the Moon". Even his name sounds patriotic. This misfires when the space shuttle explodes and both astronauts die. So she needs a war after all?

Unknown to anyone on Earth, James Washington has survived. The space shuttle landed near a moonbase that's shaped like a swastika. At the end of World War Two Nazis fled to the Moon and formed a colony, preparing for the day when they could return and conquer the Earth. Their giant warship, the Götterdämmerung, is ready, but one thing is missing: they don't have enough computing power. The mobile phone that they steal from James is the missing link, and the attack can begin.

This is Sarah's War. She's happy when the Nazis attack, because "they're the only ones we've ever defeated in a fair fight".

So who's Renate Richter? She's the daughter of the Moon's greatest scientist. She's engaged to marry Klaus Adler, the second in command of the Moon Nazis and the designated successor of the ageing Führer, Wolfgang Kortzfleisch. He's impatient to take over, so he follows in the footsteps of Claus von Stauffenberg and stages a putsch, killing the Führer. Seemingly. We don't find out until the sequel that he survived.

There are numerous other subplots that turn this film into a biting satire. Despite its sometimes shaky special effects it's a highly enjoyable film.

Success Rate:  - 1.2

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk
	Order from Amazon.de