Number 5: Birdemic 2 – The Resurrection (2013)
So, despite all sense and logic, the first Birdemic movie was
a cult hit. Enough so that a sequel was made.
To sum up the story so far: some birds attacked and then flew
away, all due to global warming. That was easy, a whole film in 12 words.
The sequel is the same as the first movie but with the
insanity turned up to eleven.
Now we have pre-historic birds to deal with, resurrected by
the acid rain from the tar pits in LA. So, the heavy handed environmental
message is still there, thank goodness.
There is also another point been made about the Hollywood
studio system. These big studios don’t give directors creative control over
their films you see, not like in the Indies where you can make any old pap.
This is not something James Nguyen will ever have to worry about of course.
In terms of structure, it’s identical to the first film. It’s
45 minutes of nothing before the kamikaze birds strike.
The first part is about an award-winning director Bill and
his struggles to make his movie while seducing a naïve young actress, Gloria. That’s
not quite how its presented but it’s basically what happens. Rod and Nathalie
are back! And their funding Bill’s movie.
In fact, all the old gang are back: the scientist guy who
gives another lecture on global warming; Nathalie’s mum (who is actually
producer Patsy van Ettinger, who has produced all of James Nguyen’s movies. So
now you know who to blame); Damian Carter has some new material to serenade us
with; Treehugger is back and now he’s a reality TV star.
Other highlights include:
- - An attack by the worst looking CGI jellyfish you’ll ever see (which ironically is also the best CGI jellyfish you’ll have ever seen. How many others can you think of?)
- - A great bit of continuity. Tony, one of the children from the first film, has now been adopted by Rod and Nathalie. To explain other child Susan’s absence, he says ‘she got a disease from that fish that Rod cooked.’ Apparently, he improved that. Bravo, young man, bravo.
- - Everyone’s favourite modern trope: zombies. Acid rain brings the dead back to life apparently. On a side note, when people get buried isn’t it usually in their finery? Suits and fine dresses and such. These zombies are just wearing regular clothes.
- - Faces been blurred because they didn’t clear their image rights
- - Attacking birds with coat-hangers again. Rod is not content with this and feels he has to crescent kick them. Also, guns have unlimited ammo in this universe.
My absolute favourite moment though, is when they are being
attacked by killer birds on the set of Cabot Cove (home of Jessica Fletcher of Murder, She Wrote. Yes, it is the real
set but they only had an hour to film before it was opened to tourists). This
is the moment one of the characters (he’s just bird fodder so he doesn’t need a
name) feels it is important, no, absolutely vital, that he tells us ‘Jaws is my favourite movie.’ Ok. Thanks
for sharing. I don’t know how they could ever have got out of their situation
without that information.
I don’t know the connection either.
Sticking rigidly to structure of the first film, the killer
birds fly away at the end. Because movie. Also, if you want to survive in this world, you've gotta wear green. Green, you see? The environment, save the planet, etc.
Only skimming the surface again, the film is hilarious in its
ineptitude. Student film-makers would be embarrassed to have made this.
The best news though? Birdemic
3 is rumoured to be in production.
