Ho mercy, I have been on quite a trip whilst snowed in this weekend.
Lavalantula
The special effects are out of this world, the CGI makes Avatar look like a cheap episode of 1970's Dr Who. The titular creatures, giant lava-breathing arachnids, are terrifying, and make H.R. Giger's Aliens look like a harmless bunch of bunny-rabbits. The climactic manifestation of the 'Mama' lantula is mind-blowingly stunning and 100% convincing, and the final battle makes Starship Troopers look like a playground punch-up. But it's not all special effects. The script is blindingly original, laced with hilarious, witty one-liners, delivered by a fantastic, committed cast, mostly made up of former stars from the Police Academy movies, who give it 100000%. The lead, played by Steve Guttenburg, is surely the greatest action hero of ALL time, and makes the likes of Statham, Schwarzenegger, Willis, Van Damme, Lundgren etc look like a bunch of whimpering, shrinking violets in comparison. (Take everything I've written and flip it 180 degrees for the truth.
2 Lava 2 Lantula
Yes, the sequel to Lavalantula is actually called 2 Lava 2 Lantula. GENIUS.
There are 2 incredible scenes that sum up this fantastic movie:
- The token fat black man with a baseball cap who continually spouts profundities such as 'let's do dis' - and it's embarrassing that in 2016 they can get away with such reprehensible stereotyping, but anyway - just before his fiery death at the mandibles of giant lava-spewing arachnids, utters the immortal phrase: 'Dey 2 lava! Dey 2 lantula! AAAAARGH.' Which makes no sense, but hey, at least they got the title of the movie into the movie.
- The most glorious moment in celluloid history... Steve Guttenburg, playing a growling, beefed-up action hero, on realising the true size of the end-level boss, utters the even more immortal phrase, 'That ain't no Mama Lantula - THAT'S A FREAKIN' GARGANTULANTULA!'
I'll pause now to let it sink in. Yes, he said that. And it was wonderful.
I eagerly await 3 Lava 3 Lantula, due this July, but they clearly missed a trick with the title - it should obviously be:
3 LAVA 3 MEGAGARGANTULANTULA!!!
I think I need a quiet lie down now.