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[Puppet Master:Axis Of Evil]
Plot:Set in a stateside hotel during the height of World War II, where young DANNY COOGAN dreams of joining the war effort. Following the murder of hotel guest Mr. Toulon by Nazi assassins, Danny finds the old man's crate of mysterious PUPPETS and is suddenly thrust into a battle all his own. He discovers that Nazis MAX and KLAUS, along with beautiful Japanese saboteur OZU, plan to attack a secret American manufacturing plant. After his family is attacked and his girlfriend BETH is kidnapped, it is up to Danny and the living deadly Puppets to stop this Axis of Evil.
Cast:Levi Fiehler,
Jenna Gallaher,
Taylor M. Graham,
Tom Sandoval,
Jerry Hoffman.
My Thoughts:An improvement.
Review:The last time we saw a "Puppet Master" film, it was "Puppet Master:The Legacy" back in 2003. That was the last time a solo "Puppet Master" movie was released, which means we don't count "Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys", for that reason, and the fact that it was an extremely bad film. "Axis Of Evil", the most recent installment of the series, it set during WWII, and follows a young boy named Danny Coogan. This film sets up a spinoff story from the original "Puppet Master", with Coogan being the one who acquired Toulon's puppets after he shot himself to avoid being captured by the nazi agents dressed in black.
We also have those very nazi agents as this films villains, as they hook up with a Japanese woman named Ozu, who allies herself with the nazi agents out of her enemyship with the U.S., not because she's a friend to Hitler's forces. When Coogan, who's already down on himself for being a cripple, and thus unable to fight against the Germans and Japanese in the current war, stumbles onto their evil plot.
He sees his way to finally help the war effort. But his zealousness ends up putting many he loves in harms way. Now, Toulon's puppets may be his only hope to stop Ozu and the nazi agents. Oddly enough, when these "Puppet Master" movies go back in time, from the modern day era, to WWII days, they seem to get better. Beyond parts 1,2, and maybe 4 and 5, these films haven't had much success being set in current times. This film works because it sets up a strong story from the jump, instead of trying to piece one together in the middle of the action, or very late in the movie.
The way it is connected storyline-wise to the original "PM" from back in Full Moon's hayday, was also very well done. The puppets meanwhile are kept close enough to their original design to work visually in "Axis Of Evil", although we get some new puppets along with the old ones like Pinhead, Blade, Leech Woman, Tunneler, and Six-Shooter. Jester isn't in this movie, but it's most likely a film that takes place before part 3 timeline-wise, so Jester apparently hadn't been created yet.
But we do get a cool ninja puppet in this film, which whom was probably added just because the bad guys in the movie include Japanese nazi allies. The villains speaking of which, in this film are well acted, and a big step up from the villains in past "Puppet Master" movies. This series has been lacking a good villain or two since part 5 way back in the 90's. Band also manages to capture the scenery, culture, and times of the WWII era quite well cinematically and story-wise.
This picture does have a few weaknesses though. Coogan the character, can be too much of a goof to the point where it becomes slightly annoying, and of course he is given a love interest in the movie, a girl who doesn't really seem to be as into him as he is into her. And watching that dynamic unfold on screen is so annoying in a 2010 cinematic culture that has the same dynamic in just about every comedy, slasher movie, and drama film that comes out these days.
The puppets also don't get enough screen time, and only really kick but in the final act. Beyond that, they are relegated to sideline spectators for most of the movie. Granted there's a story to be told absent the puppets, but I think when you title a movie "Puppet Master", whether it's part 1 or 25, the puppets should always be the "stars" of the movie. This series started off with that in mind, as in the ealry films, they were seen most of the time. And an intricate part of the story.
But in "Axis", they are kind of kept on ice until the end where good and evil meet inside an old opera house. And the puppets are called upon to battle beside Danny. Genre fans who like their "Puppet Master" movies with large amounts of violence and blood will be sorely disappointed once again. Those who were hoping "Axis" would bring the series back to it's glory days of charred rednecks, throat-slitting, hammer-bashing, and skull-drilling shouldn't bother seeing "Axis".
Save for one bloody scene near the end of the movie, "Axis" skimps on the violence and gore. The films cliffhanger ending is very well done though, and should satisfy fans of the suspense and drama elements these films usually bring to the table. "Puppet Master:Axis Of Evil" isn't perfect, but it's a good step in the right direction of bringing this series back to it's roots.
Positives:Good performances, strong story, nice connection between this movie and part 1 of the "Puppet Master" series, and a cool ending.
Negatives:Not enough Puppet action and a severe lack of blood and gore.
Overall:Two and a half out of four stars.
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