Australians
definitely seem to be a freedom loving people, despite their 1996 and 2002 gun
laws. Unfortunately, they will regret that legislation when the alien invaders
arrive, but at least there are still plenty of hunting rifles out in the rural
communities. A rag-tag group of survivors will take the fight to the aliens in
director-screenwriter Luke Sparke’s Occupation
(trailer
here),
which opens this Friday in New York.
The
aliens first attack during exhibition Australian Rules football match. It was
supposed to be former captain Matt Simmons last hurrah and the current captain’s
golden opportunity to be scouted, but it did not end that way at all. They do
not get along much, but they will have to work together as charter members of
the resistance. It turns out their core group is quite resourceful, thanks to
members like Simmons’ girlfriend Amelia Chambers, the grizzled but wiser-than-he-looks
farmer Arnold, and Peter Bartlett, an ex-militant and would be family man, who
just finished serving his prison sentence for murder.
Sure,
we have seen this all several times before, starting with the classic George
Pal-produced War of the Worlds and
recently in the African-set Revolt, which
was also released by Saban Films. There are scores of superior alien invasion
films, but Occupation’s nicely drawn
characters and game cast keep us hooked anyway.
Temuera
Morrison is probably the best known and fans will enjoy watching him seething
with rage as Bartlett, the distressed father. Stephany Jacobsen shows real star
potential as the forceful, action-oriented Chambers, while Charles Mesure looks
and acts like Australia personified as crusty, trusty Arnold. Plus, Jacqueline
McKenzie steals a few scenes as the uber-commanding Col. Grant.
There
is not much time or thought devoted to the aliens’ backstory. Basically, Sparke
cribs here and there from the original V and
Independence Day. The two-hour
running time is really pushing it for what is essentially a B-movie, but to his
credit, he keeps the energy level amped up. It cannot compare to the 1953 War of the Worlds, but it is lightyears
better than the Tom Cruise monstrosity. Recommended for science fiction fans who
enjoy a straight-up throwback now and then, Occupation
opens this Friday (7/20) in New York, at the Village East. So, keep
watching the skies everybody.
