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[tab title="Movie Review"]
Los Angeles. Sometime in the not too distant future. This is where we start in writer/director Albert Pyun’s Nemesis, a film that – thanks to a heavy spray of bullets and swagger – puts the PUNK in cyberpunk. Alex Raine (Olivier Gruner) is an assassin for the LAPD. His job? To take out career criminals who “amplify” their sneaky ways thanks to robotic parts. But, as the film opens, today will be different for him. Today, he is the target thanks to a robotic group of well-hairsprayed terrorists.
The canvas of Nemesis, especially for a film on a smaller dime than most, is pretty grand. But that’s thanks to the clever use of its locations. The opening firestorm is damn near a classic for B-movie action pieces. In it, a group of hot female robots attempt to blow to hell every single part of Raine’s body. With machine guns and other futuristic firepower, this deadly team of sexy robots, led by Rosaria (Jennifer Gatti), do a ton of damage.
But, Alex – and the puppy he shields from their explosive devices – survives and, after months of cybernetic surgery, he decides that maybe the androids are going to win after all. You see, Alex is nearly ALL human. He might be using older parts to strap on and survive but there is some slice of humanity left in him. And it is this reason that he, sensing the end is near, decides to free himself of the LAPD and the battle proper.
Except Commissioner Farnsworth (Tim Thomerson of Trancers fame) is only toying with him. Bringing him back in for one more mission, Farnsworth convinces Alex that his robotic lover, Jared (Marjorie Monaghan), is leaking information to the hot-headed leader of the Hammerheads, Angie-Liv (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and putting everyone at risk of losing their very souls. {googleads}
It is, unfortunately, all lies and it will be up to Julian (Deborah Shelton) to help a very burned-out LAPD police officer realize it.
People don’t just get shot in this movie. They are shot, they fly back, and then they explode. It is violent and ravishing and also BRILLIANT, with many thought-provoking messages sprinkled about. Co-starring Nicholas Guest and Brion James, Nemesis is a disturbing and violent look at a dystopian future full of renegade androids and, rather surprisingly, it has been followed by four satisfying films in the franchise.
With gigantic action scenes – some scenes, like escaping a room through firing a cylinder-shaped form on the ground, are still being ripped off and “borrowed” – Nemesis is a definite kick to the seat of the pants. It is explosive and aggressive (STILL) and, as a movie, it is an action flick where there is a constant threat (however cheesy) that human’s souls could be replaced by microchips.
The MVD Rewind Collection returns in 2019 with this fabulous release. Thanks to their work here, Nemesis hits 1080p with the BANG and the RESPECT the film deserves.
State of the fucking art, Alex!
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[tab title="Details"]
MPAA Rating: R for strong futuristic violence
Runtime: 95 mins
Director: Albert Pyun
Writer: Rebecca Charles
Cast: Olivier Gruner, Tim Thomerson, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Genre: Action | Thriller
Tagline: In the future... it pays to be more than human.
Memorable Movie Quote: "See, laundering data can be dangerous. You break the law, you go to hell."
Theatrical Distributor: Imperial Entertainment Corporation
Official Site:
Release Date: January 29, 1993
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: January 8, 2019
Synopsis:Los Angeles, 2027. Troubled cyborg cop Alex (Olivier Gruner, Angel Town) is ordered by police commissioner Farnsworth (Tim Thomerson, Near Dark) to apprehend his former partner and lover Jared (Marjorie Monaghan, Regarding Henry), accused of smuggling data to information terrorists plotting to kill government officials. Systems cowboys, bio enhanced gangsters and cyborg outlaws all play a part in this battle of man vs. machine.
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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]
Blu-ray Details:
Home Video Distributor: MVD Visual
Available on Blu-ray - January 8, 2019
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH; German
Audio: English: LPCM 2.0; English: Dolby Digital 5.1; German: Dolby Digital 2.0; French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
The newly transferred High Definition Blu-ray (and Standard Definition DVD) presentation of Nemesis is on point. While it takes place mainly in the burned-out parts of a future Los Angeles and then the “jungle”, this 1080p transfer captures crisp details in clothing and in locations that are textured and fine. Loaded with juicy details, this is an atmospheric release that doesn’t shy away from the sunlight either. It has dark layers, yes, and those shadows are well-defined and crisp but the new transfer does not disappoint. The brand new 1.85:1 HD master is detailed and looks better than ever. Some shots, due to the era of the day, are fuzzier than others but the image is reasonably well defined with crisp contrasts and solid textures. Colors are solid, with reds being a standout. Blacks are, too. Surprisingly, there's enough fine detail on display to make this seem revelatory. The era-ready color palette looks terrific, too. The disc comes with the original 2.0 Stereo Audio (Uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray) and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks.
Supplements:
Commentary:
-
None
Special Features:
Loaded with the unrated version and new interviews with the producer and the director, this release is all sorts of cool for its fans. DIG IN!
DISC 1: BLU-RAY
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the main feature in both 2.35:1 and 1.78:1 aspect ratios
- Audio: English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Stereo, French 2.0 Stereo, German 2.0 Stereo
- Subtitles: English SDH, German
- NEW! 2018 Interview with Producer Eric Karson (HD)
- NEW! 2018 Interview with Director Albert Pyun (HD)
- “Nemesis 2.0” (aka “Director’s Cut”) with Director’s Commentary audio (SD, 2.35:1, (92:29)
DISC 2: DVD
- “Nemesis 2.0” (aka “Director’s Cut”) with 2.0 Stereo Audio (SD, 2.35:1, 87:49)
- Japanese Extended Cut (SD, 1.33:1) (w/ Japanese subtitles burnt-in) (95:49)
- Introduction by Albert Pyun (SD, 2:19)
- Introduction by Olivier Gruner (SD, 3:13)
- Afterword by Albert Pyun (SD, 0:48)
- ‘Making Of’ featurettes (SD, 5:58, 7:13)
- Interview with Olivier Gruner (SD, 2:18)
- ‘Making Of – Stunts & Effects’ (SD, 2:43)
- ‘Making Of – Visual Effects’ (SD, 1:41)
- ‘The Saga’ featurette (SD, 7:26)
- ‘Killcount’ featurette (SD, 2:26)
- Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery (SD, 3:00)
- Key Art Photo Gallery (SD, 2:20)
- Trailers and TV Spots (SD)
- Collectible Mini-Poster
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