After being rejected from standard Army boot camp for being complete rejects (4-F), four young Americans join the secret project of Major Blevins (Michael Madsen) where they are to be transformed into the ultimate killing machines. But the laboratory still hasn't disposed of the previous test subject, who did not quite turn out as planned.
On the Internet Movie Database, this film comes in at 2.4 out of 10, which is just about the lowest you'll ever find a movie listed. The only things lower are "Gigli" and Bill Cosby's turd sandwich "Leonard 6". Sure, the film is bad, but not nearly that bad (these people should rent "Nine Lives"). Allow me to explain. The acting is not great and the dialogue is horrible (mostly just grunting and swearing over and over again). The plot may not be outstanding, but it's decent and is detailed enough to carry the film. But many good things are in here.
The film is comedy through and through. From the opening scenes that depict the candidates as morons (which reminded me of "Can't Hardly Wait") to their stereotypical interactions like "The Breakfast Club" (the criminal, the brain, the basket case... with the princess replaced by a crack addict). And the film relies on some horror clichés in such a way that I have to assume they were meant to be funny: the German scientist, for example.
But under the campiness was a decent film that had solid characters. Michael Madsen did not give his best performance, but he is always a joy to watch (even in such things as "Eye of the Beholder" or "Free Willy"). And the subplot about military recruitment being down and needing to make soldiers better was very timely and fit well. I suppose you could contrast this with "Return of the Livign Dead" in that way, with adrenaline-induced soldiers in this movie taking the place of the trioxin zombies.
Maybe it wasn't great... but did you really think "UKM: The Ultimate Killing Machine" would be? I was actually heavily entertained. And maybe you didn't get the nudity you wanted (which is surprisingly with how much sexual activity is going on). But you got gore: faces ripped off, heads torn from necks, and a man slashed to pieces with blood flying all over the killer. Some of it -- the needles -- was done with the lowest quality of special effects, but I'd rather watch some film maker trying to save money with special effects than use cheesy computer stuff. (We can't all be the masters of gore that Peter Jackson was and Stuart Gordon is.) When you're at the video store and you're deciding between this and "Navy Seals", I actually liked this one better. But seriously, you know what you're getting yourself into. At least I hope so... don't be one of those people who doesn't know anything and picks up movies at random. If you are, you deserve to see every crappy film you rent. If you like camp, like the original "Batman" movie, you'll like this one.
On the Internet Movie Database, this film comes in at 2.4 out of 10, which is just about the lowest you'll ever find a movie listed. The only things lower are "Gigli" and Bill Cosby's turd sandwich "Leonard 6". Sure, the film is bad, but not nearly that bad (these people should rent "Nine Lives"). Allow me to explain. The acting is not great and the dialogue is horrible (mostly just grunting and swearing over and over again). The plot may not be outstanding, but it's decent and is detailed enough to carry the film. But many good things are in here.
The film is comedy through and through. From the opening scenes that depict the candidates as morons (which reminded me of "Can't Hardly Wait") to their stereotypical interactions like "The Breakfast Club" (the criminal, the brain, the basket case... with the princess replaced by a crack addict). And the film relies on some horror clichés in such a way that I have to assume they were meant to be funny: the German scientist, for example.
But under the campiness was a decent film that had solid characters. Michael Madsen did not give his best performance, but he is always a joy to watch (even in such things as "Eye of the Beholder" or "Free Willy"). And the subplot about military recruitment being down and needing to make soldiers better was very timely and fit well. I suppose you could contrast this with "Return of the Livign Dead" in that way, with adrenaline-induced soldiers in this movie taking the place of the trioxin zombies.
Maybe it wasn't great... but did you really think "UKM: The Ultimate Killing Machine" would be? I was actually heavily entertained. And maybe you didn't get the nudity you wanted (which is surprisingly with how much sexual activity is going on). But you got gore: faces ripped off, heads torn from necks, and a man slashed to pieces with blood flying all over the killer. Some of it -- the needles -- was done with the lowest quality of special effects, but I'd rather watch some film maker trying to save money with special effects than use cheesy computer stuff. (We can't all be the masters of gore that Peter Jackson was and Stuart Gordon is.) When you're at the video store and you're deciding between this and "Navy Seals", I actually liked this one better. But seriously, you know what you're getting yourself into. At least I hope so... don't be one of those people who doesn't know anything and picks up movies at random. If you are, you deserve to see every crappy film you rent. If you like camp, like the original "Batman" movie, you'll like this one.