A Review of Manborg (Because the World Needed One of Those)

http://youtu.be/mBHau4HeTZY

For a moment I'd like to talk about the idea of the "so bad it's good" movie.  These movies (usually of the horror genre) are typically films where either the writing, direction, acting, production value, or some bizarre combination of all of the above come together to create a film that by all sensible should be completely horrible and without merit.  Despite this, or often times because of it, these movies transcend their shortcomings, and become a kind of comedy gold to the audience willing to look at them in the right light.  The "so bad it's good" label is a dubious honor at best, as it suggests that the filmmakers have so thoroughly failed at their original intentions that laughing at their shortcomings is the only entertainment that the audience can gain from the project.  Perhaps the most (in)famous example of this is the film Troll 2.  A movie that was so bad, and yet so loved, that it actually had a documentary made about it's fan base's ironic love for the movie.  (Seriously, do a search for Best Worst Movie.) 

So if the core idea behind the "so bad it's good" trope is that the film's creators failed, then how do we really define a movie that's goal is to be intentionally bad, but still hilarious in an ironic sort of way?  Because that is exactly the conundrum I face when trying to review Manborg.

The story of Manborg is bare bones at best.  Hell has invaded the Earth because science.  That's actually not a joke.  That is the reason the movie gives the audience for the forces of hell rising up and laying waste to the earth.  In this weirdly retro 80's version of the future the minions of Hell are completely subjugating what's left of the human race, and forcing criminals to fight in arena death matches for the enjoyment of the hellions.  It is into this world that the titular Manborg awakens.

Manborg quickly befriends a group of arena fighters, and helps them escape so he can help them lead a resistance battle against the oppressive denizens of hell.  And, well, really that's about all there is to it.  

Look, if you want a better story you better look somewhere else.  As I mentioned earlier Manborg knows it's a bad movie.  It pretty much tells you that right up front.  Despite that, or possibly because of it, I kinda love this movie.  I'll try to explain.

To begin with, let's examine the look of the film.  At first glance you might think that the film is going for a kind of retro 80's look.  (Hell, I said as much earlier in the review.)  But in execution it comes of as a homage to something much, much, stranger.  It comes off as an homage the FMV games of the early 90's.  Low res video?  Check.  Laughably bad green screen techniques?  Check.  Lens flares for no goddamn reason? Check.  Really the only thing missing is a random cameo from Christopher Walken exclaiming how "un-fucking believable" the whole thing is.

http://youtu.be/dFKylgGk73I

Why a director would opt for this look for their film is, quite honestly, beyond me.  That being said, I'm glad they did.  From the very first frame of the film your expectations are lowered.  Which is great, because it allows you to more readily enjoy the ridiculousness that follows. 

It also helps that the movie is completely self-aware.  Little touches like a love struck demon warden trying to woo a human prisoner, or a wounded Manborg doing the robot on the ground  kept me smiling the entire movie.

Which kind of brings me back to my initial question, "Can a movie be labeled "so bad it's good" if the original intent was always to evoke the feeling of a bad movie?"  In truth I'm not sure how to answer that question.  In the end it doesn't matter.  Manborg was an enjoyable experience for me from beginning to end.  If you and your friends are the kind of people that enjoy bad movies you will probably find a lot to love here.

Fun Fact:  Make sure to watch after the credits as there is a mock preview for another film, and the funniest anti-piracy warning I've ever seen.

Fun Fact 2:  The voice of #1 Man is Kyle Herbert, otherwise known as the English voice of Ryu in all of the current Street Fighter games.  This makes me smile way more than it should.